Signs of squirrel damage often go unnoticed until significant destruction has occurred. At Skedaddle, we’ve seen firsthand how these seemingly harmless creatures can wreak havoc on homes and businesses across Niagara. While many residents enjoy observing squirrels scamper around the beautiful parks near Niagara Falls, the story changes dramatically when these rodents decide your property would make an ideal home.

Squirrels are persistent, resourceful, and equipped with powerful teeth that never stop growing. This combination makes them particularly destructive when they target residential structures. Understanding the telltale signs of their activity can help you identify problems early and take appropriate action before extensive damage occurs.

Physical Evidence of Squirrels Damaging Your Property

When squirrels invade, they leave behind unmistakable calling cards. Recognizing these signs of damage early can save you thousands in repair costs.

Exterior Damage Signs

The first indications of squirrels damaging your property often appear on your home’s exterior:

• Chewed entry points: Look for gnawed holes approximately 2 inches in diameter along soffits, fascia boards, and roof edges. They create perfectly sized entryways to access your attic.
• Damaged vents and screens: Torn or chewed vent covers and screens are classic signs of intrusion attempts.
• Disturbed shingles: Missing or damaged roof shingles may indicate squirrels have been working to create access points.
• Debris accumulation: Piles of twigs, leaves, and nesting materials in gutters or along rooflines suggest they’re gathering supplies for indoor nests.

Entry point characteristics: Holes typically have chew marks around the edges and may show dark staining from the oils in their fur after repeated use.

Location patterns: Most entries occur at roof intersections or where different building materials meet since these areas are easier to exploit.

Interior Damage Indicators

Once inside, squirrels can cause substantial internal damage:

1. Insulation damage: Flattened, torn, or scattered insulation in your attic is a primary sign of nesting activity.
2. Electrical wire damage: Chewed wiring creates serious fire hazards, as squirrels gnaw on the plastic coating.
3. Water damage: Damaged roof entry points allow moisture to enter, creating water stains on ceilings and walls.
4. Strange noises: Scurrying, scratching, or chattering sounds, particularly during early mornings and evenings, indicate active squirrels.

Our Skedaddle technicians use specialized equipment, including thermal imaging cameras, to detect squirrel presence even in the most inaccessible areas of your home. With over 30 years of experience, we’ve developed expertise in identifying activity patterns that untrained eyes might miss.

The Extensive Damage Squirrels Can Cause

The consequences of squirrels damaging property go far beyond minor inconveniences. They can significantly impact both structural integrity and safety.

Structural Damage Concerns

• Wooden beams and supports: Squirrels methodically chew on support structures, potentially compromising your home’s stability. Their need to file down their constantly growing teeth makes any wooden component vulnerable.
• HVAC and ventilation systems: They can damage ductwork, reducing efficiency and potentially spreading contaminants throughout your home.
• Attic insulation: Beyond nesting damage, squirrel urine and droppings can compress and contaminate insulation, reducing its effectiveness and increasing energy costs.

Health and Safety Hazards

The health risks associated with squirrel infestations are often overlooked but should be taken seriously:

• Fire hazards: Electrical fires from chewed wiring are among the most dangerous consequences.
• Respiratory concerns: Dried droppings and urine can contaminate your home’s air with harmful particles.
• Secondary pest issues: Squirrel nests often harbour parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites that can spread to pets and humans.
• Disease transmission: While less common than with some other wildlife, squirrels can carry diseases transmissible to humans.

One Niagara homeowner we helped discovered squirrels had damaged nearly 70% of the wiring in their attic, creating multiple potential fire hazards that went undetected for months. The repair costs exceeded $5,000, not including our humane removal services—a costly lesson in the importance of early detection.

The Psychology Behind Property Damage

The impact of wildlife damage goes beyond physical destruction. Many homeowners report significant psychological stress when dealing with wildlife intrusions.

• Loss of security: Having wild animals enter and damage your home can create feelings of vulnerability and invasion.
• Constant vigilance: The unpredictable nature of activity can lead to hypervigilance and sleep disruption as homeowners become attuned to every sound in their walls or attic.
• Financial anxiety: Concerns about escalating repair costs and insurance coverage add another layer of stress to the situation.
• Health worries: Families often worry about potential exposure to disease or contaminants, especially when children or immunocompromised individuals live in the home.

At Skedaddle, we understand these psychological impacts and provide reassurance throughout our humane removal process. Our thorough approach addresses not just the physical removal of squirrels, but also the restoration of your peace of mind.

Entry Points: How Squirrels Access Your Home

Understanding how squirrels get into attics and other areas of your home is crucial for prevention and exclusion strategies.

Common Access Methods

1. Climbing abilities: Squirrels can scale virtually any textured exterior surface and jump up to 10 feet horizontally.
2. Existing vulnerabilities: They exploit small openings or weaknesses in construction, particularly where different building materials meet.
3. Created access points: Using their powerful teeth, they can expand small gaps or create entirely new entry holes in softer materials like wood and aluminium.
4. Seasonal patterns: Entry attempts increase dramatically during breeding seasons (February-April and August-September) when females seek safe nesting sites.

Vulnerable areas checklist:

• Roof intersections and valleys
• Soffit junctions
• Ventilation points
• Damaged roof edges
• Areas where trees overhang or touch the structure
• Chimney openings without proper caps

Our Skedaddle technicians conduct thorough 35-50 point inspections of properties to identify all potential entry points, not just the obvious ones. This comprehensive approach is essential since squirrels commonly create multiple access routes.

Effective Prevention and Management Strategies

Learning how to stop squirrel damage requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both immediate concerns and long-term prevention.

Professional Removal and Exclusion

At Skedaddle, our proven four-step process ensures effective and humane resolution:

1. Assessment and entry identification: We thoroughly inspect your property to locate all actual and potential entry points.
2. Humane removal: Our hands-on approach includes safely removing adults and carefully hand-removing any baby squirrels present.
3. Baby reunion: We use specialized reunion boxes that keep baby squirrels safe and warm until their mother relocates them.
4. Prevention and exclusion: We install heavy-gauge screening and appropriate sealing materials at entry points, along with deodourizing treatments to discourage return visits.

Prevention Techniques

While professional help is recommended for active infestations, homeowners can take several preventative measures:

• Trim tree branches: Maintain at least a 10-foot clearance between trees and your roofline.
• Regular inspections: Regularly check your home’s exterior for signs of possible squirrel entry and damage.

If squirrels are causing havoc in your home, don’t let the damage escalate. Entrust the care of your property to Skedaddle. With our comprehensive inspection and humane wildlife management process, we can protect your home from further distress. Contact Skedaddle today to fortify your home against the threat of wildlife intrusions and secure peace of mind for you and your family.