OK, so you’ve got a chimney cap installed. You’ve covered your foundation vents. You can sleep at night knowing there’s no other way unwanted animals can get in your home. Before you tuck yourself in, let’s consider your roof vents.

Many homeowners don’t realize that your roof vents (those little pipes that stick out of your roof) can be an entry point for critters. Depending on the area in which you live, there are literally dozens of different insects, birds, and small can slip through these obvious holes on your rooftop. Blocking pests at the rooftop — before they can enter a vent — is imperative, and can be accomplished easily.

Replace damaged and vulnerable vents with sturdier, more animal-proof designs. Some vents can be modified with homemade screens. For example, you could attach quarter-inch hardware cloth to screen a hood event. Just be careful that you don’t reduce the amount of ventilation too much when you’re modifying a vent, especially with dryer vents. This could increase the risk of fire. Check the requirements for each piece of equipment before you modify.

Roof vents should be made of either heavy-duty plastic or metal. The best models are totally enclosed to prevent birds and rodents from nesting inside them. There are also commercial stainless steel box screens that are secured over existing vents.

In the event you do have some unwanted guests enter your home through your roof vents, it’s best to get a professional to remove them.

Critter Control of the Triangle has many techniques to prevent squirrels, raccoons and other animals from entering your home, as well as techniques to remove them. Give the wildlife experts of Critter Control of the Triangle a call at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.