A common question we receive inquires as to weather or not the critters in the attic or walls will “just leave on their own?” Critters, like most living things are in search of food, water and shelter. It’s a good day for critters when they find any of those resources. So will they abandon them on their own? Usually not.
If you think about the initial question from the critters perspective, they’ve found themselves shelter- a roof over head. There isn’t much of an incentive for critters to leave on their own because that would require spending more energy with no guarantee of securing new shelter. So what about adding an irritant to your attic to help persuade the critters to leave?
Some attic hatches we open have a strong odor. Not from the critters, but from additives the homeowners placed up there. They range from mothballs and ammonia to peppers and bleach. The hope is that the strong smells would persuade the critters to leave. This typically does not work. Homeowners will then sometimes add strobe lights and loud music to the mix to make their homes even more inhospitable to the critters with little to no success. These tactics are logical, however critters are known for being adaptive and persistent when it comes to defending their shelter. In most cases the safest and most efficient way to remove an unwanted animal from your home is to set a live trap and physically remove them from your property. When the critter has been removed and their entrance/exits are sealed you can feel confident the issue has been solved.
It would be nice if critters left on their own. At the end of the day there’s a reason humane traps are a staple in the pest control industry. Trapping works well and offers a safe and efficient alternative in relation to hoping the animal will just pack up and leave on its own.