If you pay attention to the local wildlife near your home in the fall, you might notice that squirrels are going a little nuts. The furry creatures tend to ramp up their activity level in the fall as this is their prime food gathering season. In September and October, the trees begin to drop acorns and squirrels get to work. It can be quite funny to watch the wiry animals moving back and forth, stockpiling their food for the winter.
Squirrels will stockpile their acorns in one location or scatter them depending on the species. Some will place acorns in trees while others will dig holes so that acorns can be stored for later use. To survive the winter, squirrels need a large amount of stored food. In neighbourhoods, squirrels will often find homes and attics to set up in, storing their food and creating nests for the winter. For homeowners, this can be annoying as well as dangerous.
Red squirrels gathering food at a bird feeder
The popular spot in a home for squirrels to nest in is the attic space. Attics are high up and can often be accessed via tree branches and wires. Squirrels simply travel from a tree branch to the roof, then use an access point to gain entry into your cozy attic space. Nesting material is already there in the form of insulation or clothing. Squirrels make their nests, store food and live happily during the winter months. While you may not mind this roommate, squirrels can cause damage to the home. Squirrels like to chew so you may find that electrical wires have been chewed on or wood beams are destroyed in your attic.
While the wood can be replaced, it is the electrical wiring that poses the biggest threat. Squirrel chewing on electrical wires that run inside attics has been known to lead to house fires.
When squirrels are spotted traveling along your roofline or you hear the pitter-patter of little feet sometimes in the home with no explanation as to what it is, you most likely have a squirrel infestation. You will need to contact wildlife control for assistance in humanely removing the squirrels from your attic. Many times, babies are present and they need to be removed carefully and reunited with their mom outside the home.
You can be proactive and use squirrel deterrents in order to keep your home safe from squirrels. The fall season is a great time to complete a few tasks to avoid squirrels. Remove any bird feeders and feed as you are creating a free food source for the squirrels close to your home. Keep tree branches cut back so squirrels do not have easy access to your roof. Use galvanized steel grating to cover vents and other areas on the roof where squirrels could wiggle through to enter the space.
At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, our technicians specialize in squirrel removal aknd prevention. We can help you remove your squirrel problem and put preventative measures in place to avoid squirrels in your home in the future. Contact our office when you suspect a squirrel is living in your home.
