The generally very small gap under your shed or your deck looks to some Santa Cruz critters like a very nice place to set up residence, it is generally dry and very dark, ideal to some critters. The most likely candidates of creatures who will look at the space as a potential new home are:
1. chipmunks
2. feral cats
3. raccoons
4. rats
5. opossums
6. skunks
7. woodchucks



Unless you want one of these California animals to move in then you have to prevent them from actually getting under the structure to start with. The first step is to ensure that nothing is actually living under your shed or deck right now. If you find a hole and I'm not sure it's being used then the best way to find out is to stuff it full of scrunched up newspaper or something similar. If after a couple of days the newspaper is still in place then that possible entrance is not being used, however if the newspaper has been pushed out of the way then something is living on the other side of the hole.

As well as during the initial inspection and taking preventative steps you'll need to do a regular inspection, generally every two weeks over spring and summer and every four weeks in fall and winter, what you're looking for is any new entrance holes or burrows. If you did find any holes that could be used as entrances but were not then the next thing you have to do is to seal them up so they cannot ever be used for a Santa Cruz critter to gain entry, this sealing up has to be pretty robust as some animals, like raccoons, we'll just rip whatever you put there away if it's flimsy.

Most professionals use L-shaped stainless steel wire mesh buried at least 1 foot underground, this will prevent not only the California animal trying to use a hole but will also prevent them from digging a hole to get in unless they are really keen they will stop when they hit the mesh underground. I have seen methods described where people have used cinderblocks and even bricks to block up possible entrance points, these are not recommended as they generally restrict the airflow under the structure which according to most building experts will probably cause moisture problems under the structure eventually.

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