As we prepare for fall weather, now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the popular wildlife creatures that will often look to your attic for safety, food, and shelter. Check out our list of the most common wildlife creatures in Florida and how you can prevent them from invading your attic this fall.
Bats
Bats are known for inhabiting dark, secluded areas as they are nocturnal. Adult bats can weigh up to 3 pounds, have large ears to help detect objects around them, and have two wings consisting of a double membrane stretched across their elongated fingers and arm bones. These creatures will often leave their habitat at dusk, returning around dawn. During the day, bats look for a dark, secluded place to sleep until it is time to search for a food source. Our attics provide the perfect, dark place for them.
Bats will often look at attic louvers and under facial boards. Inspect these areas and seal any cracks or crevices with caulk or steel wool. Likewise, screen attic vents and openings to chimneys and consider installing sweeps.
Roof Rats
Roof rats received their name for their tendency to find shelter in the upper areas of building structures. These rodents are long and thin with large eyes and ears, a pointed nose, and a scaly tail. Roof rats will typically feed at dusk and again before dawn, often foraging several times throughout the day and night. Since these creatures prefer higher areas to habitat, our attic is the perfect place for them to call home. Once these creatures are inside, they can create considerable damage, including gnawing on wires or destroying insulation.
The best way to prevent roof rats from invading your attic is to inspect for any holes or cracks larger than a quarter and seal them immediately with caulk. It’s also essential to keep your trees and shrubs trimmed away from your home and cut back the limbs overhanging on the roof, eliminating their chance to enter inside. Additionally, look to clean up any accessible food sources, such as fallen fruit from trees, and utilize lids for garbage cans.
Gray Squirrels
Gray squirrels are quite common attic invaders. These creatures weigh up to 1.5 pounds and are gray, with short thick fur and bushy tails. Once the weather cools, these creatures will look to our homes for a warm place to sleep and a food source. Once they’ve gotten inside our attics, they can create damage to the wood, insulation, wires, and storage boxes.
To prevent a squirrel infestation in your attic, it’s best to seal all entry points ¼” or larger and screen vents and openings to chimneys. To keep squirrels from using utility wires, consider utilizing a PVC pipe, cutting a 2-foot section of a 2-inch pipe lengthwise, and slipping it over the wire. The pipe will rotate, making it difficult for squirrels to maintain their footing.
Dealing with attic invaders can be stressful, so it’s best to call your local wildlife control company to help locate entry points and safely remove these creatures. These professionals will utilize the most up-to-date wildlife control techniques, prevent them from entering your home again, and recommend attic insulation options to help avoid an infestation in the future.
