Raccoons find easy entry into Belmar, NJ attic
Challenge
This homeowner in Belmar, NJ, found himself with a wildlife infestation in his attic. A determined raccoon had found an access point to gain entry into the attic. As a wildlife technician, I not only evict any trespassing animals from the premises, but also determine their entry point so that these gaps or holes can be sealed and the necessary repairs made. Oftentimes, there is property damage caused by the wildlife. A team from our contractor division may come in at the homeowner’s request to deal with the aftermath. The infested area of the home often needs to be cleaned, deodorized, and sanitized. In addition, ruined attic insulation may need to be removed and replaced.
During my inspection, I determined that a raccoon was gaining access through the attic fan. As anyone living in New Jersey with an attic knows, these fans are necessary to push hot, humid air out of the home, especially during the summer months. However, these fans come with a major downside: Wildlife often exploit them to gain access to the attic. Standard ceiling fan covers are often just a fairly flimsy piece of metal of poly-based cloth mesh. They are no match for the razor-sharp teeth and claws of raccoons and squirrels.
Solution
To exclude the raccoon from the attic, I set-up a “one-way” device over the ceiling fan. These doors allow the animal to leave, but prevent their return. I always put tape over the door so that i could monitor animal activity. Should an animal leave, some of their fur will stick to the tape. I also set up two baited traps on the roof.
Once trapping is completed, and we are assured that there are no animals remaining in the attic, Cowleys will install a new wildlife-proof galvanized steel mesh attic cover. These covers fit over the entire outside of the fan, permanently preventing any wildlife, including powerful raccoons, from entering through the ceiling fan.
