As the seasons shift in Southern Maine, local wildlife adapts to the changing environment, and many critters start looking for shelter, warmth, and food. Unfortunately, this often means that homes and businesses become prime targets for infestations. Whether it's the attic, basement, or even under your deck, critters can find their way into spaces you wouldn’t expect.
At Critter Control of Southern Maine, we understand the challenges of seasonal wildlife invasions. We’re here to help you prepare for and manage the wildlife issues that come with each season, ensuring that your home remains safe and critter-free all year long. Here’s what to watch out for as the seasons change and how you can prevent unwanted guests from taking up residence in your home.
Spring: A Time for Nesting and Breeding
With the arrival of warmer temperatures, wildlife becomes more active as they search for mates and suitable places to nest. In Southern Maine, this is a critical time for homeowners to be vigilant about potential intruders. Rodents, birds, and other wildlife are often looking for the warmth and protection that your home can provide.
What to Watch For:
- Mice and Rats: These rodents are notorious for sneaking into homes in the spring to escape the elements and find food. They often enter through small gaps or cracks in walls, windows, and door frames. Once inside, they can cause significant damage by chewing through electrical wires, insulation, and drywall. Mice can also spread diseases such as Hantavirus and salmonella through their droppings.
- Squirrels: As they breed, squirrels become especially determined to find warm spaces to raise their young. They will chew through roofing materials, shingles, or soffits to gain access to attics or crawl spaces. Squirrels are also known for causing structural damage by gnawing on wood, insulation, and even plastic water pipes.
- Raccoons: Raccoons are highly resourceful animals that often take advantage of any opportunity to find shelter. Spring is a peak time for raccoons to seek nesting sites, as females look for safe places to give birth to their young. They can easily make their way into attics, chimneys, and even crawl spaces. If left unchecked, raccoons can cause extensive damage, as they are known to tear up insulation, chew on wires, and create dangerous nests.
Prevention Tips for Spring:
- Inspect the exterior of your home for holes or cracks, especially around areas where utilities enter the building (e.g., pipes, vents, and cables).
- Trim tree branches back from your roofline to prevent squirrels and raccoons from using them as entry points.
- Install chimney caps to keep raccoons and other animals from entering your chimney.
Summer: The Heat Drives Critters Indoors
During the summer, the hot weather can push wildlife in search of cool, shaded, or sheltered spots. While many animals are still active outside, others begin to seek refuge in your home, especially if food or water sources are limited. Insects and small mammals are especially prevalent during this time.
What to Watch For:
- Ants and Termites: Summer is the peak season for ant activity. These tiny insects are often in search of food and water, and once they find a way inside, they can quickly form trails leading directly to your kitchen or pantry. Termites, too, become more active in the summer, especially in areas with high humidity. Termites can silently destroy wood structures over time, often without being noticed until the damage is severe.
- Bats: Bats are a common summer pest in Southern Maine, especially in rural or wooded areas. They are attracted to attics and other sheltered areas where they can roost during the day and hunt for insects at night. While bats are beneficial to the environment because they eat large quantities of insects, they can pose significant health risks by spreading diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis through their droppings.
- Bees, Wasps, and Hornets: Warm weather can cause a surge in bee, wasp, and hornet activity. These insects often build their nests in sheltered areas around homes, including eaves, rooflines, and sheds. If their nests are disturbed, these insects can become aggressive and pose a risk to anyone nearby, especially if someone is allergic to stings.
Prevention Tips for Summer:
- Seal gaps around windows, doors, and foundation cracks to prevent ants from entering.
- If you notice signs of termites (such as mud tubes or small holes in wood), contact a professional pest control expert immediately.
- Install bat exclusion devices, such as one-way doors, to prevent bats from entering your attic or chimney.
- Inspect your property regularly for the presence of nests and take action to remove them before they become a problem.
Fall: The Rush to Find Winter Shelter
As the weather cools, animals begin to prepare for the long winter ahead. Fall is a critical time for homeowners to stay on top of wildlife prevention because many critters are now actively seeking out warm, secure places to hibernate or nest for the winter.
What to Watch For:
- Mice and Rats: As temperatures drop, rodents begin their annual search for indoor shelter. Mice and rats will be looking for warm areas to build nests, especially in attics, basements, and walls. Their presence is more than just a nuisance—rodents can carry diseases, contaminate food, and chew on insulation and electrical wiring, which can lead to fires.
- Squirrels and Raccoons: Both of these animals are very active in the fall as they prepare for winter. They will try to gain entry into attics, roofs, and walls to find a safe place to stay through the cold months. They will often gnaw on wood or even siding to get in. Raccoons are especially persistent and can cause extensive damage to your home.
- Deer: Fall is the time when deer become more active as they forage for food before winter sets in. They may enter yards and gardens, damaging plants, and even cause accidents by darting across roadways. While they generally don't enter homes, deer can become a nuisance and even attract predators like coyotes and foxes.
Prevention Tips for Fall:
- Inspect your attic and basement for signs of rodent activity, and seal up any small entry points with steel wool or caulking.
- Ensure that chimneys are capped, and that vents and soffits are securely fastened.
- Keep food stored in airtight containers to reduce the attraction of rodents or insects.
Winter: Cold Weather Invaders
Winter in Southern Maine is harsh, and it forces many animals to seek shelter wherever they can find it. While some animals hibernate, others are still active and will attempt to make their way into your home in search of food and warmth.
What to Watch For:
- Rodents: Mice and rats are the most common winter invaders. Once they find a way into your home, they often stay inside during the cold months, where they can breed and continue to cause damage.
- Wild Birds: Birds, such as pigeons and sparrows, may seek refuge in attics, chimneys, or even between the walls of your home during the winter. Their droppings can be a health hazard, and their nests can create blockages in vents and chimneys.
- Bats: While many bats hibernate during the winter, some may stay active if they find a warm spot inside your home. Bat guano can accumulate quickly and pose serious health risks if not dealt with promptly.
Prevention Tips for Winter:
- Ensure that your attic is properly insulated, and use screens to seal off any vents or holes.
- Keep food sealed tightly to avoid attracting rodents indoors.
- Have your chimney inspected and cleaned to ensure there are no nests or blockages from animals seeking shelter.
How Critter Control of Southern Maine Can Help
At Critter Control of Southern Maine, we specialize in humane wildlife control and removal. Our team of trained experts is experienced in dealing with a wide range of wildlife, from rodents and squirrels to bats, and raccoons. We offer comprehensive wildlife management services, including:
- Humane removal of animals from homes and businesses.
- Inspection and sealing of entry points to prevent future infestations.
- Damage repair and cleanup of areas affected by animal activity.
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure your home stays critter-free.
Don’t wait until your home becomes overrun with wildlife. Schedule a thorough inspection with Critter Control of Southern Maine today, and take the first step toward protecting your property from seasonal critter invasions.