How to Wildlife-Proof Your Home (Without Hosting a Critter Rave) 🦝

Ever feel like your house is the neighborhood Airbnb… for raccoons?

One minute you’re binge-watching Netflix, the next—scratch-scratch-scratch from the attic. Spoiler: it’s not your kids. It’s wildlife throwing a full-blown house party you never approved.

Today, we’re diving into wildlife exclusion—aka, how to evict freeloaders before they redecorate your vents with acorns.

🛠️ What Is Wildlife Exclusion (and Why Should You Care)?

Wildlife exclusion isn’t pest control.

🐀 Pest control = calling the cops after the raccoon raids your fridge.
🚫 Exclusion = building a raccoon-proof fortress before the snacks go missing.

No poison. No traps. Just smart barriers that say:

“Not today, squirrels.”

But here’s the kicker...

Your house has secret animal doorways.
We’re talking:

• Dryer vents

• Chimneys

• Soffits

• Attic vents

Basically, every opening that isn’t your front door.

And critters? They’re Olympic-level squatters. 🥇

🧰 The Good, the Bad, and the Moldy: Choosing the Right Exclusion Products

Let’s talk gear. Because not all vent covers are created equal.

❌ The Flimsy Stuff

That cheap mesh from the hardware store?
It’s like locking your door with dental floss.
Raccoons laugh at this.

🧱 The Overkill

Industrial steel plates?
Sure—nothing’s getting in…
…but your house can’t breathe either.
Mold city. Population: you.

✅ The Goldilocks Zone

Enter: HY-GUARD EXCLUSION
It’s the perfect balance of toughness and breathability.

✔ Galvanized steel
✔ Precision mesh
✔ Vents that actually vent

Think of it as a bouncer with a PhD in airflow.

🏚️ Where Critters Crash (And How to Stop Them)

Let’s map the top 3 hotspots animals love to crash:

1. Chimneys

To raccoons, this is a penthouse suite.

2. Dryer Vents

Birds? They treat them like luxury nest hotels.

3. Soffits

Squirrels? More like squatters.

The Fix?

• Guards

• Screens

• Chimney caps

But a word of caution:

Never DIY this.

Wildlife laws are wilder than a possum in your pantry.
And climbing roofs? Leave it to the pros with better balance and liability insurance.