Damage from Above: Don’t let pests go “over your head”.
Bats will commonly roost in colonies inside New Hampshire attics and soffits. Sometimes unbeknownst to building owners.
The Tale of Attic and Eaves
New Hampshire is known for our rural charm and abundance of natural flora and fauna. Its also no big secret that property owners spend considerable time and resources keeping critters (of both the animal and insect variety) out of and away from human structures.
Whether you’ve hired a professional to address your pest control needs, or fancy yourself a skilled DIY’er, there’s one aspect of beating back the presence of insect and vertebrate pests that often goes over your head - and that’s our homes’ attics and soffits!
While a lot of time is spent focusing on protecting the perimeter of the structure from pest intrusion at ground level, the possibility of pest presence at higher elevations of the building are often under-considered. From wayward wildlife, to rodents like mice and rats, to wood-destroying insects like bees and ants; the presence of pests in the attics, soffits, and roof systems of our homes and commercial properties can have costly results if left unchecked.
Whether its soiled insulation posing health risks and impacting coveted R-value for home heat efficiency, hazardous electrical wiring gnawed by persistent rodents, or structural damage caused by wood-destroying and boring insects; what you can’t see above you may pose serious problems.
Pest control should be 3-D
Keep in mind that insects and wild animals don’t remain stationary on the ground.
Yes - in theory, a protective and preventative barrier of applicable insecticides or exclusionary (sealing) methods at ground level can significantly reduce pest harborage in all facets of the home. However, foundation-up isn’t always the way pests access the upper portions of your home.
Utility wires, overhanging tree limbs, and the ability of flight are just a few of the ways pests by-pass the ground perimeter and can still harbor above your head unknowingly.
A Rodent Roadmap
Several species of rodents found in New Hampshire will seek building insulation and wall voids for harborage.
Mice and rats are synonymous with pest-related woes in and around man-made structures. Whether its overhanging tree limbs, utility lines, or exposed roof joints - rodents will manipulate any access points high or low to attain shelter in man-made structures.
I recall assessing a newly-purchased home for a family member who noted noises of scratching and shuffling in the ceiling of a bedroom. Mice in the attic were confirmed to be the culprit.
But while the exterior perimeter assessment yielded some potential entry sign, the access points and level of activity didn’t add up. A full audit of the roof system confirmed mice were climbing the chimney stone and entering directly into the attic space via an exposed roof joint. Sebum trailing along the exterior chimney stone sold suspicions of travel. Mouse-proofing both the roof system high and the exterior perimeter down low proved a success - and an end to the rodent activity inside.
Exterior openings aren’t the only avenue for rodents - once inside, mice and rats will both utilize utility lines and wall voids to travel in-between floors of homes. While homeowners are busy setting traps on the basement floor, rodents are actively nesting in insulation, and traveling these utility lines and chases above head level routinely. Once cozy, a rodent’s incessant desire to gnaw on electrical wiring and nest in insulation can have disastrous consequences.
Insect Invaders
Insects can also by-pass terrestrial terrain (and your eye) and access the upper portions of structures to cause damage. Many ant species are notorious for using utility lines and tree limbs to gain access to the building’s roof and soffit system.
Structural damaging species, such as the Carpenter Ant and Acrobat Ant will effortlessly mine through insulation and structural beams once inside the structure. At heights above the ground, the presence and telltale sign of these destructive pests may go completely unnoticed, in turn, having the potential to cause extensive damage to the structure and insulation.
Additionally, Carpenter Bees will also manipulate exposed soffit and gable trim, causing visual damage and detrimental curb appeal to the property.
Wayward Wildlife
Several species of native (and invasive) wildlife are also prone to harborage and structural damage to the upper portions of the home.
Its important to keep in mind that to most wildlife species, the human dwelling is nothing more than a hollow dead tree - complete with fluffy nesting material (insulation) and custom-built harborage (wall voids) for safe residence. Tree climbing rodents such as squirrels, and winged wildlife such as bats and birds, will readily manipulate roof systems for cozy digs.
The way our roof systems are constructed presents attractive harborage for bats - and their uncanny ability to squeeze under dormer joints, roof ridge vents, chimney flashing, and other structure gaps makes for often costly eviction and repair. Bats tend to be a roosting species - and once inside, their accumulation of fecal build up (called guano) can pose health risks. Their acidic urine deposits can also heavily damage paint and trim. Their aloof dexterity also inevitably leads to their inadvertent access into living spaces - surprising residents at all hours of the day and night, and possibly opening building dwellers up to possible rabies virus exposure.
Monadnock Pest & Wildlife field technician David, sealing an upper roof joint against bat entry. (Photo | Jeff Traynor, ACE)
Squirrels and raccoons will aggressively gnaw on roof systems for access. Once inside, the drive to raise and nurture young can have damaging effects on drywall, wiring, and insulation.
Birds will also pose challenges - nesting inside soffit gaps and vents. Building vents clogged with nesting material can pose drastic issues, and in some cases, the introduction of bird-related parasites like mites is possible. European Starlings and House Sparrows are synonymous with exposed structure gaps. Woodpeckers and Sapsuckers can cause damage to trim resulting from breeding rituals or the hunt for insects.
Occasional Invaders
Other occasional stowaways may be present in attic spaces. Silverfish, Firebrats, and Psocids will all “migrate north” in search of starches commonly found in insulation backing and wallpaper glue. Stored product pests like Carpet Beetles and Moths will readily seek out rodent carcasses and food cashes (such as tree nuts and acorns stored by rodents). Seasonal pests like cluster flies, stink bugs, ladybugs and wasps will commonly manipulate small roof gaps into the attic – migrating into the living spaces months later.
In other parts of the country, select species of termites, cockroaches, and even reptiles like snakes and lizards are common occasional attic visitors.
Even non-structural dwellers like weasels can’t be ruled out in old New England homes searching for mice when food sources are low.
The Monadnock Method
If you’ve chosen to contract with a professional pest control company, its important to choose a firm that suits your specific needs.
Monadnock Pest & Wildlife Services is a full service firm – proudly offering extensive experience in both general pest and niche wildlife control services. Our staff is familiar in both insect and wildlife biology, are properly trained to navigate the unfinished portions of attic joists and soffits, understand the intricacies of home construction, and are outfitted with the ladders and equipment needed to access building heights.
From birds to beetles, raccoons to roaches, and wildlife to wasps, Monadnock Pest & Wildlife Services is your one-stop-shop for pest and wildlife control services!
Interested in learning more about Monadnock Pest & Wildlife’s full portfolio of pest & wildlife control services? Check out our Pest Control, Wildlife Management or Tick Control services pages, or feel free to contact us!
