Animals Under the House - Keep them Out

10.17.2003 - This is an older house in Orlando, built in the 1940's.  Like many Florida homes, it is elevated off the ground to prevent water damage.  It of course has no basement.  Most such homes have solid walls leading to the ground.  They have vents, for airflow, but at least they have walls.  Not this home.  It was simply an elevated home with no walls, and just a wide-open space leading under the home.  It's no surprise then, that over the years this house has been a favorite home to wild animals!  Critters just love to live in a dry place, and an open home like this is a magnet for opossums, stray cats, raccoons, armadillos, and snakes.

The only real problems with having critters under the home is that they tend to leave waste behind, and it smells bad.  Stray cats in particular, when they spray, cause an odor problem.  Also, they bring parasites and I've been to many houses which have a flea infestation because of critters living under the home.  They can also break into the house, finding and tearing open larger holes where pipes go through the floor or walls.  In addition, a common job that I deal with at least once a week is a case in which an animal has died under a house, and is now causing a huge odor problem.

Do it yourself: Visit my How To Do Wildlife Prevention Repairs page for tips and advice.
Get professional help: Visit my Nationwide Pro Directory of wildlife removal experts.

In the case of this house, now owners moved in, and there were opossums AND stray cats living under the house.  These animals were spreading fleas to the owner's two cats, and also eating all the cat food left outside.  This homeowner finally decided to do something about the critter problem.  Instead of offering pointless animal trapping, which is what the customer requested at first, I proposed that we solve the problem for good by eliminating the attractive habitat.  I proposed a steel exclusion barrier around the perimeter of the house.

I dug a trench, and buried this heavy-duty quarter inch steel screen a foot into the ground, with the bottom end turned out (to stop any animal that wants to tunnel under the screen).  It's bolted into the wood at the base of the house.  After installation, I filled in the trench and raked the woodchips back over, and it looked nice and neat.  Of course, I made sure all the animals were out before closing it up for good.  Now the problem is solved permanently!

Remember, the most important step in a total wildlife control solution is to stop the source of the problem - if you have wild critters in your attic or home, the only way to permanently solve the problem is to close all the entry points! This is a special skill, and it requires extensive knowledge of both architecture and animal behavior. Being a skilled repairman also helps. All repairs should be done in such a way that keeps animals out for good - this often means sealing with steel, and sealing openings so that they are airtight, with no trace of airflow for animals to detect. Remember, rodents can gnaw through almost anything, and raccoons can tear through almost anything. While it's important to trap and remove animals, and clean up the waste they leave behind, the most important step in solving the critter problem and in keeping animals out forever is to identify and repair every last critter access point into the building. Without this crucial step, the job isn't complete.

For more wildlife stories, click my Wildlife Blog or click my below banner to hire a local trapper.

A lot of houses are built in a way which keeps them above ground. These elevated houses are now being built more than ever with the main purpose of avoiding any damage due to water creeping below the house. There is a wide space underneath the house to allow the water to flow without causing much damage, however, the same elevation can create a lot of fuss. Animals can find their home in the warmth found under the house and seek shelter. Any such space is an invitation for animals like raccoons, stray dogs, stray cats, and opossums.

There are some major consequences that you might have to face due to these animals residing under your house. Firstly, it is bound to stink; the waste materials leave an odor that you might find very difficult to handle. Not to mention that if it dies, you will have to clean it up as well. Another thing is that they have a lot of flees on their body which can cause a flea infestation in your house. Lastly, these animals have often been found tearing their way into the homes of people. They can enter through small holes or a vent and then hide in your space. You must know some ways you can keep them out and protect your landscape from becoming a breeding space for these animals.

There are various ways you can use to get rid of animals that have found shelter under your house. One such common way is to use traps; however, it does not always work. One way of making sure that they not only empty the space below your house but also never come back again is to get rid of the source of them entering. Your house is seen as a good habitat and hence, why the animals find shelter there in the first place. The first step involves making the same space unattractive so animals are not drawn towards it. You can do this by getting all the animals out and then installing an exclusion barrier circling your property. You can dig a trench and then put strong iron rods bolted at the base and then cover it up with a screen. This will stop them from digging a tunnel to reach your house.

Another solution that you can apply is going around the house and finding the entry areas that animals use to access the house either through the attic or under your home. Animals know when there is an entry hole by sensing the air that can pass through it. The trick is to find these points and then seal them using appropriate materials like steel. Just make sure that the material used is of good quality so that any animal cannot gnaw or chew through it. Rodents are particularly known for gnawing at materials. Just identify the points and then seal them effectively. The reason behind this is that if there are no entry points, it becomes next to impossible to access the house.

A lot of houses are built in a way which keeps them above ground. These elevated houses are now being built more than ever with the main purpose of avoiding any damage due to water creeping below the house. There is a wide space underneath the house to allow the water to flow without causing much damage, however, the same elevation can create a lot of fuss. Animals can find their home in the warmth found under the house and seek shelter. Any such space is an invitation for animals like raccoons, stray dogs, stray cats, and opossums.

There are some major consequences that you might have to face due to these animals residing under your house. Firstly, it is bound to stink; the waste materials leave an odor that you might find very difficult to handle. Not to mention that if it dies, you will have to clean it up as well. Another thing is that they have a lot of flees on their body which can cause a flea infestation in your house. Lastly, these animals have often been found tearing their way into the homes of people. They can enter through small holes or a vent and then hide in your space. You must know some ways you can keep them out and protect your landscape from becoming a breeding space for these animals.

There are various ways you can use to get rid of animals that have found shelter under your house. One such common way is to use traps; however, it does not always work. One way of making sure that they not only empty the space below your house but also never come back again is to get rid of the source of them entering. Your house is seen as a good habitat and hence, why the animals find shelter there in the first place. The first step involves making the same space unattractive so animals are not drawn towards it. You can do this by getting all the animals out and then installing an exclusion barrier circling your property. You can dig a trench and then put strong iron rods bolted at the base and then cover it up with a screen. This will stop them from digging a tunnel to reach your house.

Another solution that you can apply is going around the house and finding the entry areas that animals use to access the house either through the attic or under your home. Animals know when there is an entry hole by sensing the air that can pass through it. The trick is to find these points and then seal them using appropriate materials like steel. Just make sure that the material used is of good quality so that any animal cannot gnaw or chew through it. Rodents are particularly known for gnawing at materials. Just identify the points and then seal them effectively. The reason behind this is that if there are no entry points, it becomes next to impossible to access the house.