Albuquerque homes sit close to wildlife. Neighborhoods near the foothills, the bosque and open mesa see more of it, but birds and rodents find their way onto roofs all over the metro. Most wildlife damage starts small, with a gap, a loose tile or a hole in trim, and grows once animals move in.

Common Culprits and the Damage They Do

Pigeons

Pigeons nest under tile roofs, beneath solar panels and in gaps at the eaves. Their nesting material and droppings block drainage paths and hold moisture against the roof, and the droppings are corrosive to some roofing materials and metals.

Woodpeckers and flickers

Northern flickers and other woodpeckers peck holes in wood fascia, trim and siding, and sometimes in stucco, often in spring. Those holes let water behind the finish and invite other animals in. Note that flickers are a protected species under federal law, so deterrence has to be humane.

Pack rats and other rodents

Pack rats (woodrats), common near the foothills and open land, and mice can get into attics through small gaps at the eaves, vents and roof-to-wall joints. They build nests, chew wiring and ductwork, and contaminate insulation.

Squirrels

Squirrels chew through soffit and vent screens and gnaw at roof edges to get into attics.

Bees and wasps

Swarms can move into gaps under tile, in canales or behind loose fascia. Established colonies should be handled by a professional, not sealed in.

Signs You Have a Wildlife Problem

  • Scratching or movement sounds in the attic, especially at dawn and dusk
  • Nesting material sticking out from under tiles, panels or eaves
  • Round holes in fascia, trim or stucco
  • Droppings on the roof, in gutters or in the attic
  • Chewed vent screens or soffits
  • Clogged canales or scuppers with nesting debris

Fix It in the Right Order

  1. Remove the animals first. Use a licensed wildlife or pest control company. Sealing animals inside causes worse damage and odor problems, and protected species have rules about how they can be deterred.
  2. Clean up. Remove nests, droppings and contaminated insulation.
  3. Repair the roof. Replace damaged fascia, trim, vent screens, flashing and broken tile, and patch pecked stucco so water can't get behind it. Timberwolf handles the roofing, trim and stucco repair.
  4. Seal and screen. Close gaps at eaves and roof-to-wall joints, add proper vent screens, and use bird stops at tile edges and critter guards around solar panels.

Why the attic matters: nesting material can block soffit vents and cut off attic airflow, and chewed ductwork or contaminated insulation affects the whole house. After wildlife is removed, it's worth checking roof ventilation as well.

Prevention

  • Trim branches back from the roofline so animals can't jump across.
  • Keep canales, scuppers and gutters clear of debris that attracts nesting.
  • Replace cracked tiles and loose fascia promptly, since small gaps are an invitation.
  • Have the roof edges and vents checked during routine roof maintenance.

If you've found signs of wildlife damage, a Free Roof Report will show you exactly where animals are getting in and what needs repair. For tile roofs specifically, see tile roofing.