Keep Critters Out of Your Home

Raccoons and squirrels can spread bacterial diseases like salmonella and parasites like roundworm through their droppings. They can also gnaw through wires and insulation, says Jamie Nichols, senior service center manager at Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta.

Outside, bats “provide an important service since they eat mosquitoes and other flying insects,” according to Nichols. But they can carry rabies, and their droppings can be contaminated with fungal spores that cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease.

Banish them: Most often, a bat inside a home entered accidentally and is looking for a way out, Nichols says. Open all doors and windows and it should find an exit. If it doesn’t or if you have or suspect multiple bats, call a pro. “Removal may require a special license or approval,” Bentley says.

Keep them out: Have a pro inspect and seal cracks and crevices where bats can enter, especially in attics and chimneys.

Small birds, like starlings or sparrows, sometimes build nests in dryer, stove, or bathroom exhaust vents, blocking them and creating a potential fire hazard. And wild birds may carry a variety of viruses and bacteria they can transmit to people.

Banish them: If you hear any tweeting in the areas noted above, call a professional. “We clean out the vents and apply disinfectant spray to prevent diseases like salmonella from droppings,” Thorsell says.

Keep them out: Have the pro seal any access points. The Humane Society of the United States recommends covering any vent openings outside the home with galvanized wire mesh or commercial vent covers. If you’re doing this part yourself, both items are usually available at hardware stores.

According to the Humane Society, skunks are attracted to what’s referred to as “low-hanging fruit,” such as open garbage containers and pet food that’s left out overnight—as well as to spots where they can create dens. These include elevated sheds and any openings below porches and decks, as well as wood or rock piles on your property. Skunks can carry rabies, and if they’re disturbed they emit a foul, lingering odor.

Banish them: Ask a pest-control professional to install an “eviction” device like a one-way door, so skunks can leave but not return. You can also try putting mild repellents like kitty litter near or inside the den, placing them to the side so that the animals have an exit route.

Keep them out: Ask the pro to close off openings to shelters and remove wood piles. And feed your pets indoors or remove outdoor food as soon as they have dined.

In some areas, bears may come close to homes when their keen sense of smell unearths the scent of food. To keep them away, consider using bear-resistant trash cans and storing them in a locked area. Clean grills well to rid them of the scent of food drippings. If you compost, store the food scraps in a closed container. Placing a rag soaked in ammonia in a bucket next to your compost area can also help deter bears. And make sure that you ditch any bird feeders.