Owning a rental property can be exciting, but it isn’t always easy. One of the trickiest problems is when wild animals find their way inside. 

Not only can this cause damage that costs a lot to fix, but it can also be unsafe for your tenants. Keeping rental properties wildlife-free is crucial for a comfortable and safe home. Animals like squirrels, bats, and raccoons can chew on wires, leave droppings, create bad smells, and even spread diseases. 

If you own or manage a property in Delaware, it’s super important to stop wildlife from getting inside. How do you do this? By taking steps to prevent wildlife and working with our professionals at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, you can protect your property and your tenants.

Why Stopping Wildlife is Important

Keeping wildlife out isn’t just about saving money on repairs. Tenant safety and wildlife prevention should always come first. Some animals carry diseases or pests, which could make people sick. For example, raccoons can carry rabies, and bats can leave harmful droppings.

Animals can also damage your rental’s roof, walls, or attic insulation. This might lead to safety risks like water leaks or fire hazards (if they chew through wires). Preventing these issues from the start keeps your tenants comfortable and your property protected. Below, we’ve shared simple and effective ways to keep wildlife away from your rental property.

Keep the Outside in Shape

The outside of your building is your first defense against animals. Wildlife looks for weak spots like cracks or holes to sneak into your property. Regular maintenance will help you keep rental properties wildlife-free and safe.

Here are some easy ways to secure your property’s exterior:

• Inspect the Roof Regularly: Check the roof for loose shingles, cracked vents, or gaps around chimneys. These are spots animals like raccoons or squirrels love to hide in. Fixing roof damage right away can also help stop water leaks.
• Seal Any Gaps: Look for holes in walls, around pipes, or in siding. Even tiny gaps can be big enough for bats or mice to crawl through. Be sure to fill them completely. Animals often make small holes bigger if you don’t fix them in time.
• Reinforce Soffits and Eaves: Birds love to build nests under loose eaves or soffits. Keep these spots tightly closed to keep animals out. It also helps protect these areas from damage during storms.
• Install Chimney Caps: Chimney caps stop animals like birds or squirrels from climbing in and nesting. They also help keep out rain and debris so you don’t have to clean your chimney as often.

Taking these simple steps gives you fewer repairs to deal with and keeps tenants feeling safe.

Watch Your Landscaping

The landscaping around your property can attract wildlife or help keep them away. Trimming trees and cleaning up overgrown areas make it harder for animals to get near your building.

Try these landscaping ideas to protect your property from wildlife intrusions:

• Keep Trees Trimmed: Tree branches that hang over or touch your roof give animals an easy path to get inside. Cut them back to keep them off your house.
• Prevent Overgrowth: Tall grass or thick bushes make great hiding spots for animals looking for shelter. Keep these trimmed to discourage them.
• Secure Trash Bins: Animals like raccoons are drawn to open trash cans. Use bins with lockable lids so they can’t get inside.
• Add Wildlife-Repellent Plants: Some plants naturally scare away animals. For example, marigolds can help keep rabbits away from your property.

When you take care of your outdoor space, wildlife is less likely to see your property as a good home.

Look for Warning Signs

Spotting wildlife problems early means you can fix them before they get worse. Animals left alone can damage your property, make tenants unhappy, and create bigger issues over time.

Here are a few warning signs to watch for around your rental property:

• Scratching or movement noises in the walls or ceilings
• Droppings in attics, basements, or other hidden spaces
• Signs of nests, like shredded insulation or piles of leaves
• Chewed wood, wires, or insulation

If you or your tenants see any of these signs, take action fast. Call a professional wildlife control team to check your property, address the issue, and prevent it from happening again.

Call in Wildlife Control Experts

Trying to solve wildlife problems yourself might seem simple, but it can make things worse. You could accidentally harm the animal, damage your property more, or even hurt yourself. Experts have the right tools and knowledge to handle the situation safely.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Delaware, we help protect rentals from wildlife intrusions. Our team uses humane one-way doors to allow the animals to exit without letting them back in. This means the animals leave safely and can’t return to your property.

We also seal off entry points, so you don’t have to worry about new animals moving in. Our solutions are designed for long-term protection, not just a quick fix.

Educate and Work With Your Tenants

Your tenants can play a big role in wildlife prevention. A few simple habits from them can go a long way in keeping your rental safe.

Here’s how tenants can help with wildlife prevention:

• Don’t Leave Food Out: Food scraps or pet food left outside can attract animals. Ask tenants to clean up after meals and keep pet food inside.
• Secure Garbage Bins: Properly sealed trash containers are less likely to draw raccoons or other animals.
• Report Problems Early: Make sure tenants know to contact you if they see wildlife activity or damage like gaps or chewing marks.

By teaming up with your tenants, you can create a safer and wildlife-free environment. Open communication helps everyone play their part.

Plan for Long-Term Wildlife Prevention

Stopping wildlife isn’t just about fixing problems as they come up. You should plan for year-round protection. Seasons change, and each one brings new challenges for keeping animals away.

Here’s how to stay prepared all year long:

• Schedule Regular Inspections: A yearly checkup from professionals can find small issues before they turn into big headaches.
• Update Sealing and Caulking: Walls, pipes, and eaves may naturally develop gaps over time. Regularly reseal them to keep animals out.
• Use Strong Materials: Reinforcing parts of the property (like eaves or vents) with strong materials like steel mesh makes it harder for animals to get through.

Thinking ahead will save you money on repairs and keep your tenants happy.

Need Help Keeping Rental Properties Wildlife-Free?

Your rental property should always feel safe and comfortable for tenants. Protecting rentals from wildlife intrusions is a big step to keeping this promise. The good news? You don’t have to handle it alone.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Delaware can help you keep rental properties wildlife-free in an easy and humane way. Our one-way doors and expert techniques make sure animals leave your property for good.

Request an estimate today and see how we can help you protect your rental property. With Skedaddle, keeping tenants safe from wildlife is simple.