Holes and Torn Soffit — Which Animal Made the Opening?

Chewed edges versus torn edges

Rodents and squirrels chew, leaving tooth-scored edges and shavings. Raccoons have hands and use leverage, so their openings look ripped and the surrounding material is bent or dislodged. Bats create nothing — a stained gap with no damage almost always means bats, and that changes the legal timing of the work.

One hole is never the whole job

The visible opening is the one an animal is using today. A proper exclusion inspects the entire roofline — soffit returns, fascia gaps, roof-to-wall junctions, gable and dryer vents, plumbing and A/C penetrations, and any construction gap that meets rodent tolerances — and closes all of it. Sealing only the active hole is why animals seem to come back.

Repairs have to outlast the animal

Squirrels and rats will chew straight through foam, mesh screen, or caulk alone, so our closures are backed with steel and rated sealants. Raccoon-grade repairs use heavy-gauge material fastened to solid framing. Our exclusion repairs are warranted, which is the real difference between trapping and wildlife control.

Common questions