Awaiting expert review. This page covers safety or regulatory rules that change over time. It is kept out of search results until a qualified reviewer has checked it; the sources below are dated so you can verify each point.
Quick answer
Wildlife exclusion is the practice of keeping wild animals such as raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums and bats out of a building by removing them without harm, often through a one-way door, and then sealing, screening or capping every opening they could use.
It treats the cause, the gap, rather than the animal. Timing must avoid trapping dependent young, and state wildlife law decides what may be trapped, moved or killed.
Quick facts
The key facts about Wildlife Exclusion, with sources:
- Core tools
- One-way doors, 1/4-inch hardware cloth, chimney caps, vent screens 1
- Digging barrier
- Hardware cloth buried 1 to 2 feet deep 1
- Mesh overlap
- Extend a seal at least 6 inches past the hole (squirrels) 1
- Rule before sealing
- Verify all animals are out of the den first 2
- Rabies context
- Wildlife is over 90% of U.S. animal rabies cases 6
- Relocation
- Illegal for raccoons, skunks and opossums in Ohio 1
Key takeaways
- Wildlife exclusion removes the reason animals are in your house: an open way in.
- One-way doors let animals walk out but not back, so no one has to handle them.
- The biggest mistake is sealing a hole with young still inside; check before you close anything.
- State law decides whether an animal can be trapped, moved or killed, and the rules differ by species and state.
- Prevention is cheap: cap chimneys, screen vents, trim branches and secure trash.
Wildlife exclusion in simple words
Wild animals move into homes for the same reasons they use hollow trees and burrows: shelter, warmth and a safe place to raise young.
Ohio’s wildlife division notes that many species thrive in cities and suburbs, and that most problems, such as squirrels in the attic or skunks under a deck, can be prevented with simple, low-cost steps 1.
Exclusion is the practical answer. Instead of killing or chasing the animal, you let it leave and then close the door behind it. That means finding every entry, putting a one-way door on the one in use, and sealing the rest with strong materials such as 1/4-inch hardware cloth or sheet metal 1.
Wildlife work differs from rodent work. Mice and rats are usually trapped and are not protected. Raccoons are protected furbearers in most states 5, and bats are protected in states like New Jersey 3. Exclusion keeps the work within the law and stops the next animal from moving in.
Exclusion vs removal
Removal gets one animal out. Exclusion also seals the building so the next one cannot get in. A job that removes animals without sealing entries usually has to be repeated.
How wildlife exclusion works
- Identify the animal. Sounds, timing, droppings and tracks tell you whether it is a raccoon, squirrel, bat or something else.
- Find every opening. Common entries include chimneys, gaps around air conditioners, pipes and outlets, loose siding and loose vent covers 1.
- Check for young. Ohio advises finding out whether young are in a squirrel nest before eviction 1, and New York says to look and listen for young, especially in spring 2.
- Install a one-way door. Put it on the active entry so animals can leave but not return, and leave it until all have left 1.
- Confirm the space is empty. New York suggests loose twigs, grass or flour in the opening to check for tracks 2.
- Seal for good. Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth or sheet metal, extending at least 6 inches past the hole, and cap the chimney 1.
- Remove attractants. Lock up trash, bring pet food inside and stop feeding wildlife 1.
- If Animal still using the entry
- Then Install a one-way door first
- If Young may be inside (spring or summer)
- Then Wait or call a licensed operator
- If Twigs or flour undisturbed for several days
- Then Likely empty; seal with mesh or metal
- If Bats involved
- Then Follow your state’s bat exclusion window
Exclusion by animal
| Animal | Typical entry | Exclusion note |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Uncapped chimney, weak roof areas 1 | Cap the chimney after eviction; trim overhanging limbs 1 |
| Squirrel | Attic gaps near trees 1 | One-way door if young are present; seal with 1/4-in cloth or sheet metal 1 |
| Skunk, opossum | Under decks and buildings 1 | One-way door until gone, then seal 1 |
| Bats | Gaps as small as about 1/4 in 4 | Use state-approved timing windows 3 |
| Digging animals | Under foundations and low decks 1 | Hardware cloth buried 1–2 ft deep 1 |
Example: sealing a low deck against skunks
This illustration uses Ohio Division of Wildlife’s published specification for a deck less than two feet off the ground 1. It shows what “exclusion” looks like as a build detail.
| Part | Published spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth 1 | Too small for animals to squeeze through or tear |
| Top edge | Nailed to the top of the outside joists 1 | No gap at the deck edge |
| Trench | Down to the bottom of a 10-inch trench 1 | Stops animals from digging under |
| Footing | 6–8 inches extra bent into an “L” at the bottom 1 | Diggers hit mesh and give up |
| Finish | Wooden lattice can be added for looks 1 | Hides the mesh |
The timing still matters: if an animal is under the deck, a one-way door goes on first, and the final section is closed only after it has left 1.
Where you will see the term
On a wildlife company’s proposal, “exclusion” usually means the sealing work, priced apart from trapping or removal. Look for a list of entry points, materials (hardware cloth, sheet metal, chimney cap) and any warranty.
On a home inspection report, you may see “wildlife entry points noted” at soffits, vents or the chimney. Our pest inspection page explains what inspectors check.
Pest control plans may offer “exclusion” for insects and rodents too. That is related but different; see the rodent control service for how companies package it.
Signs you need wildlife exclusion
- Noises in the attic, walls or chimney, by day (squirrels) or night (raccoons, bats).
- Torn soffits, bent vents, chewed fascia or a damaged chimney screen.
- Droppings in an attic or a latrine on the roof 5.
- Animals running under a deck, shed or porch 1.
- Overturned trash and raided gardens 1.
- Smudged tracks on downspouts 5.
Disease and bites
Wild animals make up over 90% of reported animal rabies cases in the U.S. 6. Do not handle wildlife.
Avoid any animal that seems unafraid, confused or uncoordinated, and call your wildlife office 1. For a bite or scratch, wash it and get medical care right away. Raccoon droppings can carry roundworm eggs; keep children away 7.
What exclusion does well and where it struggles
Strengths
Where wildlife exclusion runs into trouble
Young animals. Raccoon kits nurse about six weeks and follow the mother until fall 2. Bat pups cannot fly in early summer, and New Jersey bars exclusion from May 1 to July 31 for that reason 3.
Hidden gaps. Bats need only about a 1/4-inch opening 4. Old roofs and siding have many such seams.
Repellents are unreliable. Ohio lists noise, light and ammonia as short-term eviction aids 1, and UC IPM reports ultrasonic devices proved ineffective for bats 4. Only sealing gives a lasting result.
What drives exclusion cost
Wildlife work is unpriced on this page, since a fair number takes many dated local quotes. These are the drivers.
The number of entry points, their height and the roof type matter most. Materials vary: a chimney cap, vent guards, a deck skirt of buried hardware cloth. Young in the den can add visits. Damage repair and droppings clean-up are often separate lines.
Ask how long the seal work is guaranteed and what voids it. Our cost guide explains how to compare quotes.
How to hire for wildlife exclusion
- Name the animal. Bats, raccoons and squirrels have different rules and timing.
- Check the law. Your state wildlife agency sets rules on trapping, relocation and bat timing 53.
- Hire a licensed operator. New York licenses nuisance wildlife control operators 2. Use the license lookup and our licensing guide.
- Get a written scope. Entries, materials, one-way doors, return visits, clean-up and warranty.
- Confirm the end state. All animals out, all entries sealed, attractants removed.
Upkeep that keeps wildlife out
- Screen chimneys, furnace flues, attic and dryer vents; keep dampers closed when not in use 1.
- Trim branches over the roof, or band overhanging trunks with a 3-foot sheet-metal collar about 6 feet up 1.
- Repair weak or rotted roof, soffit and fascia areas 1.
- Cover window wells with grates or hardware cloth 1.
- Store trash in lidded cans indoors overnight and keep pet food inside 1.
- Check the roofline each fall for new gaps.
Many of these overlap with insect and rodent sealing; see the rodent exclusion tool and the pest risk checklist.
When to call a professional
Call a licensed wildlife operator when an animal is inside the attic, walls or chimney, when young may be present, or when the work is on a roof. Call your health department after any bite, scratch or bat contact 6.
For raccoons, see our raccoon in the attic page; for bats, see bat exclusion.
Rules that shape wildlife exclusion
Furbearers. Raccoons are protected furbearers in most states; most let landowners control furbearers damaging property, but ICWDM advises checking with your state wildlife agency before lethal control 5.
Ohio (ODNR Division of Wildlife). Nuisance or sick raccoons, skunks and opossums may be trapped without a permit, but may not be relocated; trapped raccoons must be released on the property or humanely euthanized 1. Woodpeckers are protected by federal and state law and need a special permit 1.
New York (NYS DEC). Raccoons are protected; possessing one needs a license, and nuisance wildlife control operators are state-licensed 2.
New Jersey (NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife). Native nongame wildlife, including bats, is protected under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act.
Bat exclusion is barred May 1–July 31 while pups cannot fly, and a second restriction from October 16 to March 31 protects bats that overwinter in buildings (guidelines updated 13 February 2019) 3.
Pesticides (EPA, FIFRA). Any chemical repellent must be EPA-registered and used as labeled; UC IPM notes none are registered in California for bats 4.
Wildlife exclusion vs related approaches
| Approach | Target | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife exclusion | Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats | Protected species; timing around young; state law 53 |
| Rodent exclusion | Mice and rats | Smaller gaps; trapping is routine |
| Pest exclusion | Insects and all pests | Screens, sweeps and caulk |
| Live trapping | Single animals | Relocation illegal in some states 1 |
Wildlife exclusion myths
- Myth Trap it and release it in the woods.
- Reality Ohio bans relocating raccoons, skunks and opossums 1.
- Myth Seal the hole at night while it is out.
- Reality Young may still be inside; verify first 2.
- Myth A sonic repeller will keep animals away.
- Reality UC IPM found tested ultrasonic devices ineffective for bats 4.
- Myth Exclusion is only for big animals.
- Reality Bats use gaps about 1/4 inch wide 4, so detail work matters.
How your state changes the rules
Wildlife exclusion is shaped by state law. Ohio forbids moving live-trapped raccoons, skunks and opossums 1. New York licenses nuisance wildlife control operators 2. New Jersey bars bat exclusion from May 1 to July 31 3.
Rabies reservoirs also vary: raccoons in the East, skunks in much of the Midwest and West, and gray foxes in the Southwest 6. Check your state wildlife agency before any trapping or sealing.
Deciding what to do
If an animal is inside now, call a licensed wildlife operator and do not seal anything yet. If animals are only visiting the yard, start with prevention: trash, pet food, chimney caps, vent screens and branch trimming. If anyone was bitten or scratched, see a doctor first.
When you hire, ask for a written list of every entry, the materials and the warranty, and confirm the company follows your state’s rules.
Decision guide
With an animal inside, call a licensed operator and seal nothing yet. For yard visits only, start with prevention. For bats, work inside your state’s timing window. After a bite or scratch, get medical care first.
Questions about Wildlife Exclusion
What is a one-way door for wildlife?
A one-way door is a device fitted over an animal’s entry hole that lets it walk out but not get back in.
Ohio’s wildlife division recommends one for squirrels with young and for skunks and opossums under buildings, left in place until all animals have gone.
The opening is then sealed for good with strong mesh or sheet metal.
Is wildlife exclusion humane?
Yes, when it is timed right. Animals leave on their own and nothing is killed. The risk is sealing an entry while dependent young are inside, which leaves them to die. New York DEC warns not to seal entrances until you have verified all animals are out, especially in spring.
Can I trap and relocate nuisance animals?
It depends on your state. Ohio allows homeowners to trap nuisance raccoons, skunks and opossums without a permit, but relocating them is illegal; raccoons must be released on the property or humanely euthanized. Raccoons are protected furbearers in most states. Ask your state wildlife agency or hire a licensed operator.
What materials are used for wildlife exclusion?
Common materials include 1/4-inch hardware cloth, sheet metal, chimney caps and vent screens. Ohio’s wildlife division recommends extending a squirrel seal at least 6 inches past the hole and burying hardware cloth 1 to 2 feet deep where animals dig. Lighter materials such as screen or foam are easily chewed through.
When is the best time for wildlife exclusion?
Late summer and fall are often best, after young have left the den.
Raccoon kits follow their mother until September or early October in New York, and New Jersey bars bat exclusion from May 1 to July 31.
Prevention work, such as capping chimneys and trimming branches, can be done any time no animals are inside.
How do I know an animal has left?
New York DEC suggests loosely placing twigs, grass or flour in the opening and checking for tracks. If the material stays undisturbed for several days, the den is likely empty. Listen for sounds, especially young in spring, before sealing. A professional may also use cameras or one-way doors to confirm.
What diseases can attic wildlife carry?
Rabies is the main concern. The CDC says wild animals make up over 90% of reported animal rabies cases in the U.S., led by bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Raccoon droppings can carry roundworm eggs, and bat or bird droppings are linked to histoplasmosis. Never handle wildlife or its droppings without protection.
Who does wildlife exclusion?
Licensed nuisance wildlife control operators do most wildlife exclusion. New York, for example, licenses these operators through the state DEC. Some pest control companies offer wildlife work, but many do not, so ask which license the company holds. Roofers or carpenters may handle larger repairs.
How do I keep wildlife out of my yard and house?
Remove what attracts them and close the way in. Ohio’s wildlife division recommends tight trash lids with cans indoors overnight, pet food inside, no wildlife feeding, chimney and vent screens, trimmed branches over the roof, and hardware cloth around low decks and foundations.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Uninvited House Guests: Preventing and Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife Encounters (hosted by Maine DACF), retrieved .
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Raccoon, retrieved .
- New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Nuisance Wildlife Control Guidelines for Bats (updated 2019-02-13), retrieved .
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Pest Notes: Bats (Publication 74150), retrieved .
- Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, Raccoons, retrieved .
- U.S. CDC, Rabies in the United States: Protecting Public Health, retrieved .
- U.S. CDC, About Baylisascaris (Raccoon Roundworm), retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyrePest Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Prevention specs, one-way door use and Ohio trapping and relocation rules follow ODNR’s Uninvited House Guests.
Den checks and New York rules follow NYS DEC. Bat timing follows the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; bat gap size and repellent findings follow UC IPM. Furbearer status follows ICWDM. Rabies and roundworm facts follow CDC.
Held for G-REV: a licensed wildlife control operator must confirm the state rules. No prices given.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.