Found a Hole Near Your Home? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Close It Right Away

If you’ve noticed a hole near your home or business, your first thought might be to fill it in quickly. However, it’s worth taking a moment to determine if wildlife is actively using that entry point before sealing it up.

Closing a hole while an animal is inside can lead to unnecessary complications, including odors and potential damage. A simple inspection can help you avoid these issues.

Holes and burrows around your home or business are typically created by wildlife looking for shelter or access to food. Common animals that create or use these openings include:

• Rats – Burrows 2-4 inches in diameter, often near foundations
• Squirrels – Dig holes for food storage or nesting
• Chipmunks – Create burrow systems with 2-inch openings
• Mice – Can fit through very small openings
• Raccoons – Access attics through vents, soffits and roofing
• Opossums – Often use existing holes created by other animals
• Groundhogs – Dig larger burrow systems with 10-12 inch openings
• Skunks – Create shallow burrows under porches and decks

1. Observe movement and sounds: Seeing or hearing an animal can confirm an animal has created an entrance.
2. Examine the hole’s characteristics: The size, shape and location can all point to the hole being a burrow. Small and smooth openings are most likely rodents, while larger and irregular openings are most likely larger animals such as groundhogs or raccoons.
3. Look for activity: Excavated dirt piles, animal tracks and droppings near a hole are telltale signs of an animal burrow.
4. Inspect your foundation perimeter: Check for multiple holes, damage to your foundation near the hole and sunken areas of soil indicating a tunnel.
5. Check inside: Examine your basement, attic and walls. Look for dirt and droppings that have appeared, and listen for sounds of animal activity.

If an animal is sealed inside your home, business or outside building, it will eventually die, which creates several problems:

Odor Issues: Decomposing animals produce strong, unpleasant odors that can spread throughout your property. Depending on the location and size of the animal, these odors can persist for weeks and may require professional remediation.

Sanitation Concerns: Deceased animals can attract secondary wildlife and pests and may pose sanitation issues. Body fluids can seep into building materials, and the decomposition process releases bacteria that may require cleanup.

Property Impact: Fluids from decomposition can stain ceilings, walls and insulation. In some cases, affected materials may need to be replaced.

The Better Approach: Before sealing any holes, it’s helpful to confirm whether wildlife is actively using them. If you’re uncertain about how to check or prefer not to investigate yourself, a member of the Go Pro Wildlife Removal team can provide guidance.

Contact Go Pro Wildlife Removal for a professional assessment of your property.

The Go Pro Wildlife Removal team specializes in identifying and addressing wildlife activity around homes and businesses. While sealing a hole may seem straightforward, having a professional confirm the situation first can save you from dealing with more complicated issues later.

Free Inspection – Go Pro Wildlife Removal provides complimentary inspections to assess potential wildlife activity and identify entry points around your property.

Humane Removal – If wildlife is present, the team uses one-way exit devices that allow animals to leave but prevent them from returning. This method doesn’t harm the animals and avoids the need for other removal techniques.

Proper Exclusion – Once animals have exited, entry points are sealed correctly to help prevent future wildlife from using the same access points.

If you’ve found a hole near your home or business, consider having it inspected before closing it up. The Go Pro Wildlife Removal team has the knowledge and experience in dealing with burrowing wildlife.

Go Pro Wildlife Removal offers free inspections to identify potential wildlife issues with a thorough investigation for animal activity. If an animal is identified in your home or business, the team at Go Pro will remove the animal by using a one-way device that allows the animal to exit but not reenter. These one-way devices are not harmful to the animal and prevent the use of a lethal technique.

If you have noticed a hole near your home or business, do not close it up without an inspection. Call Go Pro Wildlife Removal at (334)-744-0391 or contact us through our website for a free inspection.