Most often, animals enter crawl spaces through vents, pipes, gaps under doors, spaces between your foundation, and penetrations for wires. Crawl spaces are quiet shelters that people hardly ever enter, making them ideal spots for critters to set up shop. Because crawl spaces are generally overlooked by homeowners, various creatures can decide to take up residence for quite some time before anyone notices something is amiss. Some common crawl space stowaways include:
- Mice, rats, and other rodents
- Moles, gophers, and other burrowing animals
- Opossums
- Skunks
- Raccoons
- Rabbits
- Snakes
- Lizards
As cute as some of these wilderness friends may be, any animal in a crawl space is bad news. All types of creatures can bring additional pests into your living space, including fleas, ticks, and various other creepy crawlies. This exacerbates your existing pest problem—the longer these unwelcome visitors stay, the more pests will invade your home.
Dealing with animals in crawl spaces is a very frustrating—and dangerous—process. But, with help from wildlife removal services, any existing infestation will be taken care of, and future incidents can be prevented.
In the next few sections, we’ll answer some common questions and explain how to get rid of unwanted animals in your crawl space and home.
Is It OK to Seal off a Crawl Space?
Yes, to prevent animals from finding their way into your home, sealing off your crawl space is the right thing to do. As a best practice, all structural supports and foundation walls inside the crawl space should be covered. Additionally, any small openings leading inside the home or crawl space must be sealed.
Another thing to note is that if you have animals currently living in your crawl space, they must be removed before you seal anything. If you seal your crawl space with the animals inside, they will be trapped and die. This causes a stinky smell to rise from your crawl space and waft through your entire house.
However, trying to trap and remove animals from your crawl space is a very dangerous task. If you attempt to remove these pesky varmints on your own, you risk being attacked. Any attack from a wild creature can cause you to contract all sorts of nasty diseases. To stay safe and ensure the removal is done right, you should contact a wildlife removal service like Turner Pest Control.
Can Animals Get Into a House Through a Crawl Space?
Yes, unfortunately animals can enter your home through crawl spaces. Once they’ve entered your crawl space, animals can gain access to your pipes, electrical wiring, air ducts, and various other areas of your home. Remember, never underestimate animals and their determination to find a safe space to rest and raise their young. There are even animals that burrow under concrete—yikes!
Aside from the crawl space itself, animals can enter your home via:
- Chimney flue
- Roof joints
- Attic vents
- Pipes and conduit
- Dryer vents
- Foundation joints
- Wood trim
- Construction gaps
- Fascia boards
- Soffits
- Roof vents
- Eaves
- Plumbing or electrical access points
Ultimately, where there is a will, there is a way, and critters in search of a safe home will find their way into your house if you let them.
How To Get Rid of Crawl Space Invaders
Every wildlife removal process varies, and it’s hard to keep up if you’re not an expert. A successful removal requires lots of special equipment and training. Additionally, you must follow all established wildlife removal laws and regulations, which are difficult to keep track of if this isn’t your area of expertise. Considering the complex and dangerous nature of wildlife removal, the best way to get animals out of your crawl space is to work with a crawl space pest control company.
Professionals like Turner Pest Control are able to quickly and effectively remove unwelcome wildlife from homes and businesses alike. Throughout Florida, our experienced team works diligently to safeguard communities from unwanted pests. If you need expert hands to banish uninvited animals ASAP, fill out our wildlife control request form, and we’ll be on our way!
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Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services for residential, rental, and commercial properties.
