Category: ANIMAL ON ATTIC

11/20/2025 0 Comments

How to Keep Raccoons, Squirrels, Bats & Other Critters Out of Your Attic (Hampton Roads Guide)

Your attic is warm, quiet, and protected—exactly the kind of place raccoons, squirrels, bats, opossums, and other wildlife love.
But once they get inside, they can cause major damage, from chewed wires to contaminated insulation.
Below is your complete guide to keeping wildlife out of your attic, created by the team at All Around Animal Control, your local wildlife experts in Hampton Roads.
Learn more about our attic and crawl space services here:
👉 https://www.allaroundanimalcontrol.com/hampton-roads-animal-removal-attic-crawl-space-wildlife-control.html

Why Raccoons, Squirrels & Other Wildlife Enter Attics Animals enter attics for 3 main reasons:
✔ Warmth
✔ Safety for nesting
✔ Easy access through gaps and weak points
In Hampton Roads, wildlife activity spikes from fall through spring, making this the most important time to secure your home.

🛠️ Step-by-Step: How to Keep Animals Out of Your Attic
1️⃣ Seal All Entry Points (Your Most Important Step)Raccoons can rip open weak spots. Squirrels only need a hole the size of a golf ball. Bats can enter openings as thin as a finger.
Check and seal:

Roof line gaps
Damaged soffits
Loose vents
Gable vents
Chimney cracks
Rotting wood
Uncapped corners
Open crawl space vents

Interactive Tip:
👉 Walk around your home at dusk. If you see a squirrel, raccoon, or bird entering the roofline, that’s your entry point.

2️⃣ Trim Branches & Trees Near Your RoofSquirrels use tree limbs as highways.
Raccoons can climb straight from a branch onto your roof.
Keep branches 8–10 feet away from all roof edges to reduce access.

3️⃣ Install Critter-Proof Screening Use heavy-duty galvanized steel mesh, NOT plastic or cheap screens.
Protective screening should be added to:

Roof vents
Soffit vents
Gable vents
Crawl space vents
Chimneys (with a chimney cap)

Animals cannot chew through steel mesh—and this one step blocks 80% of attic invasions.

4️⃣ Eliminate Food Sources Around Your Home A hungry animal will always return.
Remove or secure:

Pet food
Bird feeders
Open trash cans
Fruit or nuts under trees
Accessible compost piles

Bonus Tip:
👉 If you can smell your trash, wildlife can smell it from twice as far away.

5️⃣ Address Moisture & Odors Moisture attracts insects. Insects attract hungry wildlife.
Check for:

Roof leaks
Standing water
Wet insulation
Crawl space humidity
Poor ventilation

A dry home is a wildlife-resistant home.

6️⃣ Use Attic & Crawl Space Barriers If your home already had animals before, they may return unless proper exclusion work is done.
Professional barrier options include:

Metal flashing
Ridge guard systems
Soffit underpayment
Wildlife exclusion boards
Crawl space sealing

These prevent repeat break-ins, which are very common with squirrels and raccoons.

7️⃣ Know When to Call a Professional If you’re already hearing:

Scratching
Thumping
Chirping
Movement at night
Sudden odors

You most likely have an active wildlife problem.
DIY is not recommended if:

It’s a raccoon (they can be aggressive)
You suspect babies
You think bats are present (protected species laws apply)
There is damage to wiring, insulation, or duct work

Professional wildlife removal ensures safe, humane, and permanent solutions.

📌 Need Help? We Keep Wildlife Out—For Good.All Around Animal Control specializes in:
✔ Raccoon removal
✔ Squirrel removal
✔ Bat inspection & exclusion
✔ Opossum removal
✔ Attic clean-ups
✔ Crawl space wildlife control
✔ Entry-point sealing
✔ Odor & contamination cleanup
Learn more:
👉 https://www.allaroundanimalcontrol.com/hampton-roads-animal-removal-attic-crawl-space-wildlife-control.html

📞 Call Now 757-236-6518
Serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, and all of Hampton Roads

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9/10/2025 0 Comments

How to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home in Virginia Beach, Norfolk & Chesapeake

How to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home in Virginia Beach, Norfolk & Chesapeake
It was a quiet Saturday morning in Chesapeake when the Johnsons heard scratching above their living room ceiling. At first, they thought it was the wind—but soon realized a family of squirrels had moved into their attic!
Stories like this are more common than you think. Wildlife such as squirrels, raccoons, bats, snakes, and birds often find cozy spots in attics, crawl spaces, vents, and chimneys. Not only can these critters damage your home, but they also bring health risks and unexpected stress.
At All Around Animal Control, we’ve helped countless homeowners in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and surrounding areas safely remove wildlife and prevent them from returning. Here’s how you can protect your home:
1. Inspect and Seal Entry Points, Walk around your home looking for gaps, holes, or weak spots where animals could enter. Pay close attention to roof lines, vents, chimneys, and foundations. Even small openings (as small as ¾ inch) can be a welcome invitation for squirrels or bats.
2. Keep Your Yard Clean, Remove fallen fruit, trim overhanging tree branches, and secure trash bins. Raccoons and rodents are attracted to food sources and easy access points.
3. Use Safe Deterrents, Humane deterrents like motion-activated lights, ultrasonic repellents, or predator decoys can help discourage animals from approaching your property.
4. Maintain Regular Home Maintenance, Check your attic, crawl spaces, and vents periodically for signs of wildlife. Early detection makes removal much easier and less expensive.
5. Call the Professionals, Sometimes wildlife removal requires expert knowledge and safe handling. All Around Animal Control offers humane, fast, and reliable removal services for:

Squirrels
Raccoons
Bats
Snakes
Birds
Groundhogs
Wasps & hornets
Dead animal removal

📲 Don’t wait until wildlife causes costly damage. Call All Around Animal Control at 757-236-6518 today for expert wildlife removal and prevention in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and surrounding areas.
Or visit us online: allaroundanimalcontrol.com

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How to Keep Raccoons, Squirrels, Bats & Other Critters Out of Your Attic (Hampton Roads Guide)

How to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home in Virginia Beach, Norfolk & Chesapeake

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