It’s not uncommon for a house to have a critter living inside of it during the course of the homes life. When homes change owners typically a home inspection is conducted. During home inspections evidence of critter holes in the roof, trim or foundation might be found; but how can one tell if that hole is active or a remnant of the past?
When addressing the question it might be easier to think of the critter hole as a door. Imagine placing masking tape around the perimeter of the front door to your home. If someone was to open that door the seal the tape made would be broken. What if one placed tape over the critters hole on the house to see if anything consistently breaks the seal of the tape? A plastic bag could also be used to see if the bag was dragged in or pushed out. Those are good indicators to test the hole for activity. It’s important not to seal the hole with anything permanent for this test. Remember to loosely stuff the critter hole with a temporary plug. Permanent patches should only be placed after zero critter activity has been confirmed.
Patience and vigilance must be practiced when observing the holes. Typically observation of the temporary plugs must last at least 48hrs. If the temporary plug in the critters door way has vanished it would be in good interest to have a professional look at it. It’s also important to note that just like most homes, critters may have more than one “door way”. When observing holes for activity its important to ensure all holes are being monitored.
There are many ways to check critter holes for activity. Placing temporary plugs, like bags or tape in or over the hole is a simple way to check that hole for activity. Remember to wait at least 48hrs before coming to a conclusion. When in doubt, contact a wildlife control specialist to perform an inspection.