Get matched with top animal fencing pros in Amory, MS

If squirrels set up a home in your attic, they can cause considerable damage. It’s not uncommon for them to chew holes in your roof, siding, or joists, and they can eat through electrical wiring. They might also travel to other parts of your home or into your wall cavities. Not to mention all that bacteria-filled feces and urine they spread around. 

Animals that dig holes in the yard at night include skunks and raccoons. Both animals are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night and use that time to hunt or forage. Skunks will dig small holes to find insects, while raccoons use their strong front legs to pull up chunks of sod and search for food underneath.

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.

While doggie doors are convenient for pet owners, they do offer a few drawbacks. For instance, they’re small enough that unwanted critters could come into the house, such as raccoons, snakes, rats, and insects.

They’re also large enough that small children can escape through them, which can be a serious concern to parents of young children.

Finally, doggie doors can make it difficult to regulate your home’s temperature because they constantly let in hot or cold outside air.