Do I Really Need Wildlife Exclusions? A North Texas Homeowner’s Guide Dec 11, 2025

The Short Answer

Yes. Wildlife exclusions are the only permanent way to keep animals out of your home. Trapping removes the animal currently in your attic, but exclusions seal the entry points, like roofline gaps, vents, and siding separations, that allow new wildlife to sneak in. Without exclusions, the scent of old nests and den sites will continue attracting new pests indefinitely.

🏗️ What Exactly Is Wildlife Exclusion?

Wildlife exclusion is not the same as standard home repair. It is a specialized construction process focused on sealing structural vulnerabilities that animals use to enter your home.

Unlike a handyman who may use spray foam, which rats can chew through in minutes, professional exclusions rely on durable, animal-proof materials that cannot be chewed, pulled, or clawed open.

Common Exclusion Materials Used in DFW

High-Gauge Steel Mesh: Installed over foundation gaps, vents, and weep holes.

Industrial Flashing: Custom fitted to seal roof returns, fascia openings, and soffit gaps.

Concrete and Steel Wool Composites: Used along foundations where brick meets slab.

Animal-Proof Vent Guards: Reinforcement for fragile areas like ridge caps, dryer vents, and attic screens.

🏡 Why North Texas Homes Are So Vulnerable

DFW homes experience extreme temperature swings, from 100°F summers to winter freezes. This expansion and contraction weakens materials over time, creating small but exploitable openings.

Key Vulnerabilities in Garland, Plano, Frisco, and Surrounding Areas

Builder-Grade Construction: Many homes have natural construction gaps, sometimes only ½ inch wide, especially where the soffit meets roof shingles.

Shifting Soil: North Texas clay expands and contracts, causing foundations to settle and creating separations between brick, siding, and trim.

Plastic Vents: Standard roof vents are plastic, and squirrels can chew through them easily.

💡 Pro Tip: The “Daylight Test”

Go into your attic during the day and turn off all lights.

Look toward the eaves, where the roof meets the attic floor.

If you can see daylight shining through cracks, that is an active entry point that mice, rats, bats, and squirrels can use.

👂 Signs You Need an Exclusion Service

If you notice any of the following activity patterns, trapping alone will not solve the issue. Structural exclusion is needed to stop wildlife from returning.

Noise and Activity Patterns

• Scratching or Thumping
• Time of Activity: Daytime
• Likely Culprit: Squirrels
• Heavy Movement or Rolling Sounds
• Time of Activity: Night, especially late evening
• Likely Culprit: Raccoons or Opossums
• Fast, Skittering Noises
• Time of Activity: Night, often all night
• Likely Culprit: Rats or Mice
• Rub Marks on Surfaces
• Time of Activity: Any time
• Likely Culprit: Rats, Raccoons, or Opossums
• Strong Odors
• Time of Activity: Any time
• Likely Culprit: Dead animal or heavy urine saturation

Additional Clues

• Trampled insulation in the attic
• Chewed wood near roof corners
• Greasy rub marks on soffits or gutters caused by rodent oils

🚫 Why We Never Recommend Poison

Poison creates more problems than it solves, especially in North Texas homes.

Three Major Risks

Odor Problems: Animals often die inside walls or attics, creating strong odors and fly infestations.

No Long-Term Solution: Poison does not seal holes, and new rodents will simply follow the scent trail left by previous ones.

Safety Hazards: Secondary poisoning can harm owls, hawks, pets, and other wildlife.

⚠️ The Golden Rule of Wildlife Removal

Never seal a hole until you are 100 percent sure all animals are out.

If an animal is sealed inside your attic, it may chew into your living space or die in an inaccessible area, leading to larger repairs and heavy odors. Professional inspection is essential before exclusions begin.

🛠️ Why Local Expertise Matters

Wildlife behavior in Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Wylie, Plano, and McKinney shifts dramatically with each season. A small gap ignored in the summer becomes a prime entry point after the first cold snap.

At Toppers Wildlife Removal, we perform a complete structural inspection to find every active and potential entry point. Our goal is to make your home the hardest target on the block, encouraging wildlife to move on.

🦝 Ready for a Permanent Solution?

Schedule an inspection with Toppers Wildlife Removal for safe, humane, long-term wildlife protection.

📞 Call or Text: (214) 846-5554

🌐 Visit: ToppersWildlifeRemoval.com