Wildlife Removal Photo Album: Raccoons chew their way into Windsor home

A homeowner in Windsor contacted Cowleys after hearing wildlife sounds in his attic throughout the night. Upon arrival, the homeowner told me that his neighbor had seen a raccoon coming and going from one of the static vents on the roof. Adequate roof ventilation is critical. You need it in the hot months to expel hot air from the attic and relieve strain on the air-conditioning system, and you need it during the cold months to maintain a cold roof temperature and prevent ice dams from forming. Unfortunately, however, attic vents are one of the most common ways that wildlife will use to gain access into the attic. Static vents are inexpensive and popular with roof contractors. However, to keep down costs, these vents are made with plastic or thin metal, and making them resistant to wildlife is not on the manufacturers’ list of concerns. There are many types of wildlife, especially a determined raccoon with its razor-sharp teeth and claws, that have no problem breaching these weak links in the exterior of your home.  According to this neighbor and resident raccoon expert, a particular raccoon has been terrorizing the neighborhood. Apparently, no one had been able to catch this wily raccoon, and every time it was evicted from one house and its entry point was sealed, the critter just “jumped ship,” and moved on to the next house. I knew then and there, someone had to put this cocky raccoon in its place, and it was going to be me!