As the weather starts cooling down, many squirrels and rodents look for warmer locations for the winter months. Unfortunately, your heated home is an ideal target. Not only are these animals an annoyance when they’re inside, but they can cause significant damages to your home, destroying walls, pipes, insulation, furniture, wiring, etc.
Since there are many different ways squirrels and rodents can enter your home, It’s important to be on the offensive to ensure your home remains secure. Remember, it’s always better to deal with them outside then inside. Here’s what you can do to prevent squirrels and other tiny critters from entering your home.
Secure the Perimeter
Squirrels, mice, and other rodents are sneaky and effective at burrowing through walls. What looks like a small crack outside, can easily become an entry point. That is why it is essential to do a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home.
Look for any small openings, particularly along the base of your home or concrete. These animals can also burrow through the ground and reemerge inside, so be on the lookout for any nearby signs of digging or holes in grass, mulch, gravel, etc. If you spot any cracks or potential entry points, you want to fill them right away. Caulking is useful and simple solution for sealing any cracks you find.
Deny Access to the Roof
Another area of access, particularly for squirrels, is the roof. Squirrels are extremely dexterous when it comes to climbing trees and jumping from branch to branch. You want to keep branches trimmed and away from your roof to limit access. If there are branches from a neighbor’s tree that come in close contact with your home, try talking with them to see if they can get them trimmed.
Likewise, you can install cover guards for you gutters, so tiny animals cannot use them as an access point. Another rooftop concern are chimneys. You want to cover them with a similar mesh guard as your gutters. However, make sure there is enough air flow for smoke to escape. If smoke cannot escape properly, there can be serious drawbacks that impact your home.
Install Motion Sensors and Video Surveillance Cameras
Most believe motion sensors can only detect humans. But many are sensitive enough to detect small creatures as well. If you place enough motion sensors around your home, you can get an idea of where these animals are targeting your home.
When paired with video surveillance cameras, you’ll be able to pinpoint what animals are entering your home and exactly where they’re targeting. Ultimately, this gives you a better understanding of weak points in your home’s exterior and allows you to correct it accordingly.
There are more benefits to installing a home monitoring system than preventing squirrels and rodents from getting inside. The team at Vector Security can help you decide which security products will work best for your property. If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact us today.
