Winter’s Unwanted Houseguests: Animals in Your Home

As colder weather finally settles in, you might find yourself sharing your home with some unexpected guests. Mice, raccoons, squirrels, and even possums often look for warmer places to stay as the weather grows colder. Attics make an ideal retreat, providing shelter from the elements. If you’re hearing strange noises—such as squeaks, scurrying, or even hissing—especially late at night, it’s likely that a critter has moved in.

If an animal has taken up residence, it’s important to act quickly before they get too comfortable. Once settled, they may start nesting, which can lead to further damage. Most animals leave clues that help identify them. High-pitched squeaks or chewing sounds usually mean rats or mice, while fast scurrying is often a sign of a squirrel or a mouse. Raccoons, known for their snarling and hissing, tend to make more aggressive noises. While some animals move into your attic on purpose, others may be there by accident and are simply trying to find a way back outside. Understanding what you’re dealing with can help you determine the best course of action.

Animals in your attic aren’t just a nuisance; they pose serious risks to your home. Most will gnaw on anything they encounter, especially mice and rats, which chew through wiring, creating fire hazards. Larger animals like raccoons and possums can tear apart insulation and ruin ductwork, leading to costly repairs. Their droppings and urine can also create unpleasant odors and unsanitary conditions.

If your problem is mice or rats, they likely came in looking for warmth and water. These small animals can squeeze through holes as tiny as a dime, so sealing any potential entry points and fixing leaks is essential. Setting bait traps can catch some of the rodents already inside, but long-term solutions require securing all access points to prevent re-entry.

Squirrels, on the other hand, usually prefer the outdoors and may have come into the attic by mistake. They often get in through soffits or vents. One of the best ways to help them leave is by installing an exclusion door—a one-way exit that allows them to leave but not return.

Raccoons are more determined and will stay put if they find a warm, dark spot. Since they’re nocturnal, try leaving lights on in the attic and playing music to encourage them to find somewhere quieter to rest.

Bats are trickier, as they’re usually very quiet unless there’s a large colony present. Due to potential health risks, bat removal should only be performed by a certified DEEP specialist.

Finally, possums, much like raccoons, are resilient squatters that often refuse to leave. Their droppings can quickly accumulate, leaving a huge mess and a foul odor. The best way to handle a possum is to call a professional for humane trapping and removal.

Ultimately, dealing with unwanted animal visitors is best left to professionals. Ignoring the problem can result in more than a few sleepless nights—it can lead to extensive and costly repairs.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Animals Hiding in Your Home This Winter

As nights and early mornings finally settle into a freezing pattern, you might find yourself sharing your home with an unwanted critter or two. The first sign of an animal intrusion is likely the noise. Late at night when all should be quiet, you might be woken up to squeaking, rustling, or even hissing somewhere above your head. As winter sets in, mice, raccoons, possums, and other small animals start looking for warmer shelter, and attics are a popular place for them to reside. What’s important is to take action quickly, before they start to get too settled and begin to nest where they shouldn’t. 

Generally, the noise that the animal makes will tell you what you’re dealing with. Squeaking or chewing sounds are likely rats, scurrying is probably a squirrel or mouse, and snarls or hissing is usually a raccoon. While some of these animals are looking for a place to call home, others may have ended up in your attic by accident and are looking for a way out. It’s a good idea to know the difference. 

Almost all animals are likely to chew through wiring and bigger ones like raccoons or possums can tear apart insulation and ruin ductwork. Even small mice can make unwanted nests and leave an awful smell from their excrement. Although dealing with animal removal is a pretty awful job, leaving an unwanted visitor alone will end up costing you a lot more than sleep. If removing pests isn’t on your resume, call in an exterminator to take care of the problem. 

If you have mice or rats, they have likely moved in because there is a water source. Simple bait traps will help get the ones that are already there, but a mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, so rodent-proofing is essential. You’ll also want to inspect for any roof leaks as part of the job.

Squirrels are one of the animals I mentioned that might have come in accidentally. They usually prefer it outside and will definitely be looking for a way to leave the attic. Soffits and vents are likely places for squirrels to be able to get in so your best bet is to install an exclusion door that lets the rodents out so they can’t come back. 

A one-way door will also work for raccoons, who don’t mind sticking around if they find a warm, dark, and comfy place to live. However, since raccoons are nocturnal, you can make your attic less accommodating by leaving the lights on and even playing music. They’ll soon look for somewhere else to live. 

Bats are elusive in that they are very quiet and you might not even hear them unless there is a decent size colony making their home in yours. Removal is key and should only be done by a registered DEEP specialist as bats can be diseased. 

Finally, there are possums which, similar to raccoons, won’t want to leave. These guys are pretty resilient and they go to the bathroom everywhere, leaving a huge, smelly mess behind. The best method to get rid of a possum is to have it trapped and removed by a professional. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Animal-Proof Your Attic

If you’ve ever had an animal in your attic, you know how annoying it can be. From scratching and scurrying during the night to high-pitched whistles and chatter, having a furry friend invade your home is a surefire way to ruin a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, animals love dark, safe spaces to den, which is why an attic ticks all of the boxes. As bad as it is to have one intruder, the last thing you want is for an animal to bring their babies in or to give birth under your roof. Here are four ways you can reduce the risk of sharing your home with an unwanted guest of the four-legged variety. 

Trim Trees 

Don’t make it easy for an animal to get in. Large trees that are adjacent to your home should be trimmed back to ensure that a squirrel or chipmunk can’t easily get onto the roof. These animals love chewing, so any wiring or piping is at risk once they are in. Forget the noise, a destroyed electrical system is a lot more painful than a bad night’s sleep. 

Inspect the Roof

Animals can squeeze into small holes, so make sure your roof is in great shape with all the shingles intact, especially around the chimney flashing. Most animals will stay in a place with water so a leaky roof actually makes an excellent home for tiny pests like rats and mice. 

Install a Chimney Cap

Speaking of chimneys, you have no idea how many people call me because a squirrel or raccoon has become curious about what’s down that hole in the roof. A simple mesh chimney cap ensures that you can use your fireplace safely while preventing anything from being able to get inside.

Cover Vents

A good roof will have a series of vents that allow your home to “breathe” by letting air in and out to reduce the possibility of mold, mildew, and rot. However, open vents also make it easy for animals to enter. A simple vent cover will still let air in while reducing the possibility of intruders invading the attic. 

If you think you hear an animal in your attic already, it’s a good idea to know what you’re dealing with. Rats will generally gnaw at just about anything they can find and they make a unique squeaking sound. Mice will scurry and actually sound a lot louder than their size suggests. Screams or hisses will likely be from a raccoon and if you have one, you’ll know it. Squirrels are quieter but they’ll love tearing up your insulation. Possums are also common, and they really smell. Regardless of what the animal is, you don’t want to leave it alone and let it get comfortable. An exterminator will help you find the right course of action for your home, including trapping and releasing and one-way exclusion doors. Good luck!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.