How to Keep Wild Miami Animals Out from Under a Shed or Porch

Wild Miami animals tend to be a common problem around domestic property. They often make a home in areas above ground level, such as attics, wall cavities and chimneys. However, these above ground areas are not the only places these wild animals will be found. Wild animals also find their way into spaces beneath a shed or a porch. The entry holes to these small spaces tend to be difficult to locate.



When dealing with the problem of a Florida animal living under your shed or porch, as well as preventing an animal from making their home there, it is very important that you deal with the situation promptly. To get the process started, you will first want to make certain that there is no animal living under your shed or porch. Keep in mind, you must never secure an opening except you are positive there are no animals living in the area. Next comes the den test. In a situation where you are not sure whether, or not, a hole or access area is being used, you can either place sticks in the soil, or cork the opening with newspaper. The hole should be monitored daily. During the summer months, the hole is to be monitored for three days, at least. If there is no sign of activity, you can be sure the whole is not being used and then it may be sealed. The winter months are a difficult time to be certain no animal is using the hole considering some animals may den up for weeks at a time, while other animals hibernate.

If you are certain that your shed or porch is not being used by a wild Miami animal, you can now choose an option to prevent these wild animals from doing so. One option is trench screening, but before you start digging, please speak to your local dig safe corporation. You will want to use quality hardware cloth (1/4 inch or 1/2 inch), preferably galvanized. If you are concerned about looks, paint the mesh or cover it through lattice behind it is installed. You will need to use a large sufficient piece to cover the space from your porch, or shed, wall to three to four inches beneath the ground, then out, in a perpendicular fashion, approximately twelve inches from the VL-vertical line.

The second option is to use patio blocks, the no dig method. Use hardware cloth (1/4 inches or 1/2 inches) to fill in all gaps between your shed, or porch, wall and the ground. Then add two inches to this measurement. Before you install the mesh, make sure you have a small slope to the ground as well as away from the structure. You will require to obtain patio blocks by means of the measurement of (8”x16”x1’). Now you can put in the mesh plus lay the PB-patio blocks. Make sure the narrow finish of the block is beside the vertical as well as horizontal portion of the mesh. The downward grade will help the water flow away from the construction. Proceed with concern if choosing this method: it may severely control airflow from under your porch of shed, causing dampness problems. Before using the patio block process, please consult a contractor.

The final option you may choose from is called the open method. Wild Florida animals typically do not want to live under a shed or porch that has open crawl room areas plus let in light. If you have a shed or porch that is high enough above ground, you might possibly discourage animals seeking potential homes by removing what makes the crawl space cozy, including some walls, lattice or shrubs.

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