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Not only is San Antonio the second largest city in Texas, but it also one of the fastest growing cities in the country. As the San Antonio area expands to meet the population increase, animals’ natural habitats will continue to fragment.
You might experience some unique animals in San Antonio. San Antonio sits at the confluence of several Texas regions, including Hill Country, Blackland Prairie and South Texas Plains. It also straddles the imaginary line that separates Central and South Texas.
These diverse ecosystems support a range of wildlife, including unique species like ringtails, peacocks, several species of bats, and snakes both venomous and not venomous. San Antonio is also home to more than 250 species of birds.
Common nuisance wildlife in San Antonio
Animals have the same basic needs as people, and our homes provide the resources to satisfy those needs. Most often a raccoon, squirrel or bat will enter your home because it offers a safe place to give birth. Snakes typically enter a home hunting for food. Homeowners often experience nuisance wildlife problems in their attic, bathroom vents, wall cavities and under the house.
There is a seasonality to nuisance wildlife problems. Starting in February, animals like raccoons, opossums, skunks and squirrels look for a safe place to give birth. During the summer, animals generally enter homes to escape the heat.
As temperatures, cool animals like squirrels and raccoons will look for shelter in your attic. Mild winters mean animals can be active year-round in San Antonio.
The most common nuisance wildlife in San Antonio during the fall and winter are bats, raccoons, squirrels and rodents. Rats and mice are problems year-round.
A wild animal in your home is a problem. It will damage the exterior and interior of your home and introduce potential diseases to you and your family.
How do animals get into my house?
As summer wanes, it is a great time to check the exterior of your home. Wildlife can get into surprising small holes. A raccoon only needs a gap the size of a grapefruit. Bats can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil eraser.
Unsealed roof returns, gable vents, crawl space vents and ridge vents provide animals a great way to access your home. When inspecting your property, check for any soft spots in wood, missing soffit pieces, loose flashing, loose or missing shingles as well as any construction gaps.
Checking small items like ensuring your AC condenser line is not clogged, and trimming tree branches so they do not touch your shingles can also prevent future problems. Garage sweeps and door seals are also very important to check as a gap provides entry for many pests.
Can I DIY wildlife removal?
Before you attempt to remove a wild animal on your own, you need to be fully prepared. Different animals require different trapping and removal strategies under different regulations. For example, it is illegal to harm or exterminate bats. Furthermore, the most humane bat removal technique should be installed after bat pups can fly.
You need to protect yourself from harm which includes diseases. Most animal feces and urine carry diseases or fungi that can make you sick. Some of those can become airborne when the feces are disturbed.
The most effective wildlife control is exclusion — sealing all current and potential entry points. An animal managed to find its way into your home once; if you don’t seal all those openings, your house is vulnerable to future infestations. Most repairs require roof work, which can be dangerous. Because Trutech adheres to the highest standards of safety, our technicians wear harnesses while working on roofs.
When you encounter unwanted wildlife in your home or business, it is important to resolve the problem quickly and professionally. The longer an animal lives in your home, the more damage it will cause.
