Though it’s been an unseasonably warm winter, cold weather will eventually come to Raleigh, N.C. and most families will no doubt fire up the furnaces and turn up the heat to keep themselves comfortable. But while we get warm and cozy, wild animals and pests might want to join the party too. As we enter into the winter season here in North Carolina, here are few tips to make sure wild animals don’t invade your warm abode this winter:

1. When preparing or weatherizing your home for the winter, do a thorough inspection of your house. Look for holes, cracks or small areas an animal as small as a mouse could use as an entry point. Even the smallest opening is all some animals need to pry their way in.
2. Before closing off entry points, confirm there are no animals already inside. Loosely placing a piece of paper or cloth at any suspected entry point can alert you to animal movement, either via paw prints or because the sheet has clearly moved. If after a few days (and at least one full night) the paper hasn’t moved and there are no visible tracks, you can seal off the entry point.
3. Keep tree branches trimmed at least six feet away from your house. This will not only limit access for wildlife, but also prevent damage to the roof that may allow animal entry in the future. This is one of the most common ways for squirrels or raccoons to enter the upper portion of a home.
4. Don’t put your trash out at night, even if it’s more convenient. Putting your trash out in the morning before trash collection — when pest are much less active — will give wild animals much less time to check out your home, as many animals do their feeding in the night hours.

If you do have wild animals inhabit your home this winter, it’s best to get a professional to remove them. Critter Control of the Triangle has many techniques to prevent raccoons and other animals from entering your home, as well as remove them. Give the wildlife experts of Critter Control of the Triangle a call at 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.=