Keep the Critters Outside Where They Belong

Let me tell you a story that still makes me shudder.

I had a client whose home inspection turned up roof rats, not a stray visitor, but a full-blown infestation in the attic and crawl space. The sellers had no idea. And this wasn't some run-down fixer-upper; it was a genuinely nice home.

The rats got in through a damaged attic vent and a couple of broken crawl space vents. Small openings most homeowners would walk right past a hundred times. Once inside, they made themselves at home: droppings everywhere, insulation pushed around like they'd been remodeling. My client ended up spending over $6,000 to remediate the damage and seal up the entry points.

Keep that in mind as we talk pest prevention this month. A few minutes walking your property can save you thousands and a lot of gross surprises.

"But I live in town" – famous last words

The most common mistake I see: homeowners think not in their neighborhood. Truth is, these critters are everywhere in our valley. We're surrounded by agriculture and orchards on every side, and rodents and raccoons have plenty of open country to roam before deciding your attic beats a fencerow. Living in town just means they cross a few more driveways to get to you.

Your seasonal checklit

Once or twice a season, take ten minutes and walk the full perimeter of your home. Here's what to check and what to avoid:

✅ Do This

• Trim branches and bushes back from the roofline
• Inspect crawl space vent covers for cracks or gaps
• Check attic and roof vents, screens, and soffits
• Feed pets on a schedule and store food sealed
• Use a seed tray under bird feeders and clean spills
• Walk the property perimeter once or twice a season

❌ Skip This

• Letting branches or bushes touch the house
• Ignoring small tears or gaps in vent screens
• Leaving pet food bowls outside overnight
• Storing builk pet food in unsealed bins
• Letting seed spill and pile up under feeders
• Assuming being in town means you're safe from critters

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