Summer brings more than just heat and humidity to Staten Island — it also brings a noticeable uptick in wildlife activity. Longer days, abundant food sources, and active breeding seasons mean raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and other nuisance animals are more likely to wander onto your property, into your attic, or under your deck. Here’s what’s driving the increase and how professional wildlife removal keeps your home protected through the season.
Why Wildlife Activity Peaks in Summer
Warmer months mean more available food — ripening gardens, unsecured trash, pet food left outside — combined with young animals from spring litters now old enough to forage independently. This combination pushes wildlife populations to expand their territory in search of shelter and food, often bringing them into closer contact with homes and yards than during cooler months.
Common Summer Wildlife Issues in Staten Island
Raccoons
Raccoons are highly adaptable and drawn to unsecured garbage, pet food, and gardens. During summer, they’re also more likely to seek out attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces as denning sites for their young. Learn more about our raccoon control services if you’re hearing movement in your attic or noticing overturned trash cans.
Squirrels
Squirrels become especially active in summer, chewing through soffits, vents, and rooflines to access attic spaces for nesting. Their gnawing can damage wiring and insulation quickly if left unaddressed. Our squirrel removal services address both the animals and the entry points they’re using.
Skunks
Skunks dig under porches, sheds, and decks in search of grubs and insects, and their burrowing can undermine structural foundations over time. If you’ve noticed small, cone-shaped holes in your lawn, our skunk removal team can identify the source and remove it safely.
Groundhogs
Groundhogs are especially active in summer gardens, often causing extensive damage to vegetables and landscaping through their burrowing. Learn more about how our groundhog control services protect your yard during peak activity.
Opossums
Opossums are opportunistic feeders drawn to accessible food sources and tend to den in sheds, under decks, or in crawl spaces during warmer months. Our opossum control services safely relocate these animals without harm.
Signs You Have a Wildlife Problem
- Scratching, scurrying, or thumping sounds in the attic or walls, especially at dusk or dawn
- Torn or damaged vents, soffits, or rooflines
- Overturned trash cans or scattered garbage
- Holes or tunnels in the yard, particularly near foundations or gardens
- Droppings near entry points, decks, or sheds
- A persistent odor, which can indicate a skunk den or a dead animal in a hard-to-reach space — our dead animal removal service handles this safely if it’s already happened
Prevention Tips for Staten Island Homeowners
- Secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids and store them in a garage or shed when possible
- Avoid leaving pet food outside overnight
- Seal gaps around rooflines, vents, and foundation areas before wildlife finds them
- Trim tree branches that overhang the roofline, which animals like squirrels use as access points
- Install chimney caps to prevent raccoons and other animals from denning inside
Why DIY Wildlife Removal Often Backfires
Handling wildlife removal without experience can be risky, both because many species can carry disease and because improperly sealing an entry point before an animal has left can trap it inside, leading to a bigger problem. Professional repairs and exclusion services ensure entry points are sealed only after the animal has safely vacated, preventing this common mistake.
Protect Your Staten Island Property This Summer
Wildlife activity doesn’t have to mean lasting damage to your home. At Clearview Pest Control, we provide humane, effective wildlife removal services in Staten Island as well as throughout Bayonne and Englewood. Contact us today for a free inspection and keep your property wildlife-free this season.
