There are really two situations here. The first is how to help an animal if there is one in your window well. The second is a more long-term plan on how to keep animals out of your window wells.
Whatever the animal – be it a raccoon, skunk, frog, rabbit or something else – if there’s an animal in your window well it fell in by accident and will need help getting out. There are a couple ways to handle this situation, depending on what animal you find!
A. The first is if it’s a young rabbit, young hare, frog or toad. In this case and if you’re comfortable, use an old towel to carefully lift it out and place it on the lawn.
B. For most species, placing a board that has an old piece of carpet or towel attached it to for traction, should do the job. This board is placed in the window well on an angle and functions as a ramp. Just make sure the board is wide enough so that the animal doesn’t have to do a balancing act trying to climb out!
For the latter, the animal may not feel comfortable enough to leave the window well until you have left. And remember, if it’s a nocturnal animal, it might stay in there for the day, coming out only during nighttime. Leave the ramp in over night and check the window well in the morning.
To keep animals from falling in your window well, install properly fitting window well coverings. Do a little bit of research to see what kind of cover works best for you and your home.
