Are Squirrels in the Attic Dangerous?

You may hear a shuffling sound in your attic, or there may be an unusual odor. However, when you first discover squirrels in your home, it can be difficult to know what to do. Here are some answers to common questions about squirrels living in your attic. Learn more about this situation and discover how Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control can tell them to scamper with professional squirrel removal in Milwaukee. Don’t let a furry friend become a hazardous houseguest. A squirrel in your attic is in fact a dangerous situation. While these furry houseguests are getting comfortable in your space, they are often:

• Chewing on wood, including structural beams
• Trampling insulation, causing heat loss within your home
• Urinating and defecating,  resulting in bad odors and other health related risks
• Chewing electrical wiring, which can post a serious fire hazard

Will Squirrels Leave an Attic on Their Own?

Unfortunately, in order to rid your home of these unwelcome tenants, you’ll need to evict them. Squirrels love the warmth and safety of your attic, so they are unlikely to leave on their own. Even if a squirrel leaves for the day or even an extended vacation, it’s likely to return. Part of how squirrels can navigate back to your attic is in their odor. Urinating in this space under the home's roof allows squirrels to imprint on your property. This acts as a squirrel GPS system when they are deep in the woods and looking for their way back to their cozy home in your attic. If you’re unhappy with this living situation, it’s time to call in reinforcements. Working with wildlife removal technicians ensures an effective solution to your squirrel problem.

Why Do Squirrels Live in Attics?

Squirrels typically make their homes in dense forests. Forks of trees and tree cavities are ideal locations for a squirrel to make a home. Up to 60 squirrels can live in a single square kilometre, so the furry residents in your area may not have enough trees to go around. Attics mirror the warmth, seclusion and comfort of a tree hollow. You’ll especially see a squirrel desperate for a safe home during nesting season. If you notice a squirrel in your attic between late March and early May, or between July and August, it’s likely a female looking for a place to raise a litter. Once a female squirrel has a litter in your attic, removal becomes more difficult. Without care, you may remove the mother and separate her from her new litter. This often dooms the babies that are too little to survive on their own. This is just another reason that it’s essential to work with a professional for humane wildlife services.

How Long Can Squirrels Survive in the Attic?

Compare a chilly tree hollow with your dry, warm attic, and you’ll see why squirrels prefer the comforts of a human-made dwelling. Squirrels are more than happy to live indefinitely in your attic. At the end of their life, these furry intruders often leave their homes to their offspring as part of their inheritance. Without professional wildlife removal services, generations of squirrels will continue to live and reproduce in your attic, posing health risks, and damaging your home indefinitely.

How Can I Remove Squirrels From My Attic?

Evict your current tenants with the help of an expert wildlife technician near you. Contact our Milwaukee team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to schedule an inspection of your house. We’ll work with you to identify the extent of the damage, offer a humane removal strategy and restore your attic to prevent any long-term damage to your property.