You feel winter settle in fast in Columbus. Cold air rolls in, snow covers the ground, and suddenly your home becomes one of the warmest places in the neighborhood. When that happens, you may notice more winter wildlife in your home. The drop in temperature pushes animals to look for heat, food, and shelter, and many of them find it in attics, walls, chimneys, and crawl spaces.

You might not see them right away, but you hear sounds, notice small changes, or sense something is different. These signs show how common it is for winter wildlife in Columbus homes to rise every season. When the temperatures stay low, animals follow the heat—and they follow dependable food sources too. That’s why the top winter animals in homes show up again and again across the city and surrounding areas.

You also live in a region filled with trees, green space, parks, and older homes. Those features make Columbus wildlife shelter winter activity even more common. Warm air escaping from gaps and old vents also gives animals clues about where to settle. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Columbus, we see the same species return every year for the same reasons: survival, safety, and warmth.

Below, you’ll get a clear, simple breakdown of the top species taking shelter in homes this season. You’ll learn why each animal enters homes, how they get inside, and what makes Columbus properties such attractive winter shelters. Later, you’ll also see how our team keeps these animals out safely using humane one-way doors that let them leave but not return.

1. Mice: The Most Common Winter Invaders

Mice are the top winter animals in homes because their survival depends on finding heat and food. You may only see tiny signs at first, but their activity builds quickly as temperatures drop. Mice stay active all winter, which makes them one of the biggest sources of winter wildlife in Columbus homes.

Mice enter through openings as small as a dime. Snow, ice, and freezing wind push them toward homes because natural food sources disappear. Seeds, berries, and plants they rely on are covered or frozen, so your home becomes the closest source of comfort.

Why mice enter homes in winter:

• They need a warm place to hide from freezing temperatures.
• Snow covers outdoor food, forcing them to search for easier options.
• Small gaps in homes stay warm, making them easy to find.

Once they enter, mice stay busy. They build nests, store food, and explore your walls and attic for safe places to hide. Columbus wildlife shelter winter patterns show that mice often settle in older neighborhoods, especially where houses sit close together. Their size, speed, and ability to fit into small spaces make them the most predictable winter guest.

2. Squirrels: Active All Winter and Searching for Warmth

Squirrels do not hibernate. They stay active all winter, even when snow piles up across Columbus. When temperatures drop, squirrels look for warm places to sleep, rest, and store food. Attics, vents, and rooflines often look perfect to them because warm air leaks out and gives them clues about an easy shelter.

You may hear more noise during the daytime because squirrels are most active in daylight. They follow heat escaping through weak points in your home and use their strong teeth to widen small openings.

Common entry points for squirrels:

• Gaps in roof edges
• Chewed openings around vents
• Uncapped chimneys
• Loose soffits

Their chewing habit makes them a major part of winter wildlife in homes. They can turn a small space into a large hole, sometimes within a single day. They often bring in nesting materials like leaves or insulation. Their need for warmth makes homes a reliable shelter, especially during freezing weeks or heavy snowfall.

3. Raccoons: Strong, Smart, and Highly Motivated in Winter

Raccoons are one of the strongest animals looking for Columbus wildlife shelter winter spots. When the cold hits, raccoons enter a light sleep called torpor during the harshest weather. Torpor makes them want warm, safe dens, and your attic becomes one of the easiest places for them to settle.

Raccoons use their strength, sharp claws, and problem-solving skills to open weak points on a home. Heavy snow and ice make these entry points easier to break. Freeze-thaw cycles loosen wood, shingles, vents, or rooflines, giving raccoons an easy starting point.

How raccoons get inside homes:

• Pushing up loose roof-soffit intersections
• Ripping open plastic or thin metal roof vents
• Entering uncapped chimneys
• Pulling at damaged shingles or soft wood

Raccoons in Ohio homes over winter become more common when storms weaken older structures. With the mating season starting early in the year, raccoons look for stable dens to help them rest and stay safe. Your home often provides everything they need to settle for the entire season.

4. Skunks: Quiet Winter Guests Looking for Hidden Warmth

Skunks may not climb like squirrels or raccoons, but they are still one of the top winter animals in homes and yards across Columbus. They look for dark, sheltered spaces close to the ground. While they don’t usually enter attics, they commonly settle under decks, porches, sheds, or crawl spaces.

Skunks reduce their activity in winter but do not fully hibernate. They move slowly, rest for long periods, and stay close to food sources. Homes provide insulation and steady temperatures that protect them from deep cold.

Skunks prefer the same areas every year:

• Decks
• Porches
• Sheds
• Crawl spaces
• Gaps under concrete steps

Skunks often remain hidden all winter, making them a major but quiet part of Columbus wildlife shelter winter patterns. Homeowners sometimes don’t realize a skunk is present until snow melts or early spring arrives.

5. Bats: Seeking Steady Heat in Attics and Wall Voids

Bats are sensitive to cold temperatures. When winter arrives, they search for places that stay warm enough for them to rest. Attics, roof peaks, and wall voids can hold enough heat for bats to survive winter without freezing.

Different species behave differently. Some migrate, but others stay and enter a deep rest called torpor. This makes them one of the more misunderstood types of winter wildlife in Columbus homes.

Bats usually enter through:

• Gaps in siding
• Open louvres
• Roofline cracks
• Spaces where flashing has loosened

They choose the highest, warmest parts of the home. Because they remain quiet during the coldest months, homeowners often don’t notice them until spring. Their ability to fit into tiny openings makes them one of the top winter animals in homes that often stay hidden.

6. Rats: A Growing Concern in Urban Areas of Columbus

Rats stay active year-round. When snow covers the ground, they shift closer to buildings for warmth and food. Columbus neighborhoods with dense housing, restaurants, and alleyways see the most winter rat movement.

Rats dig under decks, squeeze through foundation cracks, and follow utility lines that lead indoors. They can push through weak spots that have softened from cold weather or moisture.

Rats thrive in homes because:

• Heat escapes from basements and crawl spaces
• Food scraps or garbage provide easy meals
• Old foundations offer many cracks and gaps

Their size and strength allow them to chew through wood or plastic to reach warm spaces. While they aren’t as common inside attics as squirrels or raccoons, rats still make up a large part of winter wildlife in homes in busy urban neighborhoods.

How Our Team Helps Prevent Winter Wildlife in Columbus Homes

You should never try to handle or remove animals yourself. Winter wildlife enters homes for survival, not aggression, but they still cause damage. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Columbus, we guide animals out safely using humane one-way doors that let them exit but prevent them from returning.

Our process keeps both your home and the animals protected. We inspect the structure, find every entry point, and seal those openings with proper materials built to last through Ohio winters. We make sure animals leave safely, then we secure your home so the same issue doesn’t return.

We take care of the entire process from start to finish, giving you peace of mind and long-term protection from Columbus wildlife shelter winter activity.

Stay Ahead of Winter Wildlife in Columbus

Winter wildlife in Columbus homes becomes more common every year, especially as temperatures swing and storms grow stronger. You want your home to stay safe, warm, and free from unwanted guests. If you’re dealing with Columbus wildlife shelter winter activity or want help keeping the top winter animals in homes away for good, we’re here to help.

Reach out to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Columbus and request an estimate to learn more. We’ll keep your home protected and make sure animals leave safely, even in the coldest months.