When you think about home damage problems, there are a variety of things that you might think of first. Animals, however, may not be one of the most common things to think about. As a matter of fact, because animals are a generally common element of home damage even in urban areas, it’s important to consider how animals might impact your home’s structural integrity. Here are a few ways in which these common animals can damage your home, ranked from least damage to most damage.
Which Animals Cause the Most Damage to Your Home Created By: Ohio Basement Systems
- Bears
In the wild, if you see a bear, it’s likely to be able to inflict a lot of damage. However, in an urban area, bears actually tend to be some of the least dangerous animals. Most commonly, bears in urban areas will only get into trash cans or maybe try to push open a door.
- Deer
Deer tend to become a problem in urban areas because they become very comfortable with humans, but they’re still typically very skittish. That means if a deer in an urban area sees their reflection in one of your windows or doors, they might try to headbutt it, which can cause serious problems.
- Groundhogs
The biggest reason that groundhogs could be dangerous to your home is because of their propensity for digging. When groundhogs dig into the ground underneath your home, those tunnels can seriously impact the structural integrity of the home overall, leading to a variety of problems for your home structure.
- Skunks
In some areas, skunks are a huge problem for a home’s health. The main reason for this, of course, is the fact that a skunk can seriously stink up your home. If the skunk gets its scent into the home’s HVAC system, it can create lingering smells that are nearly impossible to fix until they naturally go away, which may take months.
- Raccoons
The opposable thumbs that raccoons have are what allow them to cause maximum chaos around your home. That means a raccoon will be able to cause all sorts of problems in your home. They often eat through and pull out wiring, insulation, weatherproofing, and much more.
- Snakes
One of the biggest reasons that snakes can be such a huge issue in your home is simply because they can get into extremely small spaces. Because snakes are cold-blooded, it’s common to see them try to move into homes and crawl spaces as the weather outside gets cold. They can be dangerous all by themselves, so if you see one, contact animal control to find out how to remove it.
- Rats and Mice
Although rats and mice can themselves cause diseases, this typically isn’t the biggest problem that you’ll run into with these animals in and around your home. Rather, the biggest problems will usually be that they’ll create nests in your insulation and wiring, leave animal droppings all over that can attract pests, and even die inside your walls, which can itself cause a serious potential issue.
- Squirrels and Chipmunks
These tend to be the most damaging animals for homeowners that live in urban areas. Chipmunks tend to be smaller than squirrels, which means they can often squeeze into areas that are much smaller. Any gaps in your foundation and siding could be inviting squirrels or chipmunks inside. From there, they can seriously damage your home’s structural integrity by tearing out wires, creating nests, and burrowing through building material.
Conclusion
Animals can certainly become a problem in your home if you’re not sure how to deal with them. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to deal with these animals. If you’re regularly having problems with animals in your home, you should talk to someone who can help you remove them, then talk to someone who can help you pest-proof your home.
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