Forecasters expect one of the strongest El Niño events on record this winter, and for Central Ohio that points to a milder but unpredictable season. For homeowners, a winter like that changes more than your heating bill. It changes when raccoons, squirrels, bats and mice go looking for shelter, and how often they end up in attics, walls and crawl spaces.
At Buckeye Wildlife Solutions in Lewis Center, we handle wildlife calls across Delaware, Franklin and the surrounding counties every winter. Here is what the 2026–27 forecast says, what it likely means for the animals living around your home, and what you can do this fall to keep them outside.
What Forecasters Are Predicting for Ohio’s 2026–27 Winter
The biggest factor this year is El Niño, a warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that reshapes the jet stream over North America. As of September 2026, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center gives a greater than 90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño this fall and winter. Forecasters also put roughly 75% odds on an event stronger than any since at least 1950. For comparison, they are looking at the big El Niño winters of 1982–83, 1997–98 and 2015–16.
The science-based outlook: milder, with swings
Strong El Niño winters usually push the storm track south and keep the northern U.S. warmer than normal. NOAA’s late-August seasonal maps favor a milder-than-normal winter for most of the country, with Ohio Valley precipitation leaning toward “equal chances.” A long-range outlook from OpenSnow, reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer, also favors above-average temperatures for Ohio and below-normal snowfall around the Great Lakes.
Milder does not mean calm. Forecasters expect week-to-week volatility, with short Arctic outbreaks between long mild stretches. That means more freeze-and-thaw cycles and more rain, sleet and ice in place of steady snow cover.
What the almanacs say
The almanacs are less aligned with the science:
The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls for a mostly mild winter nationally but a colder stretch through the Ohio Valley, with several snowy periods for interior Ohio, including Columbus.
The Farmers’ Almanac calls for near-normal temperatures across the Great Lakes region, with fast-moving clippers, sudden cold snaps and frequent milder breaks.
The bottom line for Central Ohio
Every outlook agrees on one point: this will be an up-and-down winter. Expect warm spells in December and January, sharp cold snaps in between, and more ice than snow. NOAA’s official Winter Outlook arrives in mid-October, and we will update this post when it does.
How a Mild, Unpredictable Winter Affects Wildlife Around Your Home
Many homeowners assume a mild winter means fewer animal problems. In our experience, it often means different problems, spread over more of the season. Here is why.
Animals stay active longer
Most of Ohio’s common nuisance animals do not truly hibernate. Raccoons, skunks and opossums slow down and hole up during hard cold, then come out when temperatures rise. In a winter full of mild spells, they are out more often, foraging, exploring and checking your roofline for a warm place to wait out the next cold snap.
Cold snaps drive sudden moves indoors
When a mild week ends with a sharp Arctic blast, animals that were comfortable outdoors need shelter fast. That is when we see a spike in calls about scratching in the attic or noises in the walls. A volatile winter means several of these “move-in” waves, not just one in late fall.
Freeze-thaw cycles open new entry points
Repeated freezing and thawing, plus ice and heavy wet snow, is hard on roofs. It loosens shingles, warps fascia and soffit boards, and pulls gutters away from the house. Every gap it creates is an opening a squirrel can widen or a raccoon can tear through.
An earlier breeding season
Mild weather can push wildlife breeding earlier. Raccoons and gray squirrels mate in mid-to-late winter, and pregnant females look for a safe, dry nest site. An attic or chimney is ideal. If warm spells come early, expect the first babies in attics sooner, which makes removal more complicated.
Better survival, bigger spring populations
Hard winters naturally thin wildlife numbers. A mild winter lets more animals, especially mice, survive and breed. That can mean more pressure on homes heading into spring 2027.
Species-by-Species Outlook for Central Ohio Homes
Raccoons
Raccoons are the most destructive winter intruder we deal with. They can rip open roof vents, soffits and chimney caps, and they contaminate insulation with droppings that may carry raccoon roundworm. Breeding peaks from January into February, so females often move into attics late in winter to prepare for spring litters. A mild winter keeps them active and searching the whole season.
Squirrels
Gray and fox squirrels are active year-round and love attics. They chew through soffit returns, gable vents and roof edges, and they will gnaw on wiring once inside, which creates a fire risk. Their first breeding season runs through mid-winter, with litters often born in late winter. Morning and evening scratching overhead is the classic sign.
Bats
Big brown bats often spend winter tucked inside Ohio attics and wall voids. Warm spells can wake them, and a disoriented bat may end up in your living space. Bats are protected in Ohio and play an important role in insect control, so they must be handled with a legal, humane exclusion, not traps or poisons.
Mice and Rats
House mice and deer mice are the most common winter invaders by far. A mouse can squeeze through a gap about the size of a dime. Mild weather keeps populations high, and each cold snap pushes a new wave indoors toward kitchens, garages and wall cavities.
Skunks and Opossums
Skunks and opossums tend to den under decks, porches, sheds and slab foundations. Skunks mate in late winter, and a mild season keeps them digging and roaming. Opossums do not hibernate at all and will use any warm, sheltered spot near food.
Birds
Starlings and sparrows nest early in mild years. Dryer vents, bathroom exhaust vents and gutters are favorite spots. Blocked vents are more than a nuisance; a clogged dryer vent is a fire hazard.
Warning Signs You Have Wildlife in Your Home This Winter
Catching a problem early keeps repair costs down. Watch and listen for:
- Scratching or scampering in the attic or ceiling, especially at dawn and dusk (squirrels) or late at night (raccoons)
- Chirping or squeaking from walls or the chimney, which can signal babies in late winter
- Chewed or torn openings at soffits, fascia, roof vents, gable vents or where the roof meets the gutter line
- Droppings or grease marks along attic insulation, garage walls, or around foundation gaps
- Musky or ammonia odors coming from vents or ceiling fixtures
- Tracks in fresh snow leading to your deck, porch, shed or foundation
- A bat inside your living space during a warm spell
- Flickering lights or tripped breakers, which can point to chewed wiring
Your Fall Checklist to Wildlife-Proof Your Home Before Winter
The best time to stop a winter wildlife problem is October and November, before animals commit to a den site. Walk your property with this list:
- Inspect the roofline. Look for gaps at soffits, fascia, roof returns and roof-to-wall joints. Anything larger than a quarter-inch can let in mice; a gap the size of a fist is enough for a raccoon.
- Cap the chimney. A stainless steel chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
- Screen every vent. Roof vents, ridge vents, gable vents, dryer vents and bathroom exhaust vents all need sturdy, animal-proof covers, not just thin insect screen.
- Seal utility gaps. Pack openings around pipes, cables and AC lines with exclusion materials, not plain foam, which rodents chew through.
- Trim trees back. Keep branches at least 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can’t jump across.
- Clean and secure gutters. Loose gutters are a common ramp and entry point, and clean gutters reduce ice dams during freeze-thaw swings.
- Close off decks, porches and sheds. An L-shaped wire barrier buried along the base keeps skunks and opossums from denning underneath.
- Remove food sources. Use locking trash lids, bring pet food inside, and keep bird seed off the ground.
- Check the garage door. Replace worn bottom seals; mice use gaps at the corners.
- Schedule a professional inspection. A trained eye catches entry points most homeowners miss, especially on second-story rooflines.
Why DIY Wildlife Removal Is Risky in Ohio
It is tempting to set a trap or seal a hole and call it done, but in winter that approach can easily backfire. The most common mistake is sealing an opening while an animal, or a nest of babies, is still inside. A trapped raccoon or squirrel will chew a new way out and cause even more damage, and an animal that dies in a wall or attic leaves behind an odor that can linger for weeks.
There are legal considerations too. Ohio regulates how nuisance wildlife may be trapped, handled and released, and bats are a protected species. A well-meaning homeowner who gets it wrong can face fines or harm an animal the law is designed to protect.
Winter wildlife problems also carry real health risks. Raccoon droppings can contain roundworm, bat guano can harbor the spores that cause histoplasmosis, and wild animals can carry rabies. Cleaning up a contaminated attic safely requires proper protective gear and the right disposal methods.
Finally, removing one animal rarely solves the problem on its own. If you don’t find and seal every entry point, the space you just cleared becomes an open invitation for the next raccoon, squirrel, or family of mice looking for shelter.
A professional approach combines humane removal, full exclusion of every entry point, and cleanup and repair of damaged insulation or roofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will winter 2026–27 be mild in Ohio?
Most science-based outlooks lean milder than normal because of a very strong El Niño, but with sharp cold snaps. The almanacs are split, with one calling for a colder Ohio Valley. Plan for an up-and-down season either way.
Does a mild winter mean fewer animals in my attic?
Not usually. Animals stay active longer, cold snaps push them indoors in waves, and freeze-thaw damage opens new entry points. Many homeowners see problems spread across the whole season.
When do wildlife problems peak in Central Ohio?
We see a rush in October and November as animals look for winter dens, and again from January through March as raccoons and squirrels prepare to have young.
Can I remove bats from my attic in winter?
Not safely on your own. Bats are protected in Ohio, and hibernating bats cannot survive being forced outside in the cold. A professional can plan a legal exclusion at the right time of year.
What is the best time to wildlife-proof my home?
Right now. Sealing entry points in fall, before animals settle in, is the most effective and least expensive way to prevent winter damage.
Get Ahead of Winter With Buckeye Wildlife Solutions
Whether this winter turns out mild, icy, or somewhere in between, the animals around your home will be looking for a way in. Buckeye Wildlife Solutions, based in Lewis Center, OH 43035, provides humane wildlife removal, full-home exclusion, attic cleanup, and damage repair for homeowners throughout Central Ohio.
Don’t wait for scratching in the ceiling. Schedule your fall wildlife inspection today, by contacting us here or calling us at (844) 544-9453 and let us seal your home before the first cold snap.
