Photo Album: Mama Raccoon Causes Extensive Damage to Old Bridge, NJ Roof
Roof Damage Near Gutter
This homeowner in Old Bridge, NJ, thought he had squirrels in the attic and handled the wildlife infestation as a DIY weekend project. Big mistake! His first mistake was not properly identifying the animal. He was dealing with raccoons, not squirrels. Squirrels are in the rodent family. Raccoons are in a completely different animal family. They are much larger, smarter, and have amazing dexterity with their human-like hands. They also happen to be the major vector of rabies in New Jersey. His second mistake was far more serious. He did not adequately inspect the attic and there were kits inside. Believing that "squirrels" were no longer inside his home, he attempted to seal all of the wildlife entry points while the mother raccoon was outside foraging. Later, in the middle of the night, the family woke up to what sounded like someone violently trying to break into the house. The mother raccoon was trying every possible way to gain access back into the attic area to reach her kits. She was not about to give up, and sure enough, she found her way back inside doing some extensive property damage - damage that could have ben avoided if these animals were properly trapped and relocated in the first place.
Damaged Roof Tiles
Closer to home, here in New Jersey, another exceptionally protective mother is raccoon moms. You never want to put yourself between a mother raccoon and her young. With their razor-sharp claws and teeth, these animals are not ones to mess with. Also, if separated from her young, a mother raccoon will go the ends of the earth to reunite with them. I recently had an opportunity to see the aftermath of a mother raccoon blocked out of an attic with her kits still inside. If you've ever wondered what damage can be done to a home under these circumstances, this job will give you the answer!
More Roof Damage
The first step was trapping and removing the mother and all her kits from a void area above their kitchen wall. To repair the damage and prevent future wildlife infestations, we will be installing an attic fan cover, a chimney cap, and fixing all of the damaged ridge vents. We will also install Ridge-Guards over the ridge vents. Ridge vents are an important part of a home's roofing system that allow damp, warm air to escape from the attic. Ridge vents increase your homes energy efficiency and protect asphalt shingles from overheating and warping in the summer. Warped shingles can cause potential leaks and are often exploited by wildlife, especially squirrels, raccoons, and bats, to gain access into the attic. Ridge-Guards installed over the ridge vents are an effective permanent solution to this problem.
Raccoon Caused this Damage
The first step was trapping and removing the mother and all her kits from a void area above their kitchen wall. To repair the damage and prevent future wildlife infestations, we will be installing an attic fan cover, a chimney cap, and fixing all of the damaged ridge vents. We will also install Ridge-Guards over the ridge vents. Ridge vents are an important part of a home's roofing system that allow damp, warm air to escape from the attic. Ridge vents increase your homes energy efficiency and protect asphalt shingles from overheating and warping in the summer. Warped shingles can cause potential leaks and are often exploited by wildlife, especially squirrels, raccoons, and bats, to gain access into the attic. Ridge-Guards installed over the ridge vents are an effective permanent solution to this problem.