Steps to keep wildlife pests out

Noel McCarthy, Staff Writer, Sterifab

When cold weather arrives, many critters make their way into basements, cellars, attics, crawlspaces and the like. They can do a lot of damage after arrival, such as chewing on wires, making nests and invading kitchens.

And that’s when new and old customers will be calling. To keep pests out of your customer’s houses, you need to:

• Check all exterior entry points, such as a crack in a vent, broken screens, or damaged windows, doors and chimneys.
• Repair (or replace) cracked mortar or weather-stripping.
• Remove clutter from garages or sheds to discourage nesting and harborage sites.
• Remove feeders and birdbaths for the season.
• Eliminate brush piles, and keep stored wood at least 10 to 15 feet from the house.
• Finally, ensure your customers cover their trash containers with raccoon-proof lids, and have it all hauled away at least once a week.