Spooky Things Found In Remodeling Houses

In remodeling, you never know what you may encounter when tearing out walls. It’s the things you can’t see and unexpectedly discover that can send chills up your spine like a good horror flick. Also, it’s kind of creepy to think about things moving behind your walls or above the ceiling, after all this is the sanctity of your home and these are not invited guests. In our history we have discovered carcasses of birds, cats, possums, and some unidentifiable species in spaces that make you ponder. In one house there were a six dead squirrels piled on top of one another that had electrocuted themselves by chewing through a wire. Squirrels apparently aren’t very smart since they didn’t depict from their friends’ demise the hazards of chewing, especially on the same wire. Another memorable incident was the bat cave. 

 
Upon removing to replace the siding in the peak of a 100 year old home we watched over 100 bats who fled from their coveted home into the sunset. Upon returning they discovered their eviction notice and the home was boarded up. Also, more common than you’d want to think about, we find rat or mouse trails cut into the insulation behind the sheetrock or fiberglass shower stalls.   

What’s more creepy? Discovering what these unwelcome intruders can do to the safety of your home and family. In the case of the squirrels, had it not been discovered, the damaged wire would have eventually ignited a fire in the attic space. In addition to damaging structural or mechanical components to a house, unwanted animals can leave urine, droppings, and/or dead carcass odors that may have you perplexed as to what is that smell? Some rodents can carry rabies. But don’t freak out, here are some preventative measures to help deter some of these animal break ins:

MICE can fit into an entry hole ¼ inch or larger.
Likely entry points: Garage, basement, gaps around utility lines.
Signs of infestation: 1/8-inch-long droppings; smell of urine; noises at night; holes gnawed in food boxes.
Best spots for traps: Along walls; anywhere you suspect activity.
Preventive measures: Seal exterior gaps with mortar; weatherstrip the bottom of basement and garage doors; keep all foodstuffs in hard plastic, glass, or steel containers.
Stopgap measures: Stuff copper mesh or bronze wool into foundation cracks.
RATS can fit into an entry hole: ¾ inch or larger.
Likely entry points: Garages, basements, rotted sills or foundations, damaged or unused drain pipes.
Signs of infestation: Black, greasy smudges around openings; smell of urine; ¼- to 5/8-inch-long droppings; nests of discarded food; fur; matted-down insulation; gnawing and squeaking at night.
Best spots for traps: Poisoned bait stations outside the house and around the perimeter of the property line.
Preventive measures: Eliminate all water and food sources around the house, including bird feeders and pet dishes; store food (pet and human) in airtight containers.
Stopgap measures: Cover entry points with hardware cloth or 16-gauge steel flashing.

SQUIRRELS can fit into entry hole: 2 ½ inches or larger.
Likely entry points: Where dormers meet roofs or where roof shingles overhang fascia boards. (The second-story men of household pests, squirrels can jump 10 to 12 feet through the air.)
Signs of infestation: Scampering noises in ceilings or attic; insulation missing from spots near eaves; ½- to 1-inch-long droppings; piles of nuts.
Best spots for traps: Live traps, clamped in place near the spot on the roof where they're getting in. Bait them with peanut butter, dried corn-on-the-cob, or suet.
Preventive measures: Prune trees away from house; keep roof and exterior trim in pristine repair; remove bird feeders.
Stopgap measures: Nail hardware cloth over potential entry points until they can be repaired.

Skunks: These four-legged stink bombs will easily burrow under your patio slab or stake out territory in your garage, crawl space, or basement. Hire a pro to trap them live and transport them elsewhere.
Bats: Given the opportunity, they'll happily take up residence in your attic for the summer and leave behind potentially disease-ridden guano as a present. Seal off their entranceways with a double layer of insect screen and hardware cloth, but only after you evict them first (Bat species are protected nationwide). Call in a pro to erect a "bat flap," a layer of screen that lets the bats crawl out but blocks their way back in.
Birds: In spring, starlings and sparrows have a knack for building nests in hidden, difficult-to-reach openings in a house. The louvered vents for dryer exhausts and the openings behind roof fascia are perennial favorites. Bar them from entering with hardware cloth. Take down the bird feeders that are attracting them to your property.
Raccoons: The masked marauders of the animal world, they'll barge down chimneys and into open garages or attic vents. Best captured with a live trap baited with peanut butter, suet, raw eggs, or dried corn on the cob. To keep them from coming back, cap your chimney, keep basement and garage doors closed, eliminate bird feeders and outdoor pet bowls, and lock down trash lids with bungee cords.
Snakes: In the fall, they'll work their way into openings around basement doors or cracks in foundation mortar, looking for a place to hibernate. They'll leave of their own accord when the weather warms up in spring. Seal those openings behind them.

Preventative measures information by Joseph D'AgneseThis Old House magazine