Hosted by:
San Antonio is not only the second largest city in Texas, but also one of the fastest growing cities in the country. As the San Antonio area expands to meet population growth, the animals’ natural habitats will continue to fragment.
You may experience some unique animals in San Antonio. San Antonio sits at the confluence of several Texas regions, including the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie, and the South Texas Plains. It also straddles the imaginary line that separates Central and South Texas.
These diverse ecosystems support a variety of wildlife, including unique species such as ringtails, peacocks, various species of bats, and snakes, both venomous and non-venomous. San Antonio is also home to more than 250 species of birds.
Common and nuisance fauna in San Antonio
Animals have the same basic needs as people, and our homes provide the resources to meet those needs. Most of the time, a raccoon, squirrel, or bat will enter your home because it offers a safe place to give birth. Snakes often enter a house looking for food. Homeowners often experience nuisance wildlife problems in their attic, bathroom vents, wall cavities, and under the house.
There is a seasonality to bother wildlife problems. Beginning in February, animals such as raccoons, opossums, skunks, and squirrels search for a safe place to give birth. During the summer, animals often go indoors to escape the heat.
Depending on the temperatures, cool animals like squirrels and raccoons will seek shelter in your attic. Mild winters mean animals can be active year-round in San Antonio.
The most common nuisance wildlife in San Antonio during the fall and winter are bats, raccoons, squirrels and rodents. Rats and mice are a problem throughout the year.
A wild animal in your house is a problem. It will damage the exterior and interior of your home and introduce potential diseases to you and your family.
How do animals get into my house?
As summer fades, it’s a great time to check out the exterior of your home. Wildlife can squeeze into surprising little holes. A raccoon only needs a space the size of a grapefruit. Bats can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil eraser.
Unsealed roof returns, gable vents, crawlspace vents, and ridge vents provide a great way for animals to access your home. When you inspect your property, check for weak spots in the wood, missing soffit pieces, loose flashing, loose or missing shingles, and gaps in construction.
Checking small things like making sure the AC condenser line isn’t clogged and trimming tree limbs so they don’t touch the shingles can also prevent future problems. Garage sweeps and door seals are also very important to check, as one space allows many pests to enter.
Can I DIY remove wildlife?
Before attempting to remove a wild animal on your own, you must be fully prepared. Different animals require different capture and disposal strategies under different regulations. For example, it is illegal to harm or kill bats. Also, the most humane bat removal technique should be installed after bat hatchlings are able to fly.
You need to protect yourself from harm which includes diseases. Most animal feces and urine carry diseases or fungi that can make you sick. Some of them can become airborne when stools are disturbed.
The most effective wildlife control is exclusion: sealing off all current and potential entry points. An animal managed to find its way home once; If you don’t seal all those openings, your home is vulnerable to future infestations. Most repairs require roof work, which can be dangerous. Because Truech adheres to the highest safety standards, our technicians wear harnesses while working on roofs.
When you find unwanted wildlife in your home or business, it’s important to resolve the issue quickly and professionally. The longer an animal lives in your home, the more damage it will cause.