How To Keep Squirrels Out Of My Attic

A creature that commonly gains access to the home and makes it their own is a squirrel. Squirrels are known for collecting nuts and living in trees but they also find attic spaces to be quite enjoyable. When you are a homeowner, you must be vigilant and learn the signs that a squirrel is in your home, knowing just what to do to see the creature removed.The most important step in eliminating squirrels from your home is acting with urgency. The longer squirrels are left in an attic space the more damage they will cause, and the more costly the clean up and repair will become. The longer squirrels stay, the more likely they will birth and raise their babies in your home, creating an even bigger mess. If you suspect you have squirrels in your attic during the spring and summer months, it is likely babies will be a part of your removal process. To learn more about how to get squirrels out of your home, keep reading.

WHAT SQUIRRELS CAN DO TO THE HOME

To begin, it is important to learn what squirrels can do to the home. Squirrels are notorious for using their strong teeth to chew. The creatures will chew through wiring which can lead to an electrical fire as well as chew through wood which can lead to structural damage in the attic area. Squirrels will also create messy nests that can be home to fleas and ticks. The small creatures are also known to carry disease which can lead to sickness in regards to those in the home. It is so important to have squirrels removed once you know they are in the home so that you do not see any damage or issues with your health.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS

There are several signs to look for when trying to see if a squirrel may be in your home. One big sign is hearing the scurrying of feet in your ceiling or walls. You may also visually see the squirrels in your home when trying to access the attic or perhaps as they scurry along the roofline, heading into a soffit, fascia or vent. Squirrels are diurnal creatures like us, meaning they are active during the day. Be sure to listen in to your attic and wall cavities during the day for the sound of scurrying. If you hear a sound similar to the chirk of baby birds, this is a sign that babies are present.

Complete a perimeter search of your home for any signs of squirrels. While they may leave paw prints in the dirt, looking at your roof line for damaged soffit or roof vents is a good way to identify squirrels that have been inside. When squirrels enter a home, they will often leave teeth or scratch marks at the place they leveraged to get inside. Squirrels may also leave a sign they are there by filling your eavestroughs with nuts they have collected. When you notice squirrels in the attic, contact wildlife control to have them removed as quickly as possible.

REMOVAL PROCESS

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control animal removal service begins by completing an assessment of your home. Their technicians will be looking for signs that squirrels are present and where they are entering the home. Once this has been detected, the technician will use that knowledge to create a plan of action. Adult squirrels will be chased or coerced from the attic. After the adult squirrels have been removed, the attic will need to be inspected for the presence of squirrel babies. Many times, moms will have babies in the attic as it is a warm and dry place. Any babies will need to be removed and reunited with the mom on the outside so that she can move them to one of her other den sites. Technicians will then get to work squirrel-proofing your home.

CLEAN UP

Once the squirrel problem has been eliminated, the cleanup process can begin. Any feces and urine will need to be cleaned up along with the nesting materials. A squirrel in the attic can leave a big mess behind, even chewed up wood and dirty insulation. It is essential that these areas are cleaned up so the value of your home remains, plus you have a clean environment for family and friends. If improperly cleaned, the harmful bacteria inside squirrel feces can be spread throughout the home. The bacteria inside squirrel feces carry a variety of diseases transferable to humans and our pets, making the cleaning process a dangerous and complicated one.

The best solution? Call in the professionals. Once our technicians have quickly removed all the squirrels they will begin the extensive process of cleaning the mess. Any damaged insulation will be replaced with fresh eco-friendly cellulose insulation and all chewed parts of the structure will be repaired. While inside your attic our technicians will identify any exposed wires that have been chewed and are in need of immediate replacement. If you need help removing squirrels from your attic, call us at 1.888.592.0387.