How can you tell if you have a raccoon or squirrel in your attic, Part II

My attic | 1/27/19 | Me, Myself, & I

[ronniesgal]

it’s ok- sometimes i think she might!

[JayAr36]

Makes no difference if you are a d’rat.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Check to see if it has a mask. Raccoons do.

[Farmer Dean]

She has mousse and squirrel in her attic.

[JimRed]

A large, bare tail could indicate a possum, too.

[Cheesehead in Texas]

I estimate every raccoon in the attic is worth about $10,000 worth of damage. I bought a lake house and the sellers disclosure said the attic used to have a raccoon. The inspector for the sale told me, “If they used to have a raccoon in the attic, then it left yesterday.” I hired a pest company to trap attic pests. Meanwhile, I replaced rotted wood siding with hardiplank, got rid of an aging deck, sealed up the raccoon entry into the house at the sewer line, and built a brick patio where the deck used to be. A raccoon and her kits were trapped in the attic. Then I hired an electrician to replace all the chewed wiring. I installed steel mesh over any holes in the attic. My HVAC guy was inspecting the AC units and systems and was taking pictures in the intake ducts. He noticed the sheet metal of the duct was torn away from the wall and sent his skinniest guy into the duct to see why it was damaged. Behind the duct between the duct and the sheetrock, from floor to ceiling, was a raccoon larder of dead fish, that was being kept cool by the AC. So, fish clean up, duct repair, electrical repair, pest control, mesh installation, clean up of raccoon nests and litter in the attic, hardiplank, and new patio about $50K.

[deport]

Yesterdays thread with some 181 comments wasn’t enough for you and your pest?

How can you tell if it’s squirrels or raccoons invading your attic?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3723199/posts
181 comments.......

[Buttons12]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlwUXP-ubI

It’s pricey, but it’ll punch their lights out.

[Buttons12]

Don’t like, don’t read. Me, I’m interested and highly sympathetic to folks with these problems.

[deport]

My point is why not keep all the info on one thread
not scattered across multiple threads. You have a
blessed Sunday.

[EinNYC]

My point is why not keep all the info on one thread not scattered across multiple threads. You have a blessed Sunday.

MY point is, who died and appointed you the posting nazi? Maybe people are TIRED of Trump, Mueller, Hillary, and stuff like that. Also, this is something that individuals with homes can relate to. Finally, I didn't get the photos until today, thus I posted anew.

[deport]

My point is why not keep all the info one thread so people
reading it may have comments/suggestions about what others
have said. With two threads most will never see the first
one with 181 comments.

Now you have a blessed day, critters and all.

[dainbramaged]

Be careful with raccoon droppings - very toxic and disease ridden stuff.

[redfreedom]

Agreed. Rodents tend to pack away their food, mice in particular. You have no idea where they store it or what might eat it. Also a dead rodent might get eaten by let’s say someones favorite house cat.

Use live traps, they come in all sizes and properly baited will catch what you want. Unless of course, it’s a mouse or small as a squirrel or rat where the trap is in a place something else will not step on it.

[Do_Tar]

“Rats in the attic”
Wasn’t that the beginning of “The Exorcist”?

Just saying...

[CaliforniaCraftBeer]

[lastchance]

I seemed to have missed why you are waiting for the management company to call them instead of making the call yourself.

[ridesthemiles]

It is amazing what a large amount of MOTH BALLS can do.

The smell is strong & bothers most wildlife.

Many people where I live have ‘well houses’. Rattlesnakes love those places to hide.

Everyone puts a large amount of mothballs inside the well house & NO SNAKES.

[EinNYC]

I seemed to have missed why you are waiting for the management company to call them instead of making the call yourself.

Hundreds of dollars I shouldn't have to pay? That's one good reason. The exterior of the building, complete with entrance holes, is THEIR responsibility, not mine.

[lastchance]

But could you have the work done then get reimbursed? I assume you have it in writing that they are responsible for the outside and keeping the premises pest free. It is just that if the problem is rodents getting it taken care of asap should be a priority or it will just get worse. And from a practical monetary point rodents can cause a lot more than hundreds of dollars worth of damage. That damage to your dwelling will most likely be seen as your problem. To get reimbursed for that cost would likely require you going to small claims court. You may be being penny wise but pounds foolish.

SO short advice do what you need to do to get your problem fixed ASAP.