The space beneath a porch, deck or garden shed checks every box for a wild animal looking for a home: it’s dry, dark, sheltered from predators and close to food. That’s why skunks, raccoons, opossums, groundhogs and stray cats so often end up there. They aren’t trying to cause trouble, but their digging, chewing and nesting can damage your property and create health and safety concerns for your family and pets.
At a Glance
- Tracks, droppings, fresh digging and chewed wood are the clearest signs that something has moved in.
- Encouraging an animal to leave on its own is usually kinder and more effective than trapping and relocating it.
- Once the space is empty, a buried wire barrier is the best way to keep the next tenant out.
- Most homeowners policies treat animal damage as a maintenance issue, so prevention matters.
Signs You Have a New Neighbor
Many of these animals are most active at night, so you may never see one directly. Look for the evidence they leave behind instead.
- A worn path or hole leading under the porch, deck or shed
- Loose soil piled near the foundation or fresh burrow openings
- Gnawed lattice, skirting or wooden framing
- Nibbled plants, raided gardens or tipped-over trash cans
- Droppings near the entrance, which can help you identify the species
- A musky or skunky smell, especially after rain
Easy Detective Work
Sprinkle a thin layer of flour or fine sand across the suspected entrance in the evening and check it the next morning. Footprints will tell you whether the spot is in use and often what kind of animal is using it. An inexpensive motion-activated trail camera can confirm it.
Why Trap-and-Relocate Often Backfires
Live traps feel like the humane option, but wildlife specialists generally discourage them for do-it-yourselfers. Relocated animals frequently struggle to find food and shelter in unfamiliar territory, and if you trap a mother during spring or early summer, her young may be left behind under your porch. In many areas, trapping and moving wildlife is also restricted by state or local rules.
A better first approach is to make your porch an uncomfortable place to live so the animal chooses to move on.
Gentle Ways to Encourage an Exit
- Make some noise. These animals picked the spot because it was quiet. A radio tuned to a talk station and left running near the entrance for a few days can be enough to make them look elsewhere.
- Add light. Nocturnal animals prefer darkness. A work light or a string of flashing lights aimed into the space can be a strong nudge.
- Use scent. Commercial granular repellents are made for specific species. A rag soaked in a strong but non-toxic liquid such as cider vinegar, placed near the opening, can also help.
- Confirm they’re gone. Loosely stuff the entrance with newspaper or crumpled leaves. If it stays undisturbed for two or three nights, the space is likely empty.
- Call a professional if needed. If nothing works, or you suspect a nest of young, a licensed wildlife control operator can remove the animals safely and legally.
Safety First
Never try to handle a wild animal or corner it. Keep children and pets away from the area. An animal that acts unusually bold, disoriented or aggressive during the day should be reported to your local animal control office.
Seal It Up So It Stays Empty
Once you’re confident no one is home, close off the space for good. If you skip this step, the scent left behind may attract the next animal.
For decks and porches
Attach galvanized hardware cloth or heavy wire mesh behind decorative lattice or skirting. Dig a trench about a foot deep along the perimeter and bend the bottom of the mesh outward in an L shape before backfilling. Burrowing animals that try to dig under will hit the wire and give up.
For sheds and outbuildings
Fill existing burrow holes with soil and tamp them down, then install the same buried mesh barrier around the base. Check for gaps around doors and vents, too.
Around the rest of the yard
- Use trash cans with locking lids and store them in the garage if you can.
- Bring pet food in at night and clean up fallen fruit and birdseed.
- Keep woodpiles and brush away from the house.
- Reapply repellent a few times a year in areas that have had problems before.
Where Homeowners Insurance Fits In
Here’s the part that surprises many people: damage caused by animals often isn’t covered by a standard homeowners policy. Insurers usually view chewing, nesting and burrowing as gradual problems that a homeowner is expected to prevent through regular upkeep, rather than a sudden, accidental event like a tree falling in a storm.
There can be exceptions. Some policies may respond differently depending on the type of animal, how the damage happened and what your specific policy says, and liability coverage could come into play in other situations. The details vary by insurer and state, so read your exclusions or ask your agent rather than assuming either way.
Bottom line: when it comes to wildlife, a few dollars of wire mesh is usually a far better investment than hoping a claim will pay for the repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of year are animals most likely to move under a porch?
Late winter through early summer is a common time, because many species are looking for safe places to raise young. Fall is another busy period as animals look for winter shelter.
Can I just block the hole while the animal is out?
Only if you’re certain it’s out and there are no young inside. Sealing animals in can lead to more damage as they try to escape, or to an unpleasant odor problem later.
Does homeowners insurance pay for wildlife removal?
Removal is generally considered a maintenance cost and is usually not covered. Check your policy or ask your agent about your specific situation.
Know What Your Policy Covers
Questions about how your homeowners coverage handles animal damage and other maintenance issues? The team at Callicott Insurance Agency can walk through your policy with you and point out any gaps worth closing.
This article is for general information only. Coverage varies by insurer, policy and state; review your own policy or talk with a licensed agent about your situation.