Spring can bring more than just sunshine to Hamilton County—sometimes even unwanted guests. During spring many Hamilton County homeowners run into problems with wildlife. More critters may occupy yards or even find ways into homes. Spring is also when many animals give birth, which results in many nests or dens around homes. On top of that it grows animal’s populations, making there more of them.
Hamilton County has many animals that will appear this spring, but here are some specific ones to watch out for:
Skunks: Skunks are dormant during colder winter weathers, but once things warm up skunks become much more active, especially males. Skunks emerge in the spring in search of mates. They also emerge in search of food. Skunks eat grub, insects, and small animals, many of which aren’t as easily accessible until the spring. Skunks are known for getting into trash bins and they can burrow their way into your home or property. They will not only cause structural damage, but if you or your pets come into contact with them, they may spray their notorious odor. Skunks are also major carrier of rabies, which poses a direct threat to you and your family.
Racoons: After a cold winter, racoons are excited to get out and become more active in their search for food and mates. They are also known to have babies in the spring season and will look for places to keep their babies safe. Racoons may choose your Hamilton County home or property as the perfect space to build a nest. Racoons can cause structural damage to your property by scavenging their way through insulation and even siding. They are also notorious for destroying plants. Racoons may leave droppings and bring disease into your home.
Groundhogs: It’s not just Punxsutawney Phil that wakes up in early spring, all groundhogs do. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs, return every spring like they never left. They get right back to digging up and eating your yard or property. Groundhogs are known to cause the most damage to crops. They are known to burrow into the ground and can cause damage to foundations, roads, driveways, lawns, and embankments.
Moles: Mole problems or more problems? These nuisance critters are known to cause both. Moles will create “mole-holes” in your Hamilton County yard or property. Not only will these holes be a huge eye sore, they also can cause expensive landscaping damage. Moles revisit homes in spring in search for food, they create tunnels underground — where they spend most of their time. You may not see a mole in your property, but you will see their damage.
Squirrels: Seeing all the songbirds at your feeder in the spring is a lovely sight! But when those pesky squirrels climb up the feeder and steal the seeds, it becomes a major problem. With ample access to food in your yard, these critters have no reason to leave. In fact, they might even try to make your home theirs by taking up shelter in your attic or crawlspaces. Squirrels can leave droppings or bring diseases into your home. They may tear through insulation and cause structural damage to your Hamilton County home.
Snakes: Finding a snake slithering across your Hamilton County yard can cause quite the scare. Snakes love to come out and bask in the warm spring sun. Most snakes aren’t poisonous and out of the 30 snake species living in Indiana, only 4 of them are venomous. However, identifying snakes in your yard or home can be extremely difficult and make dealing with them quite a headache.
Birds: One of the biggest “tells” that spring has sprung is the birds chirping in the early mornings. These feathered friends can be a lovely sight, unless they are nesting in your home or on your property. Birds can find their way into vents, siding, attics, or under decks or porches. They can contaminate good, leave droppings or bad odors, spread diseases or parasites, and cause physical damages to your spaces.
Insects: Everyone’s biggest pest peeve comes out of hiding in spring…insects. As things defrost, these crawly creatures can enter your home and create problematic nests. A few of the most common insects in Hamilton County are wasps, ants, and spiders. Insects can cause painful welts or bumps from their stings or bites. In spring they often will build troublesome nests under decks and porches or on home sidings, eaves, or attics.
How to Protect Your Home
Animals can cause all types of damage to your home including:
- Insulation damage
- Electrical damage
- Structural damage
- Lawn & garden damage
- Physical damage to you, your family, & your pets
The best way to protect your Hamilton County home is to call the professionals at Critter Control of Hamilton County. We provide full-service wildlife control services from proven methods and solutions. Not only will we quickly and humanely remove wildlife from your home or property, we also will fix any damages, make repairs, and cleanup after the wildlife that invade your home. Our experts have years of experience and will get rid of your critter problem for good! Call us at 317.953.2523 and contact us today!
Other good practices to protect your home this spring include:
- Storing garbage safely and securely.
- Reducing clutter and removing branches or debris from your yard
- Installing a fence or barrier around your yard or garden
- Sealing any holes or cracks along your home
- Checking your attic, crawlspaces, garages, and eaves regularly