Help! Critters in Roof
We definitely have animals in our roof. We can hear scratching — pretty vigorous in the early morning and at night. It might happen other times, but we aren’t home. We hired an exterminator who looked around, could find no holes. He put a one-way gate on our fireplace flue. But nothing seems to work….
We definitely have animals in our roof. We can hear scratching — pretty vigorous in the early morning and at night. It might happen other times, but we aren’t home.
We hired an exterminator who looked around, could find no holes. He put a one-way gate on our fireplace flue. But nothing seems to work.
Does anyone have any ideas, before we spend another 800 bucks for nothing?
Could they possibly be getting in through a hole in the cornice? Do get rid of them — did horrendous damage to a house up the block that was empty for several months. Entire top floor had to be gutted. They are rodents and, like rats, gnaw constantly.
Had squirrel home invasions twice in the past. Usually in the fall. Used Kingsway exterminators. They put out traps on the roof and in the wall where possible. Also secured all pipes & openings on roof with steel mesh. Also sealed up dryer vent. Squirrel-proofing takes work.
Trapped several critters and solved the problem.
These guys generally seemed to know what they were doing and made numerous return visits to check traps or respond to my complaints of “scratching in the ceiling” which was driving me nuts! Cost around $500. Get it taken care of…they won’t leave on their own!
Get a trap and relocate them far, far away. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=havahart&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=1029212984655769577&sa=X&ei=4misTeeWJsTngQfWlY30BQ&ved=0CF0Q8wIwBA#
Yes, you want to get rid of them now. I had one get into my apartment (through a spot on the roof), into the wall and then out from the wall behind kitchen cabinets. It actually did 2,000 dollars worth of damage. The story of its two day stay is something else but don’t want to re-traumatize myself, telling it again (pretty crazy). You need to examine the roof more closely.
If you can spread some mothballs in your roof.
Squirrels are almost certainly the culprits. You really want to get rid of them now before they start birthing pups.
A common entry point is between the roof and the walls. Remember that these rodents can squeeze into a very small hole. It is also possible that they are entering through a neighbors house and getting through a hole in the dividing wall.
They are known to leave the nest for the late morning and afternoon to feed (that is if there are no babies). So that is the time to close that hole.