Common Attic Pests

One of the noises that can make a homeowner’s stomach sink is the sound of scurrying up in the attic space. That movement indicates that something has taken hold in the attic and getting pests out of the attic is no easy task. This week, we are enumerating the most common types of pests that homeowners find in their attic. Read on to learn all about those pests and some tips on how to get rid of them!

Squirrels

Squirrels are far and away the most common type of pest that gets into people’s attic. The little rodents get into attics because they love to chew on things. In fact, they will quite literally chew through your entire attic. Nothing is safe from them, including beams, wiring, anything being stored in the attic, insulation, or HVAC ducts.

The main problem is that squirrels only need a very small hole to access your attic space. The gap only has to be about an inch and a half. Even if the space is not technically wide enough for them, squirrels will chew the area around the hole to make it bigger. Something as small as a quarter inch gap quickly becomes a point of entry when a squirrel goes to work on it.

The only way to get rid of squirrels is to catch them in the attic and release them outdoors. Pest control experts strongly encourage homeowners to seal and reinforce any holes that lead into the attic or walls of their home.

Other small rodents that commonly get into attics include mice and rats.

Ants

An ant infestation in a home is an extremely frustrating experience, and it takes a long time to get rid of them completely. Unfortunately, attics can provide a safe haven for ants when nowhere else in a home is safe. Clearing ants out of the attic is especially challenging because the space is tight and there are many components to consider.

The best option in this case is to hire a pest control expert to help eliminate the ants. If the type of ant in a home lives in colonies, they are a little easier to target. Homeowners can help themselves by setting poisoned sugar traps. The traps are filled with sweet stuff that draws ants in. When ants bring the food back to the colony to consume, the poison slowly spreads through the colony. Set the traps up in various spots around your home for best results.

Other Pests

Unfortunately, there are a variety of pests that potentially view your attic as a launch point for an attack. They make their home base there and use it to infest the rest of your home.