How to Get Rid of Pests in the Attic
It’s two a.m. you hear a bump in the night and jolt up in bed. After an inspection you realize you’re alone, perhaps it was a dream. Three a.m. you know you were not dreaming this time there was a noise and it was right above you. Before you call Ghostbusters you might want to try some pest control. Although attic interlopers may seem cute and cuddly there are many reasons to remove them from your home; droppings and parasites spread serious diseases, and their nests, gnawing and playing create fire hazards. There is hope though for the do it yourselfer.
The first step is to remove the pest; you have a few options for removal. I would recommend a live trap, they cost between twenty-five and forty dollars at farm supply stores and are simple to set up. If you catch a baby use it as bait for the mother. Each state has different laws for releasing an animal back into the wild so be sure to find out yours. I would not recommend poison as you have no control over where the animal dies and a rotten corpse in your dining room wall is not a pretty sight (or smell). Be careful if you enter your attic where you place your feet so you don’t bust a hole in your ceiling. Wear gloves and face protection as animals can get angry when cornered or protecting their young.
Once you have removed the animals and safely discarded of the feces (you may want to hire a professional for this as it is pretty gross not to mention hazardous.) The next step is to ensure that you don’t have a repeat offender. Start with a visual tour to discover the animals entrance point, once discovered block it off permanently. Use mothballs and strong scented bars of soap to make your attic smell unappealing to pests. Strategically place hardwear cloth over any pipes, vents, or chimneys that must stay open; just remember to clean leaves and other debris from them.
Getting rid of an attic pest yourself is possible as long as you don’t mind a little contact with the animal. It is important to keep the critters out after removal though or you will once again be waking up to the pitter patter of little feet in the middle of the night.
