Fort Worth Homeowners: Why Wild Animals Pick Your House & How to Keep Them Out

Why Are Wild Animals Choosing Your Fort Worth Home? A Homeowner's Guide to Keeping Them Out

There's nothing quite like the peace of your Fort Worth home, until you hear scurrying in the attic, see an opossum waddling through your yard, or find evidence of a sneaky critter making itself comfortable. If you're wondering why local wildlife seems to have your address on speed dial, you're not alone. It’s a common challenge for homeowners, especially as urban areas like ours expand.

The truth is, wild animals aren't intentionally trying to cause trouble. They're simply looking for the same things we are: food, water, and shelter. And often, our homes and yards offer these necessities in abundance, making them an irresistible target.

What Makes Your Home a Wildlife Magnet?

Understanding what draws animals in is the first step to keeping them out. Here’s a look at the top attractants:

1. Easy Meals (Food Sources):
   • Garbage: Unsecured trash cans are like an open buffet for raccoons, opossums, and even rats. A single raccoon can tip over a garbage can and spread its contents far and wide in minutes.
   • Pet Food: Bowls left outside, especially overnight, are a prime target for various critters.
   • Gardens & Fruit Trees: Ripe fruits, vegetables, and even birdseed can attract squirrels, raccoons, and other animals looking for a snack.
   • Grubs & Insects: Armadillos and skunks are particularly fond of digging up your lawn in search of insects.
2. Accessible Water:
   • Leaky Faucets or Pipes: Even a small drip can be a vital water source for thirsty animals.
   • Bird Baths & Pet Bowls: These can provide easy hydration.
   • Standing Water: Clogged gutters or puddles can attract wildlife.
3. Cozy Shelter & Safety (Entry Points):
   • Attics & Crawl Spaces: Warm, dry, and safe from predators, these areas are ideal for animals like raccoons, squirrels, and opossums to build nests and raise their young. Did you know a single squirrel can squeeze through a hole as small as a quarter?
   • Unsealed Vents & Chimneys: These are common entry points for birds, squirrels, and raccoons seeking refuge.
   • Gaps in the Foundation or Siding: Small cracks can be an open invitation for mice and rats, who can squeeze through incredibly tiny spaces.
   • Damaged Roofs & Eaves: Loose shingles or rotting wood can provide easy access to your attic.
   • Sheds & Under Decks: These offer secluded spots for skunks, opossums, and other ground-dwelling animals.

Common Fort Worth Critters and Their Calling Cards

In Fort Worth and throughout Tarrant and Denton Counties, we encounter a variety of wildlife species looking for a way in.

• Raccoons: Known for their dexterity, they often target unsecured trash, pet food, and find their way into attics or chimneys, sometimes causing significant damage to insulation and wiring.
• Opossums: These nocturnal marsupials are often drawn to pet food, fallen fruit, and can set up dens under decks or in sheds.
• Skunks: While not usually destructive, their pungent spray is a clear sign they’ve made a home under your porch or shed. They're often digging for grubs in lawns.
• Squirrels: They love attics for nesting and are notorious for chewing through eaves, vents, and even electrical wires, posing a fire risk.
• Rats & Mice: These rodents need very little space to enter and can multiply rapidly. They seek out food sources and can contaminate surfaces, chew through wires, and spread diseases.
• Armadillos: Their strong claws are perfect for digging, often creating burrows under foundations or tearing up lawns in search of insects.

Encounters with urban wildlife are on the rise. According to many state wildlife departments, including those in Texas, increased urban development often leads to more conflicts between humans and animals as habitats overlap. This means proactive prevention and professional removal are more important than ever.

Your Homeowner's Guide to Wildlife Prevention

Making your home less appealing to wildlife is your best defense.

1. Seal It Up: Thoroughly inspect your home's exterior from top to bottom.
   • Look for cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes, and unsealed vents.
   • Check your roof for loose shingles, damaged fascia boards, or open attic vents.
   • Ensure all windows and doors seal tightly.
   • This is where expert "exclusion work" comes in. Benchmark Wildlife specializes in structural exclusions to seal up these vulnerable entry points and prevent future invasions.
2. Eliminate Food & Water Sources:
   • Secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords.
   • Bring pet food bowls inside, especially overnight.
   • Pick up fallen fruit from trees promptly.
   • Repair any leaky pipes or outdoor faucets.
   • Clean out gutters regularly to prevent standing water.
3. Tidy Up Your Yard:
   • Trim tree branches away from your roof (at least 6-10 feet) to prevent easy access for squirrels and raccoons.
   • Clear away dense brush, woodpiles, and debris where animals might hide or nest.
   • Ensure sheds and outbuildings are sealed and secured.
   • Consider motion-activated lights or sprinklers in areas where animals frequently visit.
4. Regular Inspections: Make it a habit to walk around your home's perimeter periodically, looking for new signs of activity or potential entry points. Early detection can save you a lot of headaches (and money!).

When to Call in the Wildlife Experts

While prevention is key, sometimes animals get in despite your best efforts. When that happens, it’s crucial to call professionals like Benchmark Wildlife. Attempting to remove wild animals yourself can be dangerous – they can bite, scratch, or carry diseases. Plus, you might not effectively solve the problem, leading to repeat invasions.

At Benchmark Wildlife, we understand the unique challenges Fort Worth homeowners face. We believe in a humane, effective, and long-lasting solution. Our process starts with a thorough inspection to diagnose the issue, identify the specific animal, and pinpoint how they're getting in. We then mediate the nuisance wildlife issues using a non-toxic, poison-free strategy, focusing on removing the animals safely.

Our specialty is "structural exclusions," meaning we don't just remove the animal; we seal up the entry points with industry-specific products to maximize the protection of your home long-term and prevent recurring problems. With 10 years of industry experience and Rodent Certification through NWCOA (National Wildlife Control Operators Association), you can trust Benchmark Wildlife to restore your peace of mind.

Our Services & How We Can Help

Benchmark Wildlife provides comprehensive wildlife solutions, including:

• Rodent Removal: Tackling persistent problems with rats and mice.
• Wildlife Removal: Expert removal of unwanted animals.
• Exclusion Work: Sealing entry points to keep animals out permanently.
• Animal Removal: Safe and humane removal of various critters.
• Targeted Services: Specializing in the removal of rats, mice, raccoons, opossums, skunks, armadillos, and squirrels.

We proudly serve homeowners and businesses across Fort Worth and surrounding communities in both Tarrant and Denton Counties, including:

Tarrant County: Fort Worth, Euless, Grapevine, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Hurst, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, Richland Hills, Benbrook, White Settlement, Azle, Saginaw, Westworth Village, Grand Prairie, Watauga.

Denton County: Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Frisco, The Colony, Little Elm, Corinth, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Sanger, Aubrey, Justin, Krum, Pilot Point, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Argyle, Ponder, Copper Canyon, Northlake.

Don't let unwanted wildlife turn your Fort Worth home into their personal sanctuary. If you’re dealing with a critter invasion or want to secure your home against future guests, reach out to Benchmark Wildlife. We're available Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Call us today at +1 8177477273 or email us at contact@benchmarkwildlife.com for a thorough inspection and a plan to keep your home wildlife-free.