Sometimes homeowners get extremely familiar with the habits of the critter in their home. They wake up to their scratching or rustling in the morning and even witness them going in and out of the holes at specific times. The question becomes “can we seal the hole and block the critter out when they leave”?
When looking at the critters entrance/exit hole we must remember that the hole is active. The critter uses it like a front door. If someone was to board up the front door of your home and tell you “no entry” you probably wouldn’t just leave your home and find a new place to live. You’d probably remove the boards or open a window or side door to regain entry. Critters function in a similar manner.
If the critters exited the house and their hole is patched even with a metal repair it’s common to see that repair ripped or chewed open the next day. If the critters cannot gain access through that repair, we usually will find a new hole torn somewhere else on the property for entry. This process can be a very time consuming with with little to show at the end. The other thing to consider is what if the critter/s are still inside the property and are sealed in?
In the situation of a critter sealed in the house- they can chew through ceilings or roof tiles to escape. If they’re meek critters or juveniles they can get trapped inside and die. If that happens theres now a set of new problems to work through. At the end of the day the tried and true method of trapping first, repairing second and cleaning up lastly will ensure your job is done the right way the first time.