Raccoons Entering Attics – Damage to Soffits, Eaves & Vents

Hi everyone, this is Luis Gonzalez with Midway Pest Management, and welcome back to another episode of What’s Bugging You? Each episode we talk about the real pest and wildlife issues people in the Kansas City metro are dealing with, and what you can do to protect your home. Thanks for joining me today, let’s jump right in and see what’s bugging you.

As winter approaches, raccoons become one of the most destructive wildlife threats to Kansas City homes. These intelligent animals are strong enough to tear apart soffits, push through eaves, and rip open attic ventilation screens to gain access. A determined raccoon can widen a small gap into a full entry hole within minutes, using its powerful front paws and sharp claws.

Once inside, raccoons seek warm insulation to create nesting areas. Their weight alone can collapse weakened drywall or ceiling panels, leading to the frightening situation where a raccoon falls directly into a living room or bedroom. Their activity also causes significant insulation damage. They pack down insulation, contaminate it with urine and feces, and create tunnels and latrine sites. Heavy raccoon droppings are known to harbor roundworms and pose health risks if disturbed.

Raccoons often travel through soffits, wall voids, garages, and attic trusses, creating loud thumping and dragging sounds that homeowners often hear at night. They are nocturnal, highly territorial, and extremely protective if they have young. In winter, female raccoons prepare for early spring birthing seasons, making homes especially attractive.

Interesting fact: Raccoons have one of the most dexterous sets of paws in the animal kingdom. They can unlatch containers, open vents, and manipulate materials similarly to a small primate.

Damage to ventilation systems, roof edges, and insulation can lead to costly repairs and energy inefficiencies. Ignoring early signs often results in larger entry points and prolonged infestation.

If you notice loud noises, torn soffits, damaged vents, or droppings in your attic, professional wildlife removal is essential.

For raccoon removal or attic restoration in the Kansas City metro, contact Midway Pest Management at 913-820-9737. For help identifying wildlife, send a clear photo to info@midwaypestmanagement.com.

Spiders Indoors During Winter – Common Areas & Brown Recluse Risks

Hi everyone, this is Luis Gonzalez with Midway Pest Management, and welcome back to another episode of What’s Bugging You? Each episode we talk about the real pest and wildlife issues people in the Kansas City metro are dealing with, and what you can do to protect your home. Thanks for joining me today, let’s jump right in and see what’s bugging you.

When winter settles into the Kansas City region, homeowners commonly begin seeing more spiders indoors. Unlike many insects that die off or migrate, spiders seek stable temperatures and remain active year-round. During colder months, they gravitate toward undisturbed spaces such as basements, utility rooms, storage closets, crawlspaces, mechanical rooms, and behind furniture or appliances.

Most spiders that enter homes are harmless and even beneficial, as they reduce other insect populations. However, two species in our area require particular caution: the brown recluse and the black widow. The brown recluse is especially notorious in Kansas and Missouri homes. It prefers dark, quiet areas such as cardboard boxes, clothing piles, behind wall voids, attic corners, and inside closets. Their violin-shaped marking makes them recognizable, but they are often mistaken for other harmless spiders.

During winter, spiders move closer to living spaces as they follow heat and seek shelter. Brown recluses can hide in shoes, folded blankets, storage bins, and behind baseboards. While they are not aggressive, accidental contact—such as putting on clothing they’ve crawled into—may result in a bite. Recluse bites can lead to necrotic skin damage, requiring medical attention in some cases.

Interesting fact: Brown recluses can survive six months without food and often live for several years inside homes. Their webs are irregular and loosely built, typically in hidden, ground-level locations rather than high corners like common house spiders.

Signs of indoor spider activity include webs near heating vents, behind storage items, inside window tracks, or around basement joists. Managing indoor humidity, reducing clutter, sealing cracks, and performing regular cleaning helps reduce spider harborage areas.

If you are finding spiders frequently indoors or suspect brown recluse activity, professional inspection and targeted treatments can greatly reduce risks.

For spider control in the Kansas City metro, call Midway Pest Management at 913-820-9737. If you need help identifying a spider, send a clear image to info@midwaypestmanagement.com.

Mice & Rat Infestations in Attic Insulation – Winter Risks & Warning Signs

Hi everyone, this is Luis Gonzalez with Midway Pest Management, and welcome back to another episode of What’s Bugging You? Each episode we talk about the real pest and wildlife issues people in the Kansas City metro are dealing with, and what you can do to protect your home. Thanks for joining me today, let’s jump right in and see what’s bugging you.

As temperatures drop, mice and rats look for reliable heat sources and insulation becomes an ideal environment. Kansas City homes, especially those with older construction, often experience an influx of rodent activity from late fall through winter. Rodents can enter through gaps as small as a quarter inch, including foundation cracks, pipe penetrations, gaps under siding, and openings in soffits or roof returns. Once inside the attic, they burrow into insulation to build nests and reproduce rapidly.

One of the biggest risks associated with mice and rats in attic insulation is contamination. Rodent droppings, urine, nesting material, and pheromone trails can spread harmful pathogens such as Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospira. Insulation saturated with urine can also create strong odors that drift into living spaces, reduce energy efficiency, and attract additional rodents.

Homeowners often hear scratching, chewing, or scampering noises in ceilings or wall cavities, especially at night when rodents are most active. Other common indicators include shredded insulation, small holes in stored items, oily rub marks along beams, gnawed wiring, and droppings near attic entry points. A persistent musky odor is also a strong sign of nesting activity.

Interesting fact: A single mouse can produce up to 100 droppings per day, and rats can memorize routes through attics and walls, allowing them to avoid traps once established. Their incisors never stop growing, which is why they constantly chew—sometimes damaging HVAC lines, wiring, plumbing insulation, and even vapor barriers.

If you notice unusual noises, droppings, or insulation damage, professional rodent inspection is critical. Leaving an infestation untreated leads to attic contamination, growing populations, and costly repairs.

For rodent control, attic inspections, or insulation restoration in the Kansas City metro, contact Midway Pest Management at 913-820-9737. For pest or wildlife identification, send a clear photo to info@midwaypestmanagement.com.