Of course, we all love our adorable furry friends in nature. Well, that is unless they decide to move into your crawl space. Then, suddenly they become a big problem. We typically find crawl space critters ranging from mice, rats, raccoons and opossums to snakes. Last year, we even helped relocate a family of feral kittens that were super cute – but also super bad news for one family’s crawl space.

Creating a critter-proof environment on the front end is the best way to win the battle against crawl space critter control. It is much cheaper and easier to keep unwanted pests out than removing them and cleaning up after they move in. You know, kind of like your weird Uncle Stanley.

Signs of Critter Problems

Signs you may already have a critter problem include:

Foul smells coming from your crawl space
Fallen or missing insulation
HVAC issues
Hearing noises within the space
Visible nesting spaces or animal droppings

The damage done by crawl space critters can include:

Destroying or removal of insulation materials from joist cavities
Damaging ductwork and HVAC systems
Leaving feces and urine throughout the space causes a hazardous environment that may require a licensed specialist to clean, which can be very expensive.

How to Keep Out Critters

To critter-proof your crawl space, start by ensuring all vents are sealed tight and that the crawl space door is functioning and properly installed. Make sure there are no holes or access points in the exterior foundation. To pay a professional to help critter-proof your crawl space, the cost can range from $350-$1,500. It is hard to estimate repair costs if you have crawl space critter damage, as it largely depends on the extent of the damage. Insulation removal and replacement can run around $2,000, but the cost is considerably more if HVAC repair is needed. We’ve also seen cases where homeowners had their entire ductwork system replaced due to critter damage.

You can DIY getting rid of smaller critters like mice, squirrels, chipmunks and snakes by checking your local hardware store for various traps and deterrents. However, for anything larger, we highly recommend calling a professional. If you’ve ever been face-to-face with an angry raccoon, you’ll definitely agree that once in a lifetime is more than enough. While critters can appear at any time of the year, you’ll find them most prevalent during the spring and summer. So keep an eye out for those pesky critters. If you discover a problem, we’re always here to help.

Critical Critter Control!