Gray squirrels are the most common species of squirrels that we deal with here at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. They can reach amazingly high densities in areas where there are abundant resources, and forest populations.
So many squirrels in one space means that competition for resources such as tree cavities and acorns can be intense. This competition has led to complex communication and body language.
Squirrels are preyed upon by several other species, from hawks to raccoons, and as a result are constantly watching for threats from other species as well as dealing with interactions with other squirrels.
Squirrels mark their territory with scent and may actively defend that territory in direct interactions. Gray squirrels have two main scent marking tools, urine and scent glands near the mouth. They will frequently urinate as they move along travel routes and they often stop and rub their oral scent glands as well. When two squirrels meet they will greet each other by sniffing these oral scent glands, sometimes placing their hands on the other squirrels shoulders.
The second main territorial marking method gray squirrels is chewing a large vertical strip on a large dominant tree in their territory and using this visual marking as a scent marking post. All squirrels passing by this strip will stop and smell who has been around and add marks of their own. These marks are often maintained for generations.
Because of the high density of squirrels in most urban environments, such as Mississauga, there is sometimes significant territory overlap. Squirrels may bark warning calls at passing intruders, including humans.
If you have vulnerable entry point on your home or business, such as an open chimney, gaps in soffit or roof vents, squirrels will try to break in and make a nest in your home.
Squirrels chewed through these shingles and a plumbing matt on a Mississauga home to gain access to the attic. Once a squirrel is in your attic or home, the damage can be severe.
They will mark their territory, the same way they do outside- through urine and chewing. This can result in smelly, contaminated insulation that will need to be cleaned out and replaced. The squirrels will also chew on wood beams, possibly compromising the structure of the home. They can also chew on electrical wires, which is a potential fire hazard. Squirrels will gnaw on vapor barrier, which could also ruin your insulation and allow moisture to enter the attic.
Attic wiring that has been chewed on by squirrels, causing a potential fire hazard.
The best, most affordable way to keep squirrels from entering your home or business in Mississauga is to have prevention work done on the structure to make sure there are no vulnerable entry areas. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will visit your home and go through a 35-50 point inspection of your property, identifying vulnerable areas. Having those areas screened off will keep your home squirrel free- we guarantee it for life!
If squirrels have found entry points on your home or business and have made a home in your attic or walls, it is important to evict the squirrels as soon as possible. The longer squirrels are able to live inside your home, the more destruction they can cause. In just a few short weeks you could end up with a large repair bill.
Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will humanely remove the squirrels and seal up the entry hole so that they are unable to get back in. We can also help clean up contaminated insulation and replace it with new, environmentally friendly cellulose insulation. We will deodorize all the areas the squirrels were living in, so any smells are gone and do not attract other animals.
The roof vent screening Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control installed will keep squirrels out- we guarantee it for life.
With this being baby season, there is a strong possibility that if you have squirrels in your home, they may have given birth, which makes the removal process more complicated. We have been responding to many calls from Mississauga business and home owners who have discovered squirrel babies in their homes. The babies are immobile for 6-8 weeks, so they will need to be removed, by hand. After the babies are removed, we put them in a heated reunion baby box, near the newly sealed up entry area so the mom can come back and retrieve them.
If you suspect your home or business in Mississauga is playing host to squirrels, give Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control a call today at 1.888.592.0387
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