Avoid a squirrel invasion in your home

Squirrels and other pests can wreak havoc on a home, causing hundreds of dollars in damage and scaring the daylights out of you. Just ask Kathy Pribble. 

"I walked in the house and I immediately knew that there was something amiss. I have two cats, but they don't knock over my vase of flowers, they don't leave trails of things through my house," Pribble explained.  "I walked into the kitchen. I had left a package of Fig Newtons out on the counter and they were torn to shreds, all over the floor a mess. But, the most surprising thing was that the water was running in the sink. So somehow this creature, which I later on found to be a squirrel, had turned on the water faucet and left my water running."

If animals invade your house, you have a couple of options::

"I dusted, ran the sweeper in the TV room and then I was ready to tackle the Fig Newtons on the floor in the kitchen. As I left this room I looked back and the pillows, one happened to be cock-eyed and I decide I was going to go over and straighten it. When I lifted up the pillow I could see a squirrel asleep underneath the pillow and I thought I was going to have a heart attack," Pribble said.

Every year, animal control experts say there are home invasions from bugs, raccoons, mice, squirrel, even bats and snakes.

"Wild animals in your house are funny unless they happen to you," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. "

Getting the animals out of your house is just the first part of dealing with an animal invasion.

"Animal proofing is like buying insurance. You are insuring and your risk is going down that you are going to have animal entry. Once animals get in they are going to make a mess and it costs a lot to clean up so in the long run buying insurance for your home pays," explained wildlife removal and repair contractor Cory McClung.

Animals can be really clever about finding ways into your home. The tiniest holes may be enough for them.

"Some of the common entry points that we do see is the roof line of the house where the animal can tear the wood back and enter the attic," said McClung. "Also soffits, crawl space vents, any weak place on the structure that they can enter."

Pribble counts herself lucky there wasn't more damage to deal with. Her grandkids are happy it happened, too.

"I was telling it from one adult to another group of adults. But, evidently Luke had been listening very carefully off in the corner because it wasn't much later and he said, ‘Grandma, tell that squirrel story again,'" said Pribble. "So then I decided I would write a book. I created what I call Grandma's Squirrel Story: a True Tale."

Should you fall victim to an animal invasion, Angie's List recommends you do your best not to panic. Even if you're afraid of the rat, bat or snake - or whatever it is that's sought shelter from the outdoors - get to a place where you feel safe.  You'll want to take a little time to do your research because hiring a pest removal company can get expensive.

What to know before you hire an animal removal company:

• Full service vs. basics: Some companies focus only on the animal and provide no repair work to keep future critters out of your home. Know what you want before you call so you don't waste your time. Regardless of whether your critter catcher does the repair work, you do need to close up the entry points and repair any damage the animal caused during its stay with you.
  
• Methodology: Some companies offer humane trapping and relocation vs. more lethal means of ridding your home of the unwanted animal. Some offer alternatives to poisons, as well. Know what you want beforehand, so you don't have to bear witness to an execution if you'd rather set the critter free somewhere far away from your home.
  
• Size matters: Some companies focus on small animals while others will handle only with those squirrel-sized or larger. Companies focusing on bugs and rodents might not deal with wild animals at all.  Know the service offered by your prospective critter catcher before you go to the trouble of a house call.
  
• Pricing: Often consumers call thinking they have one wild beast to deal with only to find out whole families or a few species have moved in. Most companies charge by the number of large animals, although some will count babies as one adult rather than charge you individually for their removal.
  
• Dead or alive: Animal removal companies will often step in to remove carcasses that local governmental agencies (usually called Animal Control) will not. This may involve having to get into crawl spaces, attics, or break through walls, so be prepared for additional costs depending on how difficult it is to reach the critter. It's a good idea to get the carcass removed because the decaying process isn't just smelly, it creates a big mess that can cause health hazards.
  
• Stay or go: While you may want to live and let live, having a wild animal – or a flock of them – live in your home is a bad idea. Chewed wires can lead to electrical fires or damage, droppings can cause serious health issues and infestations can result in roof damage and leaks that can lead to more serious damage.
  

How do you know if a pest if living rent-free in your home? Angie's List suggests checking these areas:

• Attic: Check the attic floor and insulation for animal feces. Look for any outside light leaking in, which will indicate holes. You can test if a hole is being used by an animal placing flour in front of any holes and checking for footprints or stuff the hole loosely with a paper towel. If it gets pushed in or out, assume an animal is present. Even if the paper stays in place or you have no flour footprints – close the hole up.
  
• Pipes: Look inside your home behind appliances and anywhere else pipes enter. These are common entry points for mice.
• Decking: The area under the deck is a popular hangout for raccoons.

Angie's List tips for keeping animals out:

• Roof & siding: Look for loose vent screens, warped siding or holes. Make repairs once you have checked the attic and cleared out any critters.
  
• Chimney: An easy way to keep animals out is to install a chimney cap. Keep your flue closed when not in use.
  
• Pet doors: While these can be a great convenience for you and your pet; they can also be an entryway for unwanted wildlife. Consider electronic pet doors instead of the traditional flaps.
  
• Trash: Just like people, animals are drawn to the smell of food. Always secure trash containers. Put out trash the morning of collection instead of the night before.
  
• Trees & landscape: Keep trim limbs trimmed and away from your house. Accessible branches give animals a gateway to your roof. Cover and secure compost piles.  
  
• Fill gaps and cracks: Mice can get through a crack as small as a quarter of an inch big. Check the perimeter outside your home for holes, gaps and deteriorated weather.