Wildlife Exclusion and Entry-Point Sealing in Grand Rapids
Removing an animal solves today's problem. Sealing the way it got in solves next season's. Call [616 NUMBER] or send the form, and a local professional will call you back.
Why sealing matters
The Michigan DNR's advice for nearly every species comes down to the same thing: find the holes and seal them with durable materials. Bats can fit through gaps as small as half an inch. Raccoons, squirrels and skunks look for their own weak spots at the roofline, foundation and porch.
Where animals get in
| Area | What gets in | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Eaves, soffits, rooflines | Bats, squirrels, raccoons | Separated soffit panels, gaps where roof sections meet |
| Vents | Bats, squirrels | Missing or damaged screens |
| Chimney | Raccoons, bats, squirrels | No cap, gaps at the flashing |
| Trim and siding | Bats, squirrels | Narrow gaps where materials meet |
| Decks, porches, sheds | Skunks | Open space underneath, digging |
| Pet doors and window wells | Raccoons, skunks | Pet doors left open at night, animals stuck in wells |
How sealing is done
- Inspection of the full exterior and attic to find every opening, not just the obvious one.
- Make sure nothing is still inside. For bats, that means one-way doors first. For other animals, the professional confirms they've left before closing the last opening.
- Seal with durable materials. The DNR names hardware cloth, caulk and metal flashing. Chimney caps and intact vent screens matter too.
- Below-ground barriers for skunks under decks and sheds, like fencing buried a few inches or a horizontal skirt, as the DNR suggests.
Prevention you can do now
- Trim tree limbs near the roof (DNR)
- Cap the chimney and repair vent screens (DNR)
- Store pet food, bird seed and garbage where animals can't reach them (DNR)
- Seal pet doors at night (DNR)
What sealing costs
It's quoted after inspection, and depends mostly on how many openings there are, how high they are, and the materials needed.
Get a Grand Rapids professional to call you back
Call [616 NUMBER] or send the short form.
Tell us what's going on
Sources: Michigan DNR: Bats · Raccoons · Squirrels · Skunks