Are you noticing chipmunks on your South Portland property? We aren't talking about the singing, dancing kind, we're talking about the kind that can cause damages to your yard or home if they are allowed to multiply, dig up your gardens, or get into your attic and wall voids.
Although the normal complaints about chipmunks include their destructive habits of digging up and eating flower bulbs, seeds or seedlings, and digging up yards and gardens; if their populations are large enough, they can also cause structural damage by burrowing under patios, stairs, retention walls or foundations. They are also able to tear down soffits and chew through wood.
While it is unusual for a chipmunk to get inside a home (they prefer to live outside in the cool soil, underground) occasionally they do find a hole and accidentally crawl through it. This usually happens when there is a burrow underneath a step or foundation. If this happens, and you find yourself with a chipmunk running wild in your home, the best thing to do is open windows and doors and let the little guy escape. If possible, confine the animal to one or two rooms and open those windows until it is able to get free.
While the sounds coming from your attic may truly be a chipmunks, it is just as likely to be a mouse or rat. No matter what rodent or animal pest you encounter, it should be taken care of promptly before irreparable damages can be done. And any kind of pest animal in a home is a signal that there are entry points in the home that need to be addressed.
A few things a homeowner can do to prevent a rodent or animal invasion include the following:
- Examine your exterior walls and foundation and seal up any gaps, cracks, or holes that are found. If possible, check underneath stairs and decks as well, as these are possible entry points for chipmunks and other pests.
- Trim back all vegetation well away from exterior walls, as these are used as bridges that pests use to access your walls and roof areas.
- Keep your attic area free of clutter. Rodents love to have places to hide.
- Keep your home free of food sources and water sources for rodents and other pests.
- Contact a professional pest control company.
In the event that a chipmunk does take up residence in your attic, be aware that they are rodents that do not stop chewing. One thing they may chew on is electrical wires within your attic or wall voids. This activity has been known to spark fires. If you need assistance removing a chipmunk, or any other wild animal or household pest from your South Portland home, give Big Blue Bug Solutions a call. We will take care of your pest problem, and can also work to seal up your home to prevent future invasions with year-round pest control solutions that work. Big Blue Bug Solutions is standing by to help.