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Soffit Damage

Hole in soffit. Soffits should be checked regularly and any holes repaired. Soffits damaged by the weather make it easy for wildlife to expand small holes into large ones.
Soffits should be checked regularly and any holes repaired. Soffits damaged by the weather make it easy for wildlife to expand small holes into large ones.

Photo: Laura Kammin

Weather damaged soffits are readily used by raccoons, tree squirrels and cavity nesting birds. European starlings made a nest in this damaged soffit.
Weather damaged soffits are readily used by raccoons, tree squirrels and cavity nesting birds. European starlings made a nest in this damaged soffit.

Photo: Laura Kammin

A raccoon removed the lining of this soffit.
A raccoon removed the lining of this soffit.

Photo: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

A raccoon found a small hole in the soffit and enlarged it so that it could access the house.
A raccoon found a small hole in the soffit and enlarged it so that it could access the house.

Photo: USDA

Newspaper was loosely stuffed into the hole in this damaged soffit to see if the animal was still getting into the house. Some of the paper was removed from the hole by the squirrel, letting the homeowner know an animal was still gaining access.
Newspaper was loosely stuffed into the hole in this damaged soffit to see if the animal was still getting into the house. Some of the paper was removed from the hole by the squirrel, letting the homeowner know an animal was still gaining access.

Photo: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The newspaper was removed by the squirrel, so a live trap was set. The gray squirrel trapped here was safely removed. The damage was then repaired to prevent the squirrel's return.
The newspaper was removed by the squirrel, so a live trap was set. The gray squirrel was safely removed. The damage was then repaired to prevent the squirrel's return.

Photo: Illinois Department of Natural Resources