As the chill of winter sets in, many homeowners assume wildlife activity slows down—but for animals like gray squirrels, flying squirrels, and skunks, it’s often just the beginning of their search for safe places to nest. These animals look for warm, sheltered spots to overwinter, breed, and raise young. If you ignore them now, you risk a much bigger problem when spring arrives. This article explores effective winter wildlife prevention tips, explains why early action matters, and shows how Zimmerman Wildlife Solutions (ZWS) helps prevent small winter nuisances from turning into springtime infestations.

Winter doesn’t mean wildlife vanishes — it means many species start looking for secure nesting sites. Cold weather, snow, and decreased food availability push animals to seek shelter. For species like squirrels and skunks, human structures can be very attractive: attics, sheds, decks, and crawl spaces provide warmth, protection from predators, and relative stability.

Without proper prevention, what begins as a handful of animals nesting in your home or yard can escalate into a more serious issue over time. That’s why winter wildlife prevention is not just thoughtful — it’s critical.

Let’s break down what winter looks like for three common nuisance wildlife species — and why they become a problem if not addressed.

Gray squirrels are well-known for their adaptability. According to ZWS’s services page, squirrels (including gray ones) are among the species they remove. 

• Nesting in Winter: Even in the cold, gray squirrels remain active. They forage for nuts, bark, and other food, while also relying on stored food. They may nest in tree cavities — but they don’t hesitate to exploit human structures when it’s convenient.

   

• Structural Threats: Once inside, squirrels can cause a lot of damage. They chew through fascia boards, soffits, wiring, and insulation. ZWS notes in their repair and exclusion service that squirrels may chew through fascia, requiring durable repairs.

   

• Re-entry Risk: Simply removing squirrels is not enough. If you don’t seal every access point properly, they can chew their way back in. This is precisely why ZWS emphasizes permanent exclusion and repair.

Flying squirrels are less commonly noticed but can pose a serious problem in winter:

• Communal Sleeping: Unlike many other squirrels, flying squirrels are especially social. During colder months, they sometimes huddle in communal dens — sometimes dozens in a single cavity — to conserve warmth. This means a single entry point could lead to a much larger infestation than you’d think.
  

   

• Nocturnal Activity: They’re active at night, which makes them harder to detect. Their nests
  are usually compact but may still leave behind small signs like shells of nuts or droppings.

• Damage & Clean-up: While their chewing may not be as aggressive as gray squirrels, their nesting materials and droppings can contaminate insulation, stain walls or ceilings. Once they’re out, you’ll likely need cleanup, just as you would for other attic invaders and solid repairs of the entry point.

Skunks are another species that take full advantage of winter to find or create sheltered spots to den.

• Where They Den: ZWS specifically calls out skunks denning under decks or sheds, and sometimes even in crawlspaces or basements.

• Digging Behavior: They dig small, circular holes in your yard to forage for grubs, but their dens are often hidden under structures. ZWS warns that skunks may “enter your porch to feed on pet food” or burrow beneath outdoor buildings.

• Health and Odor Issues: Skunk dens can harbor a variety of ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas. Urine and fecal matter can collect in and around denning areas creating

unpleasant odors. Not to mention the potent arsenal the skunk is equipped with.

Repeat Problem: When a skunk digs under a shed or deck, simply sealing the entry often fails. Soil shifts, or the animal may dig a new access point. That’s why ZWS relies on a heavy‑duty barrier installation and expert securing—ensuring exclusion work that truly lasts.

Why is it so important to address wildlife issues now, rather than waiting for spring? Here are the key reasons — and why they align with ZWS’s mission of prevention.

1. Breeding Season Risk

• Many of these animals may start or continue breeding during winter or early spring. Gray squirrels often have a breeding peak in late winter or early spring, meaning that if any are nesting now, they could produce young by spring.

• Flying squirrels especially, given their communal denning, can amplify the problem: what seems like a small group can become a large one.

• If young are born in your structure, removal becomes more complex and often requires more visits to the site. Orphaned animals, babies in the walls — these are worst-case scenarios that can be avoided with early intervention.

2. Exponential Structural Damage

• Squirrels don’t just chew once — they may continue chewing throughout the winter, enlarging entry points, widening gaps, and creating more damage.

• Skunks digging under your structure can undermine foundations, deck supports, or shed stability. What starts as minor burrowing can lead to significant structural issues.

• When left unchecked, the cost of repair can rise quickly: ZWS’s repair/exclusion team often deals with damage to fascia, soffits, Gable Vents and more.

3. Health, Hygiene & Contamination

• Wildlife droppings and nesting materials can accumulate. In enclosed areas like attics, this can lead to strong odors, contamination of insulation, and potential pathogens. ZWS handles minor clean-ups and decontamination as part of their service.

• Skunks, in particular, are known for their strong odor, and their presence under decks or in crawlspaces can make living near them unpleasant or even unsanitary.

4. Re-Infestation Without Exclusion

• Removal is only the first step. If an animal’s entry point isn’t properly addressed, more can and will come back. ZWS’s repair and exclusion service is centered on long-term prevention — using metal flashing, barrier installation, durable securing — not just patchwork.

• Without preventive measures, you could face a repeat infestation. This not only costs more money over time, but also drains emotional energy and creates ongoing stress for homeowners.

5. Liability and Safety

• Wildlife inside structures can damage wiring, increasing fire risk.

• Hidden nests and burrows can safely go unnoticed, but they pose a risk of sudden encounters or property damage when disturbed.

• Animals like skunks may spray or act defensively if cornered. Prevention now helps reduce the risk of dangerous or costly incidents later.

To protect your home this winter and prevent spring wildlife crises, here are practical and effective steps — many of which align with what ZWS recommends or offers.

Tip 1: Conduct a Thorough Property Inspection

• Walk the perimeter of your home carefully. Use a flashlight to spot gaps, holes, worn fascia, compromised soffits, or damaged vents.

   

• Inspect under decks and sheds. Look for digging, loose boards, or burrow entrances that skunks may use.

   

• Check the roofline and attic access points. Make sure vents, chimneys, and roof penetrations are properly screened and maintained.

   

• Note chewing marks or fresh damage. Chewed wood, gnawed fascia, or new holes mean wildlife is already active.

   

A property inspection is your first line of winter wildlife prevention. Even if you don’t catch everything, spotting potential entry points early makes exclusion much easier later.

Tip 2: Call in the Professionals — Especially If You Suspect Nesting

Zimmerman Wildlife Solutions offers a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simple removal:

• Their team provides inspections, live trapping, and dead animal removal.

   

• They specialize in species including squirrels (gray,red and flying) and skunks.
  

   

By calling ZWS now — before spring breeding — you’re not just removing current wildlife: you’re preventing a repeat infestation.

Tip 3: Seal and Exclude with Durable Materials

• After removal, the exclusion work is crucial. ZWS’s repair and exclusion services involve expert craftsmanship: they know how to permanently seal vulnerable areas using materials like custom bent metal,custom barriers,and professional-grade sealing.

   

• Focus on the most common vulnerable zones: roofline, soffits, fascia, vents, eaves, and under-structure areas (decks, sheds).

   

• Ensure exclusion devices are used properly: entry points should remain open until you are sure all animals have left before sealing.
  

Tip 4: Reduce Attractants Around Your Home

• Trim overhanging branches: Squirrels use tree limbs to gain access to roofs. Reducing these pathways makes your home less inviting.

   

• Secure food sources: Don’t leave pet food out overnight. Seal trash cans, and clean up spilled birdseed. Skunks and squirrels are opportunistic feeders. ZWS specifically warns about pet food and skunk access.

   

• Modify landscape: Consider installing barrier fencing or hardware cloth buried underground around foundations, decks, or sheds to deter skunk digging and burrowing. Also, clean up any debris that would allow adequate harborage for skunks to find shelter.

   

Tip 5: Educate Yourself on Breeding & Denning Cycles

• Knowing when animals breed and den helps you time prevention work effectively. According to wildlife-wise resources, winter and early spring are key periods for breeding and nesting.

   

• Avoid sealing up potential entry points until you’re confident no animals (especially juveniles) remain inside. Proper exclusion requires verifying that no wildlife is trapped behind sealed access points.

   

• Work with professionals who understand local wildlife behavior. ZWS’s team includes certified wildlife control professionals who are nationally trained and permitted in Pennsylvania.

Not all wildlife control companies are created equal, and ZWS stands out in several important ways — especially when considering long-term prevention.

1. Deep Experience & Local Roots

• ZWS has been serving central Pennsylvania (Columbia, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Union counties, and surrounding areas) since 2006.

   

• The company is family-owned and operated, with 25+ years of hands-on trapping experience.

   

2. Professional Credentials & Certifications

• Their staff includes a Certified Wildlife Control Professional (CWCP).

   

• They are members of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) and carry various advanced certifications, including for bird management, structural bat management, Venomous Snakes, and more.

   

• They are permitted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (permit WPC #20589).
• They are active members with the Pennsylvania Nuisance Wildlife Management Association

   

3. Comprehensive, Humane Approach

• ZWS prioritizes humane removal — live traps and relocation when appropriate, not just lethal methods.

   

• Their services go beyond catching animals: they repair, exclude and monitor.

   

• Repair work is not patchwork. Their team has construction experience and uses high-quality materials to permanently close access points.

   

4. Long-Term Prevention Focus

• Their exclusion work is designed to last. Custom bent Aluminum or metal, custom barrier installation, professional sealing — these are all part of their strategy.

   

• They restore structural damage properly, ensuring your home is not only wildlife-resistant but also safe and aesthetically sound.

   

5. Customer-Centered Service

• ZWS offers a phone consultation to assess your situation.

   

• They emphasize honest guidance, safety, and respect — both for your property and for wildlife.

   

• Their service areas include several Pennsylvania counties, and they respond quickly to wildlife emergencies.

   

Here are some real-world (or realistic) scenarios illustrating how failing to implement winter wildlife prevention can backfire — and how proactive measures with ZWS could avert disaster.

Scenario 1: The Attic That Became a Squirrel Nursery

You hear scratching on the roof in December. You ignore it, thinking the squirrels will leave when spring comes. But those squirrels are building a nest — or maybe even expecting young. By April or May, you hear more noise: scurrying, scratching, even squeaks as baby squirrels emerge.

• You call a wildlife company to trap them, but they warn you that unless you repair and seal every entry point, the problem will return.

• Meanwhile, chewed wiring in the attic causes electrical issues, and compromised insulation affects your heating efficiency.

• After removal, you pay for exclusion — which ends up being more expensive than if you’d acted the previous winter.

With ZWS, you could have arranged for inspection, live trapping, and exclusion during the off-season (winter), avoiding the chaotic spring surprise — and reducing damage and long-term costs.

Scenario 2: Skunks Under the Deck Turn Your Yard Into a Hazard

A skunk family takes up residence under your deck in late fall. You notice small holes in the yard and a faint musky odor, but you assume they’ll leave on their own. You wait until spring to address it.

• But by then, the skunks may have permanently burrowed in and make nightly treks for food, potentially encountering pets or homeowners at night.

• Their den accumulates droppings, which you only discover once the snow melts. Now the cleanup is difficult, odorous, and potentially hazardous.

• When you finally call for help, the costs can add up quickly. Trapping several animals often requires multiple trips, compared to a single animal that might be resolved with fewer visits. Likewise, the damage or repairs may span a wide area rather than being limited to one entry point—turning a manageable job into a much larger (and more expensive) project that could have been simpler and cheaper if addressed sooner.

• With ZWS, an early winter inspection and exclusion (using barrier installation) could have prevented the skunks from settling in — and saved you from structural and odor-related headaches.

Q: Isn’t removal enough? Why do I need repair and exclusion?
A: Removal is just the first step. If you leave access points open, animals (especially persistent ones like squirrels) will get back in. ZWS’s exclusion work uses strong materials (metal products, barriers) to permanently block entry. 

Q: Can’t I just seal holes myself?
A: DIY exclusion may seem tempting, but it carries serious risks. Without confirming that no animals remain inside, you could unintentionally trap young or injured wildlife—an outcome that is both inhumane and potentially illegal. Entry points are often located in hard‑to‑reach areas, requiring tall ladders and roof work that pose safety hazards. Professionals like ZWS not only have the expertise to handle these challenges safely, but also use durable materials designed to withstand chewing and digging, ensuring long‑lasting protection

Q: How do I know if there are animals in my attic or under my deck?
A: Listen for scratching, scurrying, or digging. Look for droppings, chew marks, or holes around the perimeter. For burrows, inspect under decks, sheds, and along foundations. If you suspect wildlife, call a pro — ZWS can conduct an inspection. 

Q: When is the best time to do wildlife prevention work?
A: Now. As soon as you notice a problem. Winter is a good time: Family group numbers are lower, activity slows and allows for safe exclusion, and there’s less risk of orphaning babies than in late spring. 

Q: What if I already heard noises this winter?
A: It’s not too late. Contact Zimmerman Wildlife Solutions for a consultation. They can assess whether animals are currently inside, remove them humanely, and then perform exclusion and repairs to make sure they don’t return.

If you’re reading this, you’re already thinking ahead — and that’s exactly what winter wildlife prevention is all about. Don’t let gray squirrels, flying squirrels, or skunks use your home as their winter “hotel.”

Here’s your action plan:

1. Inspect your property today — check rooflines, soffits, decks, and sheds.

    

2. Call Zimmerman Wildlife Solutions (570) 437-2144 for a professional inspection.

    

3. Schedule removal and exclusion before spring. Their team can trap, and permanently seal entry points.

    

4. Restore and upgrade any damaged areas — replacing chewed wood or repairing gable vents.

    

Maintain prevention: Trim trees, secure food sources, and monitor vulnerable areas annually.