In November, a raccoon that tested positive for rabies was killed in Raleigh, reminding us that those cute creatures with fluffy tails can sometimes be dangerous. While raccoons, possums, opossums, snakes and rodents like mice and rats are often found in the wild, some may explore or attempt to live in the crawl spaces of homes. Those scurrying sounds coming from under the floor of your home may very well be a rodent or small mammal.

To avoid animal from using your crawl space as a den, it’s important to take a couple of preventative maintenance measures. First is to find the opening(s) and seal them shut. If you have wide-open spaces all around the perimeter of the crawl space, you can seal them off inexpensively with lattice or steel mesh. Second, keep trash containers closed and food for outdoor pet foods away from the crawl space. The last thing you want to do is make your crawl space appealing.

If you think you have small mammals making a home of your crawl space, there are a few ways to drive them away. Install bright lights near or around the area. You can also use loud noises, such a placing a batter-operated radio inside your crawl space. Finally, you can attempt to rid them with pungent smells, such as bowl of cider vinegar placed within your crawl space. Overwhelming a animal’s senses is a safe, humane way to evict your unwanted guests.

The last thing you want to try is to trap an animal like a snake or possum or try to remove them yourself. You have no idea if they are rabid and you don’t want to run the risk of getting scratched or bit. The best option is to find a professional to remove the animals.

Critter Control of the Triangle has many techniques to get rid of animals in crawlspaces. 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.