What are typical architectural deficiencies that rodents and wildlife use to enter homes?

When it comes to mice: rainscreen, rainscreen, rainscreen. This is a big issue we see on new buildings. Installed around the perimeter of buildings, rainscreen is designed to protect the structure from moisture related damage. However, as it is installed between the foundation and siding seam, its plastic mesh provides ideal ingress points for mice who easily chew straight through the material to enter the structure thus compromising the protective membrane and insulation. Mice will also make use of siding gaps, foundation issues or ground level vents to enter homes.

Squirrels tend to chew out gutterlines, soffit angles, soffit vents and roof vents to enter homes. Rats will also use these areas in addition to vulnerabilities at ground level such as foundation concerns or siding gaps.

Raccoons can easily pull open soffiting to enter the attic for soft nesting sites within the insulation or burrow under decks or sheds.

Birds which nest in cavities such as European starlings and pigeons will access through open soffiting, soffit angles and fascia boards. Flickers may hammer on the siding.

Bats will access through gaps in the gutterline, along fascia boards, and in soffit angles to roost.

I’m considering buying a home and the inspector has reported rodent activity, what do I do now?

It’s important to understand that home inspectors are not wildlife professionals and so evidence of one species may not necessarily equate to the only problem onsite.

Determining how animals got into your house and if the problem has been previously addressed is the first step in giving you peace of mind. Obtaining an inspection by wildlife professionals such as our team, will provide you with a clear understanding of who is living in your home and what can be done about it – including how much you need to budget to resolve the problem.  

How do I get rid of the uninvited roommates?

Every species will access and make use of a home or structure differently. Understanding wildlife behaviour in combination with the site-specific findings will inform how the problem can be solved – permanently.

Rodents and wildlife will have found entry points on the exterior of the building to enter the structure. Once inside they move between the shared structural space and utility lines between levels.

Humanely removing the animals and keeping them out of your home through custom pest proofing is vital to prevent against ongoing damage and protect your investment.

Contact our team today for your post-inspection recommendations.