Why DIY Squirrel Removal Often Makes the Problem Worse
It usually starts with a faint scratching noise in the attic. At first, you brush it off, maybe it’s just the house settling or a branch brushing against the siding. But then the noise grows louder, more frequent, and suddenly you realize something is living above your head. A homeowner in the Twin Cities recently tried to handle it themselves using traps from the hardware store. Days later, not only had the squirrels chewed a bigger opening into their soffit, but they also caused damage
One quiet Ham Lake evening, a homeowner walked into their kitchen and heard the faintest rustle beneath the sink. A sound so light it could have been nothing. But the next morning, a small pile of crumbs and a chewed corner of a cereal box confirmed it: mice had moved in. Like many families and property managers, they suddenly faced the unsettling reality that unwanted pests were sharing their space.
A Small Noise That Turned Into a Big Problem. Last winter, a Maplewood homeowner heard what sounded like a faint scratching behind her kitchen cabinets. She brushed it off—probably just the wind, she thought. A few weeks later, she noticed small chew marks near the pantry, then droppings, and finally a musty odor in the basement. By the time she called for help, mice had chewed through insulation, gnawed electrical wiring, and contaminated storage areas. What began as a minor nuisance
A scratching sound you can’t ignore. It usually starts late at night, a faint scratching or scurrying behind the drywall. At first, you might brush it off as your imagination, but as days go by, the sound grows more frequent. Homeowners and property managers across Minnesota know that this unsettling noise often means one thing: mice have found a way inside your home and into your walls. These tiny invaders don’t just create noise, they cause real damage and health risks if left unchecked. They also have 5 or more litters in one year.
It’s a cold Minnesota morning, and as the wind howls outside, a faint scratching noise breaks the stillness in your home. You pause, listening closer and find it’s coming from above. What started as a few harmless sounds quickly turns into a nightly disturbance. When the insulation starts to shift and droppings appear, the reality sets in: uninvited guests have moved in for the winter.
Bats play an important role in Minnesota’s ecosystem, controlling insect populations and pollinating plants. However, when they take up residence inside homes, attics, or other structures, they can quickly become a serious problem for homeowners and property managers. Bat infestations often go unnoticed for months, as these nocturnal creatures are quiet, elusive, and active primarily at night. Recognizing the early warning signs of a bat infestation is key to preventing property
When wildlife finds its way into your attic, the damage doesn’t end with noises in the night or shredded insulation. One of the most serious and overlooked problems is the accumulation of animal droppings. Whether the invaders were bats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, or birds, animal droppings pose significant health and structural risks. For homeowners and property management professionals, proper removal and sanitization is essential—not just for cleanliness, but also for safety and long-term property protection.
Animals typically do not migrate south for winter, unlike birds. Even though they can be nuisances during warmer months, wild animals also have the potential to cause serious damage to buildings and property during colder temperatures. To determine if animals have entered your home in search of warmth, it’s essential that you know what signs to look out for so you can prevent an invasion from taking place.
No one wants a wild animal in their home, no matter how big or small. And wildlife damage can be a real issue for your home and family. The dangers wildlife bring along are specific to each animal, but issues are common with a critter infestation (fleas, ticks, disease, and contamination), as well as damage they have done to the structure itself. Minnesota Wild Animal Management protects your home from nuisance wildlife.
It is getting colder outside and people are not the only mammals that want to stay warm and cozy inside this winter. The months of September, October, November and December are especially brutal for anyone who wants to keep mice and other rodents outside where they belong. A mouse can enter through a tiny space and set up home inside of your home, living in walls, attics and anywhere they can find refuge from the cold winter weather. The results can be very disturbing
