Winter Wildlife: Why Animals Try To Get Into Your Home
As the weather turns colder in Connecticut, animals are looking for ways to stay warm. While we’re cozy inside our Connecticut homes, critters like mice, squirrels, bats, and raccoons may be looking for shelter in your house. Homes provide warmth, protection from the elements, and even easy access to food, all of the things wildlife need to survive a New England winter.
Why Animals Come Inside
Winter is hard on wildlife across Litchfield County. Food is scarce, snow covers their natural shelters, and the cold makes survival tricky. Some animals hibernate or migrate, but others stay active and look for warm, safe places. That often means attics, crawl spaces, and wall voids, areas that feel like natural dens.
Common Winter Visitors
Here are the types of animals that tend to move in when the cold weather arrives in Connecticut:
Mice & Rats: They are small enough to squeeze through tiny gaps in walls. They often search for warmth and food.
Squirrels: They are active year-round in Litchfield County and will often sneak into attics or roof spaces to build nests and stay warm during the cold months.
Bats: Certain species don’t migrate but instead look for sheltered, warm spots like attics to hibernate or take refuge.
Racoons & Skunks: These larger animals usually look for safe, sheltered spots like under porches, decks, or inside garages to stay warm and protected from the harsh Connecticut winter weather.
How Animals Get Inside
Wildlife can enter through surprisingly small openings. Mice can fit through holes the size of a dime and bats can slip through tiny cracks near rooflines, vents, or chimneys. Common entry points include: gaps around vents or chimneys, cracks in siding or foundation, loose shingles or roof openings, or utility line openings.
Even if you don’t see animals outside during a Connecticut winter, they may have already gotten inside. Signs of their presence include scratching noises, strange odors, chewed insulation, or droppings. These are all clues that wildlife has made itself at home.
Prevention & Peace of Mind
The best way to keep wildlife out of your Litchfield County home is to seal gaps and cracks before animals find them. Other tips include: installing screens over vents and chimneys, trimming tree branches away from your roof, and scheduling a professional inspection if you suspect wildlife.
Sometimes, even the most careful homeowner can miss a small opening that lets animals in. That’s why calling a professional is often the safest choice. American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services can safely remove any wildlife already inside your home, repair entry points to prevent future visits, and provide tips to keep your house warm, safe, and animal-free all winter.