As I type this the sunrays are finally warm, leaving behind the long, freezing winter and slow spring imminently behind us. I couldn’t decide on what subject to write on, until earlier this week when after several phone calls, property inspections and service calls, the subject became clear: “Should I wait to call to see if the animal in my house will leave?”

As nature should have it, baby animals are experiencing their first breaths and enjoying their first explorations…but not in your home, cottage, shed, deck or boat!! So, people need answers to questions like this. Here are some of the questions that I’ve had in the last couple of weeks that you may have yourself now or in the future, and my answers.

Q – I hear something in my attic, should I wait and see if it goes away?

A – No! In experiences with wildlife, many people think their attic, wall, or floor dweller is being transient and will move on shortly. This is almost never the case. The only transient species we handle are opossums. All the rest love to settle down in your home, just like you do! Note: They will also come back year after year unless their circumstances change.

Q – Can animals do damage in my attic?

A – Most definitely. The damage done to a structure is directly related to how long the animal is allowed to dwell in that environment. The type of damage done is species based but they can, and will, do damage.

Q – What kind of damage do animals cause in attics/walls?

A – Anything they can touch can be damaged. I’ve seen everything. Here’s a quick list: compressed/torn insulation, wall studs with holes chewed through them in succession, holes through drywall, live wires gnawed on, roof trusses damaged, urine and faeces stains through drywall, plastic water lines chewed, and sewer pipes chewed. All these things and more are at risk when an animal lives in your structure.

Q – So, if I hear a noise, what should I do?

A – Make notes on when, how loud, what it sounds like (scratching, chewing, running, or vocal) and where specifically the sound is occurring. Then call a local wildlife service to come and take a look. Waiting any length of time can turn a quick one-way door removal, that takes a single day, into a multi-faceted approach that can included cutting into walls, ceilings, floors, etc. to find the babies.

Q – I’m pretty sure I found the hole the animal is getting using to get in, can’t I just seal it up?

A – We heavily emphasize you DO NOT do this!! First of all, is the animal currently inside when you do this? Does the animal have babies inside that you’re now separating from their mother? The damage a trapped animal or a mother separated from its young can do to a structure can be devastating. Holes ripped through roofs, holes chewed clean through drywall or attic hatches, soffits mangled and torn are just a few things we’ve seen. Wildlife experts have the expertise and experience to know better what exactly is at play, and what tools to use to solve the issue.

Q – Well, what if I hear a noise in the fall? Does that change the answer to these questions?

A – No, it doesn’t. In fact, the theory of waiting to see if the animal will leave arises often in the fall and just as often, the animal beds down over the winter then has its young, possibly again, in the spring. So, if you hear a noise, get it addressed as soon as possible!

Q – Is there something I could’ve done to prevent this?

A – Yes! There are areas on every house that can be particularly at risk for animal invasion. Have a wildlife company come out and give a prevention assessment on your home or cottage. The costs of the prevention heavily outweigh the headaches and costs of a removal, and potential repairs to your investment. Then you would have to follow up by doing the prevention anyways, because you left your home a target. A target, due to animal pheromones now registering inside drawing new critters to your home.

Now sometimes these questions can cross over into the insect world as well. It’s very important to note that any issue left alone will, almost always, grow into a larger problem. This often makes it far more difficult to solve, leaving the effectiveness of the treatment in jeopardy, and causing the costs to rise.

As a DIY person myself, I highly respect people’s initiative to fix problematic issues themselves, but when it comes to animals and bugs, don’t wait too long, then regret not having it addressed sooner. Every spring this is a statement of regret I hear repeatedly: “I wish I had called sooner.” May this year be the year we all stay ahead of the little critters, so that they live outdoors where they belong.

Will McIntosh is part owner of Exit Wildlife and Pest Control Inc., serving Kawartha Lakes, Barrie, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Muskoka, Haliburton, Peterborough, Port Perry, Durham Region, York Region and surrounding areas. Contact Will at https://www.exitwildlife.ca/.