Observing wildlife can be the highlight of a nice nature walk, but it certainly isn’t something you want to see while looking out of your basement window. Window wells are a great way to get more light into your basement and provide a safe exit for family members during an emergency, but your metal window wells can also be a place where animals can get accidentally trapped. Here’s what you should do if you find an animal stuck in your window well.
In most cases, the animals aren’t looking to set up shop in your window well. If you’re unhappy with an animal in your window well, they’re probably just as unhappy (if not more) being trapped in there! This means that if and when you’re able to get the animal out it’ll quickly be on it’s way back to it’s home.
Some animals may search along the foundation of your home for food. Skunks, in particular, like to search for insects and may not notice the window well in front of them. Other animals like mice or rabbits may be running through your yard and not see the well before it’s too late.
If your window well is shallow, two feet deep or less, get a piece of wood that is about a foot wide and put it in your window well as a ramp so the animal can climb out. You may want to consider covering it with an old towel or carpet so the animal has good traction. Make sure the incline is gradual. Leave the ramp overnight and hopefully check out your animal-free well in the morning!
When a ramp won’t work, place a bucket on its side in your window well with some food inside as bait. When the animal climbs into the bucket, gently tip the bucket upright and slowly bring it out of the well. Make sure you attach some string or have a metal hook you can use to get the bucket out once the animal is inside.
If getting animals out of your window well seem like more hassle than you’d like to deal with, it’s a good idea to try to keep animals from getting stuck in your window well in the first place. A window well cover is a great way to cover up that hole in your yard and keep animals out.
You may be looking for simple rectangular window well covers, or you may need to invest in custom window well covers. If you’re looking for the best of the best to install your window well covers, contact WIndowell Expressions.
Whether you choose a clear window well cover or metal grate window well covers, it is a great way to keep animals safe and avoid the hassle of getting a poor little critter out of your window well. Even a DIY window well cover is better than nothing in order to keep your well clear of animals.
And if you’re looking for some extra protection to go along with your quality window well cover, you can install a fine mesh over your well cover so that even the smallest animal won’t be able to fall in.