AboutStephen Vantassel Expertise I was a professional animal damage controller. If you are having problems with squirrels, raccoons, beavers, moles, voles, etc. damaging your property, I can help give you information to resolve that damage. I was an assistant editor for Wildlife Control Technology magazine and have published numerous articles as well as two books in this field.
Experience Former assistant editor for Wildlife Control Technology; Master's degree in Hebrew Bible (yes I am licensed minister), Past New England Director for the National Wildlife Control Operator's Association. I have published two books, The Wildlife Removal Handbook (rev. ed) and the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, and numerous articles. Perhaps a highlight was making the cover of Wildlife Control Technology. I have debated a noted animal rights activist in my own state of Massachusetts on radio and TV. http://icwdm.org
Question We noticed about 4 small holes around my mothers house recently. Started seeing small ?Chipmunks or ground squirrels around the yard. She recently started to hear a scratching sound every night under her house in the crawl space. We had someone come out who charged a large free to put screen over her vents, spray a chemical and place traps. Nothing was caught. They are telling us that nothing can get under the house now that what ever is under there is trapped and will eventually die. It continues to scratch every night very loudly. Of course they want more money to continue trapping. My question is if it is chipmunks and they went in through the tunnels they dug can't they return that way? They people that came out say no the chemical they sprayed will take care of that. Any ideas?
Answer I am a bit confused. Are you telling me that a company said spraying a chemical would PREVENT an animal (that is a creature with a backbone, non-insect) from entering your home or will kill the animals?
Wow! I hope that wasn't what the company said. I have no idea whether the scratching is caused by chipmunks or not. I don't have enough information.
All I can say is that the proper way to prevent wildlife from entering a structure is to repair the structure! I never recommend sealing holes or entry ways unless it is absolutely certain that those entry ways are no longer being used by animals. See our page http://www.icwdm.org/Inspection/techniquepaperhole.asp
