Winter Wildlife Watch: Humane Exclusions for Raccoons, Bats & More
How BugBoss The X-Terminator Protects Your Clintonville Home and Local Wildlife During the Coldest Months
As the snow piles up in Waupaca County, we aren't the only ones looking for a warm place to hunker down. In Clintonville and the surrounding areas, winter is "prime time" for wildlife looking to trade the frozen hollows of trees for the insulated warmth of your attic, crawl space, or chimney.
While these animals are just trying to survive the Wisconsin winter, their presence in your home can lead to chewed wiring, ruined insulation, and health risks. At BugBoss The X-Terminator, we specialize in humane exclusion—a professional approach that gets the animals out and keeps them out, without causing unnecessary harm.
The Winter Guests: Raccoons and Bats
In Janesville and Clintonville, two of our most common winter intruders are raccoons and bats. Each requires a specific, expert approach to ensure the safety of both the homeowner and the animal.
- Raccoons: These clever critters are strong enough to rip through shingles or soffits to reach a warm attic. Once inside, they create "latrines" that can damage your ceiling and spread parasites.
- Bats: Wisconsin bats (like the Big Brown Bat) often hibernate in attics or wall voids. Because they are a protected species in Wisconsin, you cannot simply "exterminate" them.
Why "Exclusion" is Better Than Trapping
Traditional trapping and relocating can be stressful for animals, especially in sub-zero temperatures. If an animal is moved miles away in the dead of winter, it may not have the food or shelter stores to survive.
The Humane Exclusion Method:
- Identification: We perform a 360-degree inspection to find every "secondary" entry point.
- One-Way Doors: We install specialized one-way exclusion devices. These allow the animal to leave your home to find food but prevent them from re-entering.
- The "Check-Back": Once we are certain the space is vacant, we remove the device and permanently seal the entry point with wildlife-grade materials that teeth and claws can't penetrate.
The Importance of Professional Timing
Timing is everything when it comes to humane wildlife control. For example, Bat Exclusion in Wisconsin is strictly regulated by the DNR to protect flightless pups during the summer. In the winter, we focus on "proofing" your home—identifying where they are hibernating and creating a plan to seal the home once they become active in the spring, or managing individual "lost" bats that end up in your living space.
Preventing Future Intrusions: A Homeowner’s Checklist
You can help the "BugBoss" team by making your property less attractive to winter wildlife:
- Secure Trash Cans: Use heavy-duty lids or bungee cords to prevent raccoons from treating your bins like a buffet.
- Trim Your Trees: Keep branches at least 10 feet away from your roofline to cut off the "highway" to your attic.
- Inspect Your Vents: Ensure your gable, soffit, and roof vents have heavy-duty metal screening.
Why Choose BugBoss The X-Terminator?
Based right here in Clintonville, WI, we aren't just a pest control company; we are your neighbors. We understand the local wildlife patterns of Waupaca County and the specific architectural challenges of Wisconsin homes. Whether you’re hearing scratching in the walls or seeing tracks in the snow leading to your porch, we provide professional, thorough, and compassionate solutions.
Don't let wildlife turn your home into their winter den. Our team is ready to help you reclaim your space while respecting the local ecosystem.
Call BugBoss The X-Terminator today at 866-BUG-BOSS for a free wildlife inspection.
