After the last derecho here, I swear every raccoon in the county tried to move into my attic. I’ve had better luck with hardware cloth too—screws all the way, staples just pop loose after a couple freeze-thaws like you said. Haven’t tried those composite vent covers yet, but honestly, unless they’re steel-reinforced, I’m skeptical they’ll hold up to determined squirrels. The critter problem definitely ramps up after storms—guess they’re just as desperate for shelter as we are for repairs.
I’ve had a similar run-in with critters after storms, especially raccoons and the occasional possum. They’re relentless once they sense an easy entry point. Hardware cloth with screws has held up way better for me too—staples just don’t cut it once the weather starts cycling between freeze and thaw. I tried those plastic vent covers a couple years back, thinking they’d be a quick fix, but the squirrels chewed right through them within a month. Ended up replacing them with galvanized steel and haven’t had an issue since.
Funny thing is, after that last big windstorm, I found a whole family of raccoons camped out above one of the drop ceilings in our rental property. They’d worked their way in through a soffit that looked fine from the ground but was actually split along the edge. Took forever to get them out and then patch things up properly. Insurance didn’t cover any of it either, since technically it was “vermin damage.” That’s always a fun conversation.
I’m curious if anyone’s tried those composite covers with some kind of metal reinforcement? I keep seeing them advertised as “animal-proof,” but honestly, unless there’s steel mesh inside, I can’t see them holding up to determined teeth and claws. Maybe they’re better for birds or bats, but for raccoons or squirrels? Not convinced.
The post-storm critter invasion is just part of the routine at this point. Seems like every year there’s something new trying to get in—last winter it was flying squirrels, which I didn’t even know we had around here until they showed up in the attic insulation. Just goes to show: no matter what you do, nature always finds a way if you give it half a chance.