How Squirrels Get Into Vents

 

Unprotected Wall Vents

This photo was taken from inside a customer’s attic by one of our wildlife technicians. Comfortably nestled amongst the insulation and nesting material is a litter of baby squirrels that are approximately 3 weeks old – their eyes are still completely closed. The mother squirrel entered the home by chewing through the plastic bathroom fan vent cover found on the outside of the home. Louvered vent covers like the ones pictured below are often located on exterior walls and are used to cover duct work for bathroom, stove and dryer vents.

In this case, the mother squirrel chewed through the plastic vent cover to access the duct work. In doing so, she destroyed the flexible vinyl pipe that connects the bathroom fan to the outside and began nesting inside the attic. The homeowner called Skedaddle to have a look at the situation after hearing scratching and scampering inside the attic. Skedaddle’s wildlife technician discovered the babies and the damage to the duct work while performing an inspection of the attic.

When squirrels nest inside ducts and attics a number of safety concerns can arise. Fire damage is a significant and dangerous consequence of squirrel behaviour. Nests made from dried grass, leaves and twigs can act as a fire accelerant inside a home, especially when built on top of exposed wiring, light fixtures and fan motors. The risk of a fire is greatly increased if these rodents begin to gnaw and chew on the electrical wiring running through the attic.

To remove the squirrels, our technician physically chased the mother from the attic before gathering all of her babies. He then went outside and replaced the chewed wall vent cover and installed a protective screen that keeps squirrels out and allows the vent to function properly.
The babies were then placed securely on the outside of the home so that they could be reunited with their mother who would go on to relocate them to one of her other den sites.

Once the attic was clear of unwanted guests, Skedaddle began the process of cleaning up. We began by bagging and removing all debris and nesting material from the attic and deodorizing the space to kill any scent cues that might serve to attract other animals to the home. The duct work was replaced and reconnected to prevent dangerous mould from developing inside the attic.

Effective squirrel control requires a thorough understanding of their biology and behaviour. These babies were discovered in late September and were likely their mother’s second litter of the year. It is important to make sure that all squirrel babies are removed by hand to prevent their death and unnecessary damage to your home.

You can trust Skedaddle to get the job done right when it comes to evicting squirrels. Our proved process and experienced technicians have what it takes to protect your home and family.