Published by American Structural Pest Control West | Serving the South Bay, CA
We’ve been teasing this article for a while across several of our other posts and for good reason. Wildlife entry is one of those topics that homeowners often don’t think about until something is already living in their attic, under their deck or inside their walls. By then the damage has usually been going on for longer than they realize.
Raccoons, opossums, skunks and squirrels are all regular visitors to South Bay properties and all four are capable of causing significant structural damage, spreading disease and creating problems that go well beyond what most people expect when they picture a wildlife encounter. This article breaks down what each one does, how they get in and how we approach them at ASPCW.
The Difference Between Wildlife and Rodents
One thing worth clarifying upfront is that wildlife entry and rodent control are related but distinct services. We get calls regularly from customers who are convinced they have rats only to find out what’s actually in the attic or crawl space is a squirrel. The signs can look similar from the outside, sounds in the ceiling, droppings, evidence of chewing, but the approach to addressing them is completely different.
Trapping a squirrel is not the same as trapping a rat. The equipment is different, the strategy is different and the regulations around handling and release are different. Identifying the correct animal is always the first step and it’s one of the most important things a professional inspection accomplishes.
Raccoons
Raccoons are among the most intelligent and physically capable wildlife species you’re likely to encounter in a South Bay neighborhood. They are strong, problem-solving animals that are very good at exploiting weaknesses in structures and they are not deterred easily once they’ve identified a favorable nesting or feeding site.
How they get in
Raccoons typically enter through roof areas, damaged areas along the underside of the roof overhang, broken attic vents and any opening large enough to accommodate their body. They will actively work at weak points, prying, pushing and chewing through wood and other materials to gain access. We have seen customers come to us with completely destroyed sub vents where a raccoon forced its way through heavy material that should have held. This is why we use quality heavy duty materials for our exclusion repairs. Standard builder-grade materials are simply not sufficient when raccoons are involved.
The damage they cause
Inside an attic or crawl space raccoons can cause considerable damage. They tear up and trample insulation, rip apart ductwork, break pipe joints on occasion and can chew through wood and wiring. They also leave behind significant waste. Raccoon droppings can accumulate heavily in a concentrated area and carry raccoon roundworm, a serious health concern that requires professional cleanup rather than a casual sweep.
Raccoons are not driven to chew the way rodents are since their teeth don’t continuously grow but they will chew through whatever stands between them and a space they want to access. Once inside they cause damage through sheer size, activity and the waste they leave behind.
What ASPCW does
Due to California state regulations that now require a specific trapping license for wildlife, we no longer trap raccoons ourselves. This is a decision we made thoughtfully after weighing the time, attention and licensing requirements involved. When a customer calls with a raccoon issue we refer them to a licensed wildlife trapper and then step in once the animal has been removed to assess and complete the exclusion repairs needed to prevent re-entry.
One thing worth knowing about raccoon trapping: raccoons are highly intelligent and the chance of successfully catching one that has already been trapped before is extremely low. They learn and they remember. This is exactly why the exclusion work is so critical. Closing off access is a far more reliable long-term solution than relying entirely on trapping.
Opossums
Opossums are North America’s only marsupial and they play a genuinely useful role in the ecosystem, eating insects, ticks and small rodents. That said when they decide your attic, garage or crawl space is a good place to nest, their beneficial qualities don’t offset the problems they create.
How they get in
Opossums are good climbers and will access homes through damaged roof edge areas, broken vents, open garage doors and gaps along rooflines. They are particularly attracted to areas with accessible food sources nearby including unsecured trash, pet food left outside and fallen fruit. They are nocturnal so most homeowners hear them rather than see them, typically scratching sounds at night followed by messes discovered in the morning.
The damage they cause
Opossums can chew through wood and wiring when nesting in an enclosed space. They destroy insulation and leave behind droppings that create odor and health concerns. Female opossums sometimes have their young inside attic spaces and babies that fall into wall voids can become stuck and die there, creating decomposition odor issues that are difficult and expensive to address. Opossums are also carriers of fleas and ticks which can spread to pets that have outdoor access.
What ASPCW does
Like raccoons, opossum trapping now falls under California’s wildlife trapping license requirements and we refer customers to a licensed trapper for removal. Once the opossum has been addressed we handle the exclusion work to seal the entry points and prevent future access.
Skunks
Skunks are a unique case in the wildlife entry conversation because their primary threat isn’t structural damage but rather the very real and very disruptive risk of a defensive spray inside or under your home. A skunk that feels cornered or threatened under a deck, in a crawl space or near an entry point can create an odor situation that is genuinely difficult to resolve and that can persist for weeks if not handled correctly.
How they get in
Skunks are diggers. They typically burrow under structures rather than climbing into them. Gaps under decking, unprotected crawl space openings, gaps in foundation skirting and poorly sealed areas at ground level are all common entry points. They are attracted to properties with accessible food sources, grubs in the lawn, unsecured trash and pet food left outside.
The damage they cause
Skunks are not chewers in the way rodents and raccoons are but their digging can undermine foundations and structural supports over time. The more immediate concern is the spray risk and the fact that skunks carry rabies, fleas and other parasites. A skunk that establishes under a structure and feels threatened by any activity nearby is a genuine safety risk for people and pets.
What ASPCW does
Skunk removal also requires a California wildlife trapping license and we refer customers to licensed trappers for removal. We then handle exclusion work to close off the access points that allowed the skunk to establish in the first place, paying particular attention to ground-level gaps and burrowing entry points.
Squirrels
Squirrels might seem like the least threatening of the four but once they get inside a structure they cause a level of damage that surprises most homeowners. They are the wildlife species we handle most frequently at ASPCW and the one where our full service, trapping, monitoring and exclusion, comes into play.
How they get in
Squirrels are excellent climbers and acrobatic enough to access roof areas from nearby trees, power lines and fences. They enter through gaps in rooflines, damaged areas along the roof edge, attic vents and any opening that gives them access to a warm sheltered interior. Overhanging tree branches are one of the most common pathways and trimming them back is one of the most effective prevention steps a South Bay homeowner can take.
The damage they cause
Squirrels are true chewers. Like rodents their teeth never stop growing and they need to constantly gnaw to keep them in check. Inside an attic or wall void they will chew through wood beams, PVC pipes, insulation and electrical wiring. The wiring concern is serious. Squirrels chewing through electrical cables inside walls and attics is a documented cause of house fires and the damage often goes undetected until something fails.
Squirrels also shred insulation for nesting material, contaminate attic spaces with droppings and urine and can cause damage to stored belongings in the spaces they occupy. They are fast-moving and can establish a significant presence in an attic before a homeowner is aware of anything more than the occasional sound overhead.
What ASPCW does
Squirrels are the one wildlife species we trap and monitor directly. We set traps and use game cameras as a primary monitoring tool so we can observe activity patterns, confirm what species we’re dealing with and track whether trapping is working. The cameras give us eyes on the situation between checkback visits and allow us to make informed adjustments to our approach based on what we’re actually seeing.
Once the squirrel has been caught we complete the exclusion repairs to close off the entry points. One important thing to know: California law requires that trapped squirrels be released on-site rather than relocated. We handle this as part of our service.
The sequence we follow is the same as our rodent program: inspection first to understand the scope of the issue and identify entry points, then trapping and monitoring with game cameras to address the current animal and then exclusion repairs to prevent future entry.
What All Four Have in Common
Regardless of the species there are a few things that apply across the board when it comes to wildlife entry in South Bay homes.
Every one of these animals can carry fleas, ticks and other parasites that can spread to pets and people. Every one of them can introduce disease into your home through their droppings and urine. Every one of them causes damage that goes well beyond what’s visible from the outside. And every one of them is drawn to properties that offer the conditions they’re looking for: accessible food, water, shelter and a way in.
The structural vulnerabilities that allow rodents to enter a home are often the same ones that allow wildlife. Damaged vents, gaps in rooflines, deteriorating sub doors and improperly sealed openings don’t discriminate based on species. This is one of the reasons exclusion work matters so much regardless of which animal you’re dealing with.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a squirrel versus a rat in my attic?
It’s a really common mix-up and the sounds alone aren’t always enough to tell. Squirrels tend to be active during the day since they’re diurnal, meaning the sounds you hear are most often in the morning and afternoon. Rats are nocturnal and most active after dark. Squirrel droppings are also slightly larger and more barrel-shaped than rat droppings. If you’re not sure a professional inspection is the fastest way to get a definitive answer. Getting it wrong matters because the approach to addressing each one is different.
Can raccoons really break through heavy vent covers?
Yes. We’ve seen it firsthand. Raccoons are strong determined animals and if they’ve identified a space they want access to they will work at the entry point until they get through. This is why we use heavy duty materials for all of our exclusion repairs rather than standard builder-grade components that aren’t designed to withstand that kind of force.
Why don’t you trap raccoons, opossums and skunks yourselves?
California now requires a specific wildlife trapping license for these species and after weighing the licensing requirements, the time and attention that trapping demands and our current capacity we made the decision not to pursue that license at this stage. We refer customers to licensed trappers we trust and then come in to handle the exclusion work once the animal has been removed. It’s an honest answer and we’d rather be transparent about it than overcommit to something we can’t do well.
Do I need to worry about disease from these animals?
Yes and it’s worth taking seriously. Raccoons can carry raccoon roundworm in their feces which is a genuine health concern requiring careful and proper cleanup. All four species can carry fleas and ticks that spread to pets. Skunks are among the more common carriers of rabies in California. Droppings and urine from any of these animals should never be cleaned up casually and cleanup should always follow safe handling protocols. If you’ve had wildlife in your home we’re happy to advise on the right way to approach cleanup once the animal has been removed.
Hearing Something in Your Attic That Doesn’t Sound Like a Rat?
Give us a call and we’ll figure out what you’re dealing with. Whether it’s a squirrel we can handle directly or a raccoon or opossum that needs a licensed trapper first we’ll point you in the right direction and make sure the exclusion work gets done properly.
American Structural Pest Control West
Phone: (310) 699-3110
Email: office@aspcwinc.com
Website: aspcw.com
Serving Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo and throughout the South Bay.