Workers in hazmat suits. Costly clean up. Repairs and new insulation.

When pests get into your attic, the damage can be significant. And even threaten your health.

That’s why it is so important to pay attention to noises coming from above: thuds, scampering and scratching.

The longer animals nest in your attic, the bigger and more costly the mess. They ruin insulation and stored items. Their feces and urine stain ceilings, cause terrible odours, and can make you very sick, transmitting illnesses like leptospirosis, histoplasmosis and salmonella. Critters also harbour parasites like fleas, ticks and roundworm.

Creepy insect invaders are generally harmless but a huge nuisance. When they overwinter in your attic by the thousands, it looks like something out of a horror movie.

What are the most common pests that get into attics?

The experts at Pest HQ, Ontario’s leading source for do-it-yourself pest control products, say three pests most often get into attics:

Rodents – These include roof rats and mice. In addition to being a health hazard and making a stinky, poopy mess, rodents are constantly gnawing to keep their growing teeth in check. They chew anything: wood, plastic, even electrical wires. And that’s a problem because gnawed wires may spark, causing electrical fires.

Numbers aren’t available in Canada, but a fire safety expert estimates rodents cause up to 20% of undetermined fires in the United States each year.

Wildlife – Raccoons and squirrels may have multiple nests or dens tucked throughout the neighbourhood. They love to take up residence in attics to escape cold weather and during breeding season to raise their babies.

Raccoons, in particular, can get quite large and they produce much more poop than house mice. Just one can make a mess, and a family of six can spell disaster.

We heard of an attic raccoon den that got so heavy the critters and their mess fell through the ceiling.

Seasonal insects – Some insects overwinter in attics during colder months. These include cluster flies, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles and box elder bugs.

None of these insects transmit disease, but on warm, sunny days, some may find their way into your living space, perhaps in large numbers. Big, lazy cluster flies buzz around the windows. Brown marmorated stink bugs crash into lights and crawl on furniture. Asian lady beetles and box elder bugs leave stains if you crush them.

How do pests get into the attic?

Pests get into the attic by finding holes or making them.

Roof rats, mice, squirrels and raccoons can climb exterior walls straight up to the roofline. They may scale nearby trees and use branches overhanging the roof to get access.

Then they search for vulnerable points of entry:

·         rotting wood they can chew through

·         missing siding and soffit covers

·         plastic vent covers and vents missing screen

·         corners – where building materials meet and may no longer be aligned

A mouse can fit through a gap the size of a dime. Raccoons are strong and can rip off vent covers and damaged siding to get inside

Seasonal insect invaders seek out cracks and crevices to gain access to the attic. These may be located along the roofline, soffits, gables, windows, trim and where siding overlaps.

How can I keep pests out of the attic?

Pest HQ experts suggest the following to keep pests out of the attic:

1.      Inspect your home at least monthly. Look for areas where pests can enter and what could become entry points. Buildings degrade over time, often suddenly. Get inspection tips.

2.      Seal entry holes. Use professional grade exclusion materials to seal up holes, gaps and cracks where pests can get into the attic. Repair soffits. Replace rotting wood. Make sure vents are screened and secure. Get exclusion tips for keeping rodents and wildlife out of the attic.

3.      Deter pests. Apply repellents to trees, landscaping, siding and soffits to deter rodents and wildlife. Trim back overhanging branches and vegetation close to the building. To deter insects, apply natural insect repellents and botanical insecticide to the roofline, siding, gables and around windows. Discover natural pest control methods.

What if I already have pests in the attic?

Having a plan and using professional-grade products and equipment will help you get rid of pests in the attic. Pest HQ experts suggest the following:

1.      Inspect the attic. It helps to identify what and how many pests you’re dealing with, as this will determine strategies to get rid of them. For instance, do you need mouse traps or a live trap big enough to fit a raccoon? Wear gloves, eye protection and mask (or full-face respirator) to protect yourself from airborne pathogens.

2.      Remove the pests. For mammals, this usually involves trapping. Explore rodent traps and wildlife traps. Know your local municipal laws before live trapping and relocating animals.
Remove large numbers of insects with a HEPA vacuum.  Sticky fly traps and glue traps are effective for fewer numbers of insects. But you will need to inspect traps regularly and replace them if they become full.

3.      Remediate damage. Replace ruined insulation, if any. If damage is significant, hire a professional remediation team to remove feces and damaged materials. Hire an electrician if electrical wires have been chewed. Seal up entry holes with  professional grade exclusion materials.

4.      Monitor for future activity. Put out glue boards to monitor for insects. Set rodent traps to gauge mouse activity. Check traps regularly. If pests are caught in the traps, act quickly to control them.

In severe pest situations, you may want to hire a professional pest or wildlife management company to take care of the entire problem.

Be prepared to prevent and eliminate attic pests

Take steps to prevent attic pests and be prepared to act if you notice or hear signs of activity. Order traps, exclusion materials, repellents, insecticides and other pest control products online from Pest HQ. Items ship fast or can be picked up at our headquarters: 7 Meridian Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Want to know more about protecting your home from attic pests? Our experts are here to help. Contact Pest HQ.

Read more

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My house is crawling with stinkbugs? What now?

How to get rid of rats and mice

When overwintering pests are most active