Is Your Home at Risk? Why You Need a Wildlife Inspection Today!
February 2025
A homeowner in Powder Springs had been hearing faint scratching in her attic for almost six months. She'd mentioned it to her husband several times, but he insisted it was just the house settling. When their HVAC system started running constantly and their energy bills jumped by $80 per month, they called an HVAC company. The technician went into the attic — and found a family of raccoons had been living there the entire time.
The raccoons had destroyed over 500 square feet of insulation, torn apart two HVAC ducts, established three latrine sites, and chewed through the vapor barrier. The total cost of raccoon removal, attic restoration, ductwork replacement, and complete exclusion came to $7,200.
The Cost of Ignoring the Signs
Here's how wildlife damage costs typically escalate over time:
Week 1–2 (Early detection): Removal and basic exclusion: $300–$600. This is the ideal time to act.
Month 1–2 (Established presence): Removal, exclusion, and minor repair: $600–$1,500.
Month 3–6 (Significant damage): Removal, exclusion, and moderate restoration: $1,500–$4,000.
Month 6+ (Severe damage): Full attic restoration required. Total project: $3,000–$8,000+.
The cost escalation isn't linear — it's exponential. Every month you wait, the damage roughly doubles.
Warning Signs Every Homeowner Should Know
Sounds
- Scratching, scurrying, or gnawing in the attic or walls. See our guide: Noises in Your Attic.
- Thumping or heavy walking sounds overhead — likely a raccoon.
- Fluttering or high-pitched squeaking at dusk — likely bats.
- Chattering, barking, or rolling sounds during the day — likely squirrels.
Visual Signs
- Droppings in your attic, near your foundation, or along your roofline.
- Chew marks on wood trim, soffit panels, vent screens, or wiring.
- Displaced or damaged soffit, fascia, or vent screens.
- Grease marks or fur staining at entry points.
- Nesting material — shredded insulation, leaves, or fabric.
Environmental Signs
- Increased energy bills — damaged insulation and torn ductwork cause HVAC systems to work harder.
- Unusual odors — musky, ammonia-like, or barnyard smells from ceilings, walls, or floors.
- Stains on ceilings — brown or yellow discoloration from urine soaking through insulation and drywall.
- Increased pest activity — fleas, ticks, mites, or flies appearing inside your home.
Why Annual Inspections Make Financial Sense
A professional wildlife inspection with The Outdoors Group is free. A trained technician inspects every inch of your home's exterior and identifies every vulnerability. The inspection takes 60–90 minutes.
Compare the cost of a free annual inspection to the average cost of a single wildlife intrusion ($1,000–$5,000). The math is straightforward.
When to schedule inspections:
- Annually in early fall (September–October)
- After purchasing a new home
- After major storms
- When you notice any warning sign
What Makes The Outdoors Group Different
- In-house crews for everything. Wildlife removal, roofing, carpentry, insulation, ductwork, soffit, fascia, gutters — all done by our own crew.
- Licensed and insured. Fully licensed by the State of Georgia.
- 100% written guarantee. Every exclusion project is backed by our written guarantee.
- 5.0 stars from 128+ Google Reviews.
- 12-county coverage. Fulton, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding, Fayette, Coweta, Clayton, Henry, DeKalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett, and Forsyth counties.
Don't Be the Powder Springs Story
Your home is at risk right now. Every home in Metro Atlanta has potential wildlife entry points — it's just a question of whether animals find them before you do. Let us find them first.
Call (770) 545-4388 or schedule your free inspection online. Sixty minutes of our time could save you thousands.