|
 ANIMAL
DAMAGE 
|
~
Structural
Damage ~
1. Raccoons
2. Skunks
3. Tree Squirrels
4. Opossums
5. Roof Rats
6. Bats |
~
TREE
SQUIRRELS ~
Tree squirrels
damage roofing and siding materials in attempts to gain entry and obtain
shelter. They gnaw telephone cables and electrical wiring. They consume
a wide range of agricultural commodities.
Covered Vent |
Uncovered Nest |
This squirrel
damage to the redwood shingles was created
while the squirrel
was in the gutter.
The smooth hole
in the center indicates long term use by squirrels going in and out of
the attic.
Nationwide, damage
caused by tree squirrels is the number one consumer complaint received
by
Wildlife Control
Operators.
|
 |
Determination and Perseverance |
Sometime animal
damage continues and spreads even after the exclusion work is done.
This squirrel
was determined to
re-enter this
building so he made a new entrance by climbing down the screened vent and
gnawing his way back in.
Photo
by Mark Jones
|
Soffits are often
damaged by tree squirrels attempting to get out of an attic space.
Opening such as
these create opportunities for other small nuisance animals to enter the
house and create additional structural damage.
Photo
by Glen Robertson
|
Squirrel
soffit damage
|
Brief stop along the gutter highway |
The facia boards
behind a gutter is another area commonly damaged by tree squirrels
as they attempt to get into, or out of, a home.
Photo
by David McDaniel
|
Tree squirrels
create a tremendous
amount of damage
to telephone cables causing frequent interruptions in service. Heavy black
sheaths are sometimes installed over the cables to prevent this type of
damage.
|
Telephone cable gnawed by squirrels |
~
RATS
~
Rats often gnaw
through the insulation layers of electrical cables causing short circuits,
loss of power and structural fires. They damage clothing and fabrics and
damage structures in their attempts to gain entry, obtain shelter, food
or nesting sites.
In addition to
transmitting a variety of diseases by their feces, urine and hair, rats
consume or contaminate a wide variety of agricultural commodities and stored
food products. Rodent mites will leave the dead rat in search of a warm
blood meal from a living host.
Exposed
attic wire |
Insulation gnawed
from electrical wire on attic floor joist. Such damage can lead to
loss of power or fires.
|
Ultrasound emissions
are not effective as a deterrent of rats in a home or building.
This seems to
have created the
opposite effect
as the rats have been attracted to this device depositing their droppings
on top of and all around it.
|
Sound deterrent??? |
Roof Rat about to become someone's
"Uninvited Guest". |
More
rats enter buildings by way of structural defects than they do by openings
of their own making.
The key to effective
rat control in a home or building is to find these structural openings
and make the repairs necessary to exclude the vertebrate pests.
One-way
doors installed in foundation vents like the one shown here will allow
the rats to leave the structure while the exclusion work in underway |
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