Wildlife Exclusion in Citrus County | Keep Wildlife Out for Good
- Aug 18, 2020
- 4 min read
Wildlife Exclusion: The Long-Term Solution to Wildlife Problems
Removing a nuisance animal from your home is only half the job.
The real question is:
How do you keep the next one from moving in?
That's where wildlife exclusion comes in.
At Nature-Tech Wildlife Solutions, we believe the best wildlife removal job is one you never have to pay for twice. That's why we place such a strong emphasis on professional exclusion work.
Throughout Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Hernando, Floral City, and the surrounding Citrus County communities, exclusion is often the single most important step in solving wildlife problems for the long term.
What Is Wildlife Exclusion?
Wildlife exclusion is the process of finding and permanently securing the places where animals are entering your home.
Instead of simply trapping an animal and hoping another one doesn't return, exclusion focuses on preventing future access.
This may include:
Sealing roof gaps
Repairing damaged soffits
Reinforcing vents
Screening gable vents
Closing utility penetrations
Repairing fascia damage
Installing chimney caps
Securing crawl space openings
Every home is different, which means every exclusion plan is different.
Why Trapping Alone Isn't Enough
Imagine your front door wouldn't lock.
Every time someone walked into your house, you escorted them outside...
...but never fixed the lock.
Eventually someone else would walk right back in.
That's exactly what happens with wildlife.
Many homeowners trap:
Rats
Raccoons
Squirrels
Opossums
Only to have another animal move into the exact same opening weeks later.
The trap worked.
The house was still open.
Common Wildlife Entry Points
One thing that surprises many homeowners is how many potential access points exist around a house.
Some of the most common include:
Roof returns
Loose soffits
Gable vents
Ridge vents
Roof intersections
Plumbing penetrations
HVAC openings
Garage door corners
Foundation vents
Chimneys
Finding every active entry point is one of the most important parts of a professional wildlife inspection.
Which Animals Need Exclusion?
Nearly every nuisance wildlife species benefits from exclusion work.
That includes:
Rats
Rodents can squeeze through surprisingly small openings and often use rooflines and utility penetrations to access attics.
Squirrels
Squirrels frequently chew new openings into soffits, fascia boards, and roof edges.
Raccoons
Raccoons are incredibly strong and can enlarge existing weak spots to enter attics.
Bats
Bat exclusion requires specialized techniques that allow bats to leave while preventing them from returning.
Opossums
Opossums commonly enter crawl spaces, sheds, and under decks where damaged barriers exist.
What I See Most Often
One thing I've learned over the years is that homeowners often think the animal is the problem.
Usually...
The opening is the problem.
I've seen homes where multiple raccoons had been trapped over several years because the same damaged soffit was never repaired.
I've seen customers catch rat after rat while a one-inch gap around a plumbing penetration remained open.
The wildlife changes.
The entry point stays the same.
Once that opening is professionally repaired, the recurring problem often disappears.
Why Exclusion Saves Money
Some homeowners hesitate when they hear the word "repair."
But consider the alternative.
Without exclusion, you may end up paying repeatedly for:
Additional trapping
More attic contamination
Chewed electrical wiring
Damaged insulation
Roof repairs
Repeat service calls
Fixing the access point once is often less expensive than dealing with repeated infestations over several years.
Our Wildlife Exclusion Process
Every property is different, but our exclusion work generally includes:
Comprehensive Inspection
We inspect the structure to locate active and potential wildlife entry points.
Species Identification
Knowing the animal helps determine the most effective exclusion strategy.
Animal Removal
Existing wildlife is safely removed before repairs begin.
Professional Repairs
Openings are sealed using durable materials appropriate for the location and the species involved.
Final Inspection
We verify that repaired areas are secure and discuss any additional recommendations for protecting your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wildlife exclusion?
Wildlife exclusion is the process of sealing and repairing the openings animals use to enter a structure, helping prevent future infestations.
Why can't you just trap the animal?
Because another animal may use the exact same opening if it remains accessible.
Does exclusion work for rodents?
Yes.
In fact, exclusion is one of the most important parts of long-term rodent control.
Can wildlife chew through repairs?
That depends on the materials used and the species involved. Professional exclusion uses repair methods designed to withstand repeated attempts by common nuisance wildlife.
Does every wildlife problem require exclusion?
Not always.
Some outdoor trapping situations don't involve a structure.
However, whenever wildlife has entered a home or building, exclusion is often the most effective way to help prevent future problems.
Protect Your Home, Not Just Today, but for Years to Come
Wildlife removal doesn't end when the trap is empty.
Long-term protection comes from identifying how the animal got inside and making sure that opening is no longer available.
Nature-Tech Wildlife Solutions provides professional wildlife exclusion, structural inspections, and humane wildlife removal throughout Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Hernando, Floral City, and the surrounding Citrus County area.
If wildlife has found its way into your home, we'll work to remove the current problem and help keep the next one from moving in.
Call today for your FREE inspection: 352.783.5594
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