2012: Early Daylight Savings Time, good time to check for animal invasions!

This Sunday is the beginning of daylight savings time! Teddy’s bear friends and relatives are just coming out of their dens after a slow winter. As you know, Teddy has a ‘real job’ with TLC Construction and has had to learn to go go go all year round – and just take long naps on the weekends! Many of Teddy’s forest friends, including animals other than bears, have dens out in the woods. They wouldn’t want people in their dens and Teddy knows his human friends do not want his forest friends in their dens. But some of the forest friends don’t believe Teddy. Sometimes their home has been destroyed; they are looking for a place to nest; or they just want someplace warm. This can lead to many problems for Teddy’s customers.

TLC Construction has received many calls about damage from animal invasions. Usually the animal looks for a weak spot to break into the house. This can be caused by water damage; thin metal in soffits or roof vents; or through roofing valleys which are eroding. Add-ons with no foundation under them are also vulnerable.

Teddy has some racoon buddies who with their masks even look like little thieves. Though they can appear cute with their beautiful fur, charming kits and even hand-like paws, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage! TLC Construction had found one of racoon’s favorite places to enter a home is under the deck where it is attached to the house. They use this area as a bathroom too – which adds to the yuck factor! Raccoons, who have nails like dogs on their paws, can dig through many surfaces.

But have no fear! Teddy and TLC Construction have a solution! It is called exclusion. However, first Teddy talks with his forest friends about moving out. But sometimes the new home is just too comfortable! The second step is to call a local animal control service “When Nature Calls Pest Control.” They come and get the animal or sometimes animals out of the invaded territory. Once all the animals are removed, TLC Construction used wild-life damage best management practices developed by major universities to keep the animals out. This includes repairing the damage to the home and installing below grade barriers. Whew! Teddy knows it is a lot of work. But he also knows his forest friends may try to return. The exclusion needs to be strong so the animals can’t get and either return to the forest or  go check out a neighbor’s home for a weak spot.

So Teddy wondered, what does this have to do with daylight savings time? The TLC contractors told him that with the mild winter and now longer days, Teddy’s forest friends think it is spring. Therefore, Teddy needs to tell his people friends to check around their home for any signs of animals trying to get in or holes where they may have gotten in. This is a good project to put on their calendar and do every year at the beginning of daylight savings time. A check of your home is so much easier than the repairs, expense and mess of having animals invade. Teddy wants you to go check out your home today and let TLC Construction know if you suspect problems – consultations and estimates are always free.