Nuisance wildlife activity is often associated with the warmer months, like the spring and the summer. While some nuisance wildlife like groundhogs and snakes will go dormant during the colder months, you’ll still face plenty of critter activity in the fall and winter. Squirrels and raccoons will still be clawing their way into your attic space, skunks will build dens underneath your deck or porch, and rodents will invade, seeking a warm place to spend the winter. Don’t panic, Summit can help! Our wildlife removal and pest control services can help keep your home free of nuisance critters year-round. Contact the team at Summit Wildlife Removal to get started today with a FREE estimate at 703-884-2124!
Squirrel Activity
During the fall, you might notice squirrel activity ramping up, as they begin collecting food to store in their caches, often putting on weight to use as energy reserves during the winter. Squirrels aren’t just searching for food, however, as they will also be searching for a safe, secluded place to build their nests for the winter. While squirrels do not hibernate and stay active all winter, retrieving old food caches and searching for any new food that might be out there, they still prefer a warm place to stay. Squirrels may even build a cache of food inside your attic space or wall voids. Squirrels tend to nest inside attic spaces, where they can rip up your attic insulation, often soiling it in the process. Squirrels will also bring in their outside nesting material and chew through wires, both of which can create a fire hazard.
Raccoons in the Attic
Similar to squirrels, raccoons will also be searching for safe, warm places to settle down during the winter. Raccoons are scavengers, and if you have unsealed trash cans or leave out bowls of pet food, they have no problem raiding your porch, deck, or garage for these easy meals. Similar to squirrels, raccoon activity doesn’t stop in the colder months, and these critters will continue to scavenge for food and search for shelter. Raccoons often get inside your attic space, ripping up your insulation, tearing through HVAC ducts, and chewing through wires and cables. Raccoons can also den inside your shed, crawl space, chimney, or under your porch. Raccoons will also bring in outside nesting material like dry, dead leaves, twigs, grass, and garbage. Raccoons are also infamous for creating latrines where they leave their urine and feces. If a raccoon builds a latrine inside your attic, it can seep through your floorboards and get into the rest of the home. By the fall, most raccoon babies are grown, so you won’t have to worry about raccoon babies, but their mating season starts up again around January.
Skunk Dens On Your Property
During the colder months, skunks will be searching for a warm place with access to food and water, which might end up being your property. Skunks love to feed on grubs, which are underground beetle larvae. Grubs are most prominent during the wintertime, so skunks will dig up your yard to search for these insects. Additionally, with less food that’s easily available, skunks will raid your trash cans and any left-out pet food bowls. Skunks will create their dens underneath your deck, porch, or shed, and when a skunk settles down on your property, they will spray around your yard to mark their territory.
Rodent Season
Fall is actually rodent season, as it’s during the fall when rodents are most active inside and around the home. Rats and mice have evolved to become more dependent on people, using our homes as not only a source of shelter but also food and water. Rats and mice will raid your kitchens for any food they can find, often chewing and ripping into stored, dry food and leaving behind their urine and droppings on your food preparation surfaces, which can spread illnesses like salmonella. Rats and mice can also damage your insulation and chew through wires, as they need to constantly be gnawing to keep the length of their teeth manageable. You might find gnaw marks on cabinet doors or baseboards.
Wildlife Removal and Pest Control in Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax
Fall and winter do not slow down nuisance wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, skunks, mice, or rats, and these critters will continue invading your home and damaging your property. Don’t worry, Summit Wildlife Removal can help. Our team offers safe, effective wildlife removal and pest control services to help you take your home back from nuisance pests and wildlife. We service the entire Northern Virginia area, including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and much more. Contact our team to get started today at 703-884-2124!
