For many home owners, the only way to get natural sunlight in the basement is through a window well. The exposed well, outside the window can accumulate dirt and debris unless special attention and protective coverings are used. A window well cover prevents dirt and leaves from accumulating in the well, and also prevents children and small animals from falling into the well and becoming trapped. They may even deter a burglar from braking into the house. Installing a window well cover will provide you piece of mind.

In the last year, there have been many instances of animals and people trapped in window wells. Here we have listed a few:

• A buck was trapped in a large window well at a Bridgeport Church. Officials tranquilized the deer to move it.
• A muskrat was trapped in a window well.
• A golden retriever, aged 4, was trapped in a window well – perhaps her eyesight was going bad.
• An 84 year old man drowned in a window well outside his suburban home in September of 2008.
• A squirrel fell in a window well, became trapped and refused to climb out with the help of a board. The homeowner grabbed it by its tail and threw it out of the well.
• A family of mallard ducklings was found abandoned by their mother in a window well.
• A 3 year old boy fell in a window well while his mother was hanging up clothing.
• A chinchilla fell in a window well and was rescued by putting him in a box and pulling the box out of the window well.
• A 250 pound moose calf fell into an 8 foot deep window well on the edge of a golf course in eastern Idaho, and had to be tranquilized and pulled out with a rope.
• A man fell in a window well in Boston, and could not get out without the help of EMS and fire crews.
• A skunk fell in a window well and the home owner was able to coax it up by using a board as a ramp, but not before the skunk released his scent!
• A Great Horned Owlet fell in a window well in Geneva. The latest reports are that the owl has been spotted in nearby trees and appears to be doing just fine!
• 4 newborn kittens and the feral mother were trapped in a window well about 3ft deep, in a suburban backyard.

In addition to using window well coverings, many animals can be prevented from being trapped in attics, basements, under decks, and in window wells by implementing a few simple preventative measures.

• Don't feed wildlife. If you do feed birds, try a feeder with a gravity-operated treadle to discourage squirrels, and don't let spilled food accumulate.
• Trim tree branches that extend over your roof.
• Cover window wells.
• Keep pet food inside.
• Store garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Secure ¼ inch mesh cloth around decks built less than two feet off the ground.
• Seal all holes and cracks in your foundation, roof, siding or stucco that are larger than 3/8 inch wide.
• Seal up holes around and under home foundations

If you have a problem with an animal trapped in your window well, contact wildlife control experts.

Sue McCrossin is a freelance writer working for Window Bubble. For more information please visit our Window Covers