I hear noises in my attic. What's up there and what can I do?

The time of day you are hearing the noises may indicate what type of animal has made a home in your attic. Fireplace chimneys and soffit areas above garages and attached structures can also be living quarters for animals. Noises heard during the late evening hours between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. could indicate a raccoon. Noises heard in the morning or daytime would be more indicative of squirrels. The solution is to make the animal's living quarters as uncomfortable as possible. This can be accomplished by placing a few household items (i.e. trouble light, radio set to a talk station, ammonia soaked rags) in the area where the animal lives. The combination of light, noise, and odor in the animal's "home" will typically help to drive it away. You must also locate the opening(s) that allowed the animal's entry. These openings should be temporarily covered with plastic to see if the animals have left. Once you establish that the animals are gone, the openings should be permanently repaired.

Lawn damage that resembles golf divots in your lawn is an indication that your lawn is infested with grub worms. "Grubs" are the larval form of several species of beetles. Animals dig up your lawn in order to find these grubs to eat. The solution to this problem is to treat your lawn in order to kill the grubs. If left untreated, the grubs will feed on the root system of your grass and may eventually kill the lawn completely.

The young of wild animals are not cared for by their parents like humans care for their young. Young, wild animals are not constantly watched by their parents and are frequently left unattended for long periods of time while their parents forage for food or hide themselves. For the majority of young animals, it is best to leave them alone. Do not handle the animal or disturb the nesting material.

Keeping a current rabies tag, and license tag or personal identification tag on your pet's collar will help assure the return of your pet. If your pet escapes, first contact the Animal Control Division of the Skokie Health Department at 847/933-8484 to report your animal lost. Give a detailed description since this will help identify your pet if it has no other identification or is spotted from a distance. Also, contact surrounding communities with the same information, since a pet can travel a long distance when lost. Next, receive permission to post fliers on bulletin boards in pet stores, animal shelters, animal hospitals and grocery stores. Include a description and photograph of your pet and the area where it was lost. Lastly, consider placing a lost and found ad in the local newspapers.