How Do Squirrels Prepare For Winter?

Fall may be a time for you to take on some home maintenance tasks, enjoy apple cider or settling in for a calm winter, but what are squirrels up to this time of year? Find out why you may be seeing squirrels moving around more this time of year and why they may be more motivated to enter your home before winter. Learn more about typical behaviours and when you should reach out for squirrel removal in Oakville.

1. Store Food Around Your Property

Squirrels hoard food for the winter. Because these cunning foragers typically eat nuts, seeds and other easily stored items, they can create caches around their territory to dig back up in the middle of winter. Squirrels are typically done breeding in the fall, but will start breeding again at the end of winter to have another litter early in the year, for a total of two litters per year. Because they need enough food stored away to survive all winter in Oakville, local squirrels need to spend a significant amount of time foraging in the late summer and throughout the fall. They can be quite resourceful in finding places to store food, including areas around your property or in your home. It’s crucial to work with a human animal control team if you encounter any issues with squirrels at this point in the year. If you have a squirrel storing nuts in your grill, basement or other area of your home, clearing away that cache of food could cause serious issues for the squirrel in the middle of winter.

2. Eat as Much as Possible

Storing food in holes may be one way to prepare for the winter, but another technique many squirrels use is to store up fat reserves. Additional layers of fat keep squirrels warm and provide fuel for their bodies as they ride out the long winter in Oakville. During this time of year, squirrels are almost constantly eating. They’ll search high and low for food sources, even visiting bird feeders. Particularly desperate or resourceful squirrels will even try to find food in your home. Look for openings in your home and signs that squirrels are entering to steal pet food, dry goods and other items from your shelves.

3. Prepare a Cozy Winter Home

Squirrels need warm, safe places to sleep during the winter. Even with all that extra fat, a squirrel will still look for a place away from the snow and cool air to rest for the night. Your home offers many cozy opportunities for resident squirrels. Be sure your home is properly protected from rodent intruders before snow falls. Your attic is nice and warm, dark and dry. Insulation is the perfect material to chew up and create a den away from prying eyes. All those nooks and crannies offer excellent opportunities for storing food. Even basements, garages and crawl spaces are secluded enough for a squirrel or two to call home for the winter or as a year-round hideaway. All those additional residents puts a strain on your home. Feces, food, saliva and nest materials can spread diseases and damage structural elements of your house. Squirrels can also be noisy house guests and chew on wiring, insulation and other materials.

Reach Out To Skedaddle for Squirrel Removal in Oakville

Prepare for the winter the right way by avoiding any wildlife visitors. Contact us at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to see how we can help squirrels find a safe place to stay for the winter that’s not in your home or on your property. Our talented technicians can keep your home squirrel free, not only in the winter but for year-round peace of mind.