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 in Columbus, Delaware, and across Central Ohio, 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 in Columbus, Delaware, Powell, Westerville, and the surrounding communities 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 and Delaware.
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: Columbus and Delaware should expect 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 from Columbus and Delaware homeowners 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 Columbus and Delaware, Ohio Homes
Raccoons
Raccoons are the most destructive winter intruder we deal with in Columbus and Delaware. 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 across Columbus and Delaware County, and they 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
For Columbus and Delaware homeowners, catching a wildlife problem early is the best way to keep repair costs down, and your ears are often the first line of defense. Scratching or scampering in the attic or ceiling is the most common clue. Activity at dawn and dusk usually points to squirrels, while heavier thumping late at night is more typical of raccoons. In late winter, chirping or squeaking from the walls or chimney can mean a mother has already given birth inside.
A quick look around the outside of your home can tell you even more. Watch for chewed or torn openings at the soffits, fascia, roof vents and gable vents, and along the edge where the roof meets the gutter line. After a fresh snowfall, tracks leading to your deck, porch, shed, or foundation show exactly where animals are coming and going.
Inside the house, droppings or dark grease marks along attic insulation, garage walls, or foundation gaps are telltale signs of regular traffic. A musky or ammonia-like odor drifting from vents or ceiling fixtures often means waste is building up out of sight. A bat fluttering through your living space during a warm spell is a strong sign that a colony is wintering in the attic or walls.
Finally, don’t ignore flickering lights or breakers that trip for no clear reason. Squirrels and mice gnaw on wiring, and chewed wires are a genuine fire hazard that should be checked right away.
Your Fall Checklist to Wildlife-Proof Your Home Before Winter
In Columbus and Delaware, the best time to stop a winter wildlife problem is October and November, before animals commit to a den site. Start with a slow walk around your property, looking up at the roofline. Check for gaps at the soffits, fascia, roof returns and anywhere the roof meets a wall. Anything larger than a quarter-inch can let in mice, and a gap the size of a fist is all a raccoon needs.
Next, turn your attention to the openings your home is built with. A stainless steel chimney cap keeps raccoons, squirrels and birds out of the flue. Roof vents, ridge vents, gable vents, dryer vents and bathroom exhaust vents all need sturdy, animal-proof covers rather than thin insect screen. Openings around pipes, cables and air conditioning lines should be packed with proper exclusion materials, because rodents chew straight through plain spray foam.
The landscape around your house matters too. Trim tree branches back at least 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can’t jump across. Clean and secure your gutters, since loose gutters make an easy ramp to the roof, and clean ones help prevent ice dams during freeze-thaw swings. Decks, porches and sheds can be closed off with an L-shaped wire barrier buried along the base, which keeps skunks and opossums from denning underneath.
It also pays to take away the reasons animals visit in the first place. Use locking lids on trash cans, bring pet food inside, and keep bird seed off the ground. At the garage, replace worn bottom door seals, because mice slip in through gaps at the corners.
Finally, consider a professional inspection with Buckeye Wildlife Solutions by contacting us here or calling us at (844) 544-9453. A trained eye catches entry points most homeowners miss, especially on second-story rooflines that are hard to see from the ground.
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.
Using Buckeye Wildlife Solutions’ 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 Columbus and Delaware?
Across Columbus and Delaware, our Buckeye Wildlife Solutions techs 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 in Columbus, Delaware, Lewis Center, Powell, Westerville, and throughout Central Ohio.
Don’t wait for scratching in the ceiling. Schedule your fall Buckeye Wildlife Solutions 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.
