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A low deck or shed is a perfect roof for a burrowing animal. It provides shelter from rain and hides them from predators. If you are tired of skunks spraying under your bedroom window or groundhogs undermining your deck footings, you need a physical barrier.

## Why Lattice Doesn't Work
Many homeowners try to block access with wooden lattice or chicken wire tacked to the rim joist.
*   **The Problem:** Animals simply dig *under* it. A groundhog can dig under a lattice panel in 2 minutes. Chicken wire rusts and is easily chewed through by raccoons.

## The Solution: Trench-and-Screen (Rat Wall)
This is the industry standard for permanent exclusion.

1.  **The Trench:** We dig a trench about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the entire perimeter of the deck or shed.
2.  **The Mesh:** We use heavy-gauge, ¼ inch or ½ inch galvanized hardware cloth (steel mesh).
3.  **The "L" Shape:** We attach the top of the mesh to the structure. Then, we bend the bottom of the mesh outward at a 90-degree angle into the trench (forming an "L").
4.  **Backfill:** We bury the mesh with the soil we removed.

## How It Stops Them
When an animal tries to dig back in, they start digging at the wall. They hit the wire. Their instinct is to dig *down* to go under the obstruction. But because the wire flares outward (the bottom of the "L"), they just dig into more wire. They cannot figure out that they need to back up 12 inches to go under it. They eventually give up and move on.

This is a labor-intensive process, but it is a one-time fix that protects your structure for years.

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