remodeling to acommodate an elderly loved oneremodeling to acommodate an elderly loved one

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remodeling to acommodate an elderly loved one

When I invited my mother to come and live with my family, we had to make some changes to accommodate her. The changes that needed to be made were all within reason and were all required so that she could get around with her walker and eventually a wheelchair if need be. I hired a remodeling contractor to assist us with making the changes. I learned a lot while discussing what needed to be done and what it would take to get it complete. I created this blog with the hopes of helping other families that are considering making the same changes in their homes.

4 Gutter Critters That Cause You Problems

12 May 2015
 Categories: , Blog

What's living in your gutters? Gutters can be an attractive home to all kinds of animals and pests, especially if they are not kept free of leaves, sticks and trash. Here are some animals you might find living in your gutters and the problems they can cause. 

Angry Mama Birds​

Nesting birds love gutters because of the availability of twigs, sticks and leaves as well as the protection it offers from predators. The problems is that birds choose quickly where they want to nest. By the time you notice the nest, they might have already laid eggs. Bird parents can be extremely protective of their eggs and might even attack you if they see your gutter cleaning efforts as a threat. Some birds will abandon the nest if you try to move it or even touch it. 

If the nest has eggs in it, the best thing to do is just leave it alone. The birds may have problems if a rainstorm comes, but you will be able to clean it out after the babies have hatched and flown away. 

Feral Cats

Wild cats find gutters a comfortable place to spend their nights. They may smell the presence of rats and other tasty treats, and cats enjoy being high off the ground where they can spot any other creatures that happen to be nearby. 

If you have feral cats camping overnight in your gutters, you will want to clean them out during the day. You can also set traps or call animal services to set traps and catch the cats. 

Hungry Lizards

If you live in a climate where lizards are prevalent, you are likely to find them in your gutters. They climb inside looking for insects like flies that breed in your gutter trash and make a great lizard meal. Cleaning away the debris will remove the source of food, and the lizards will follow. 

Homesteading Raccoons

Your messy gutter is the perfect place for a raccoon to call home. Install covered gutters when you find that you are entertaining a raccoon. You can also call animal control to catch the invaders and release them into the wild. 

Protect your gutters from animals that can clog them and attract other pests, bugs and rodents by keeping them as clean as possible. If you do find animals living in your gutters, you may need to call in pest control. If your gutters have been damaged or you need help cleaning them, contact a local gutter company like Aqua Guide Inc.