Squirrels are a fascinating and active part of the Colorado ecosystem, delivering energy and curiosity to your outdoor space. But when their communications and behaviors result in them taking up residence in your home or damaging your property, they can quickly transition from backyard entertainment to a challenging nuisance. 

By understanding squirrel behavior, their unique methods of communication, and how to keep squirrels away in Littleton, homeowners in the Denver area can make informed decisions about protecting their property while keeping interactions with these clever animals humane and effective.

How Do Squirrels Communicate Through Sound?

Squirrels are surprisingly vocal animals, using a variety of sounds to coordinate with each other and respond to threats. The most common noises homeowners hear include chirps, barks, and even a high-pitched whining or screeching. These sounds serve distinct purposes and reveal important cues about their behavior—something we at Skedaddle have observed time and again during our squirrel removal operations.

When squirrels emit sharp, repetitive chirping or barking sounds, they are typically issuing a territorial warning. This is common in the Denver area, where treed neighborhoods provide multiple spaces for squirrels to establish boundaries. This vocalization is meant to alert other squirrels to stay away and announce that a particular patch of land, tree, or another nesting spot is claimed. Homeowners may hear these sounds intensify when squirrels feel threatened—often by a pet, a person walking too close to their nest, or a predator like a hawk.

Another sound that many people hear is repetitive chattering—made by squirrels tapping or grinding their teeth. This can signal a sign of excitement, curiosity, or even mild irritation. Sometimes this grinding is also part of their grooming habits and is not directly communicative in the way chirps are. Still, the presence of these sounds near your home could signify that squirrels are checking out potential nesting sites—such as your attic or crawl space.

High-pitched whining or screeching noises are most frequently made by younger squirrels. These sounds serve as distress calls when the juveniles feel separated from their mothers or endangered. If you detect these noises near your attic, it could be a sign of a nesting situation. These distress calls often escalate when movement or loud sounds disturb the area, so they may intensify if the mother is actively seeking a way back into a secured or blocked nesting site.

To someone unfamiliar, these sounds might blend into the general noise of nature, but to trained ears, the signals are clear. If you find these vocalizations repeatedly near your home, especially within your walls, it creates a strong case to inspect for potential squirrel intrusion.

Decoding Squirrel Body Language

Squirrel communication isn’t confined to their vocalizations—body language also plays a critical role in helping squirrels avoid predators, find food, and maintain social structures. By observing their physical signals, homeowners can better understand these animals’ intentions and take steps to avoid common problems.

The most easily recognized form of body language is their infamous tail flick. Just as chirps double as territorial announcements and warnings, tail flicks can signal agitation or danger. Often, you’ll see a squirrel flicking its tail rapidly while keeping its body rigid—a sign that it feels threatened, cautious, or ready to defend its territory. On the other hand, slow tail movements may appear as a sign of ease or curiosity, showing that the animal is relaxed or surveying its surroundings.

Another common indicator is their unique perching posture. When squirrels stop mid-movement, perch upright, and freeze, they’re assessing the area—for predators, food, or obstacles. This “freeze and observe” behavior helps them determine if it’s safe to proceed. If this posture is followed by sudden darting motions up walls or across fences, it often means that they have identified something worth investigating or avoiding—and that might include your property.

For ground-based squirrels regularly observed in Littleton and wider Denver neighborhoods, digging can also be a clue about their behavior. While many believe this simply indicates hiding food, digging may also represent their attempts to find nesting materials or even access your property. For example, a squirrel that begins scratching or scraping near rooflines, soffits, or vents might be trying to open entry points, something we frequently see through our expert inspections.

Homeowners who pay close attention to these body language signs can spot squirrel activity around their properties early. Early recognition is valuable for keeping squirrels from gaining access to interior spaces where these activities may cause material damage.

Why Squirrel Intrusions Happen—and What You Can Do

Whether it’s their chatter or physical movements, squirrels don’t communicate by chance. Every sound or signal correlates with important survival strategies. Unfortunately, these behaviors often lead to conflicts when squirrels encroach on homes, especially those located near sources of food, heat, and shelter.

Squirrel nesting activity frequently begins in the fall, continues into the winter, and peaks in early spring. During this time, future mothers instinctively seek secure and warm spaces to raise their young. While some squirrels nest inside trees or shrubs, many urban squirrels gravitate toward human-made structures—such as attics, garage spaces, and chimneys—viewing them as optimal nesting areas. For homeowners, this interference can result in chewed insulation, damaged access points, and put wiring at risk.

Food access is another driver of communication and activity that can bring squirrels too close to home. People often unintentionally encourage their presence by leaving out trash that squirrels easily access or keeping bird feeders in exposed areas. Once a squirrel associates a specific property with reliable food sources, it begins establishing its authority—and will likely return, potentially for generations.

To curb these issues, focus on reducing attractants and addressing vulnerabilities around your property. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Secure Food Sources: Use lockable trash cans and clean up food droppings around bird feeders, removing easy temptations.
• Trim Trees and Shrubs: Ensure limbs or branches near your roofline are cut back. Most squirrel invaders gain access to attics and chimneys through these natural scaffolds.
• Inspect for Weak Spots: Regularly inspect the exterior for damage in places like soffit vents, fascia boards, eaves, and siding. These weak spots can quickly become entry points.

If you implement preventive measures but still hear chatter in the attic or see squirrels darting along your fences and gutters, it’s better to act quickly than to ignore the problem.

Professional Help for Your Denver Home

Understanding how squirrels communicate is key to interpreting their activity and stopping intrusions before they escalate. While their vocalizations and movements help to understand their behavior, squirrels are persistent once they’ve chosen your home as their living quarters. Although DIY deterrents might seem simple, the reality is that addressing property damage, potential health risks, and structural vulnerabilities requires trained expertise to ensure results—and that’s where Skedaddle comes in.

At Skedaddle, our humane and effective wildlife control solutions are tailored for homeowners across Littleton and Denver facing squirrel troubles. Using our proven three-step system, we safely remove squirrels from inside homes while cleaning and repairing damaged areas to prevent re-entry. Don’t wait for minor warning signs to become major problems—contact Skedaddle today to restore peace and quiet at your property.