f you’ve ever had squirrels in the attic, you already know what a disaster it can be. It’s unfortunate that squirrels can be so darn cute. This means that many people are hesitant to do anything about the presence of squirrels in their attic until they realize damage is occurring.Matthew Hess
07/06/2023
If you’ve ever had squirrels in the attic, you already know what a disaster it can be. It’s unfortunate that squirrels can be so darn cute. This means that many people are hesitant to do anything about the presence of squirrels in their attic until they realize damage is occurring.
Squirrels can be cute and fun to watch when they’re outside. I’ve always found it comical to watch a squirrel dodge a vehicle or try to steal bird seed from a squirrel-proof feeder. But the fun stops when they get into a home or business. They are rambunctious little rodents, don’t easily give up and seemingly never run out of energy. That’s why when squirrels make their way into your attic, the noise they produce can be tremendous. What might have been fun to watch when it was outside becomes a nightmare when it moves inside. The noise alone is enough, but the dangers they pose makes them much more than a simple nuisance.
The good news is that Four Seasons Pest Solutions has practical plans designed not only to remove squirrels but to prevent them altogether. Let’s explore some signs of squirrels in the attic and what can be done to stop them.
What are the Signs of Squirrels in the Attic?
Squirrels have several characteristics which set their invasion apart from other pests. This can help both the homeowner and the pest control firm determine if squirrels are invading your attic space or some other pest. This is important for proper control and future exclusion procedures.
Squirrels Will Make Noise During Daylight Hours
First of all, we need to be sure it’s squirrels in the attic and not some other pest. That means the time of day you hear the noise is crucial. If you hear chewing, scratching or scurrying about, especially coming from the attic, there’s definitely a great cause for concern. But we must determine what pest we are dealing with before proper control measures can be implemented.
One easy way to determine if you have squirrels and not rats, mice, or some other animal, is the time of day (or night) you hear the noise. Squirrels are diurnal and sleep primarily at night whereas mice, rats, racoons, and bats are nocturnal and sleep primarily during the day. This means if you hear the noise during the day, it’s likely squirrels, whereas if it’s primarily at night, it’s likely something else.
Squirrels “play” quite a bit and if they are active in your attic, you’re sure to hear them during the day. They spend a great deal of time running, hopping and jumping (like you see them do outside) even if they’re in an attic.
Squirrels Can Cause A Foul Smell
Foul smells due to buildup of urine and fecal pellets can end up creating a pretty nasty smell. If infestations are left unchecked, eventually there will end up being dead squirrels in the attic as well. Over the years, fecal pellets, urine buildup and decaying bodies can become noticeable in the living quarters. This is not only unpleasant but extremely unhealthy.
Squirrels Can Cause DamageSquirrels Can Cause Damage
If it wasn’t enough that squirrels in the attic are a disturbance and a nuisance, they can also cause serious damage. For starters, wherever they enter, squirrels will usually chew and gnaw around the area to enlarge the hole. Or, like in this picture, they will make their own hole. Additionally, they will try to make entries and exits in other places.
Attics have insulation to keep the summer heat out and the winter heat in. Insulation that is compressed does not function well. Routine and consistent movement across insulation will tread it down and cause it to become compressed. This means energy loss and high electric bills! It is common to find insulation that would have been 12 inches, compressed down to 6 inches in areas of high activity.
What’s more, since squirrels are rodents, their teeth are constantly growing. This means chewing and gnawing comes natural to them. That’s not good news to hear when you have squirrels in the attic. Attics are usually full of electric wires, HVAC duct work, plumbing and other wiring. This could lead to expensive repair costs and even potential fire hazards.
Squirrels Leave Behind Traces of Their Food Sources
Squirrels probably leave behind more evidence of their presence by way of the food they eat, than any other pest. They can actually make quite a mess if they have tree nuts as part of their diet. Inside the attic, there are likely to be bits and pieces of a variety of tree nuts. The squirrels chew away the other shell to access the inner meat and thus leave the debris behind. Sometimes these debris spots can be quite large. Finding these can help identify whether squirrels are present in the attic.
Squirrel Nests in the Attic
Squirrels can mate twice per year. Between May and June and again between December and February, squirrels are actively mating. Once the gestation period has begun and until the pups (or kits) are a few weeks old, squirrels will be nesting.
As opportune nesters, they will typically use leaves and branches to build nests high up in trees. But don’t underestimate the word “opportune” because they will build their nests out of insulation right in your attic if given half a chance.
In fact, once squirrels have found access to your attic, new generations will mate and nest there as well. If left unstopped, an ongoing rotation of squirrels may filter through the attic, one litter (or more) at a time. Finding a nest in your attic may not be easy, as they will often pull materials down into the soffit area to nest. However, if you do find a nest, it’s obvious something is living there. That means it’s time to call in the pros at Four Seasons Pest Solutions for a thorough attic inspection.
Removing or Preventing Squirrels in the Attic
It’s best to be sure that your home is rodent proof before you have problems. However, common control methods can be used for prevention as well. In order to remove or prevent squirrels from the attic, entry points must be located and properly sealed or repaired. There should be no holes, gaps or cracks over ¼ inch anywhere on your home. Squirrels can squeeze through holes and cracks smaller than 2 inches. Areas in the soffit, roof line, facia trim, eaves, vents, windows, doors, and other areas are crucial inspection zones and must be properly rodent proofed. Additionally, when wood is involved, no gaps and cracks can be left at all.
Since squirrels love to chew on wood, any hole, gap, or crack which will allow them to get started chewing, will surely wind up an entry point sooner than later. Fixing these requires the knowledge of a professional with years of experience in locating each area of concern. Missing only one will cause the entire plan to fail.
Perimeter Maintenance
To further prevent or remove squirrels from the attic, trim trees, shrubs, and bushes at least 10 feet from the roof line. Also, Remove food sources (like bird feeders) from the perimeter of your home. If there are food sources like nut trees within close proximity to the structure, try raking the fruit away from the structure at least 50 feet.
Can’t I Just Scare the Squirrels Away?
It would be convenient and much easier to climb into the attic and give a quick speech. It might go something like this, “This is my attic and if you aren’t going to pay rent and clean up after yourself, you’ve got to go.” But, unfortunately, it’s not that easy to scare off a squirrel. Homeowners often try various methods and rarely have any success. Of course, it’s free to give it a try and see what happens!
Some people might advise scare-tactics to encourage the squirrels to leave. Making noise, putting lights in the attic, using repellants and other useless tactics are often recommended. Here are a few examples:
Hitting or Tapping Ceilings and Walls
Some people might advise scare-tactics to encourage the squirrels to leave. Making noise, putting lights in the attic, using repellants and other useless tactics are often recommended. The problem is that you make noise in your home all the time, yet, the squirrels are still there. You’re probably not going to scare them off with a little more noise.
Furthermore, recommendation to use a b
room or other hard item to hit the ceiling or bang against the wall is certainly asking for trouble. If you happen to knock a hole in the wall or ceiling, what’s to stop the animals from entering your living quarters? No matter what ridiculous advice someone gives you, it’s best to call a professional and save yourself the possible health risks. You may think you have squirrels when instead, it’s a rabid raccoon. Safety first!
Yelling at the Squirrels
I am literally laughing out loud as I write this paragraph. I can’t help but imagine an entire family standing in their house, looking up at a blank ceiling and carrying on a loud yelling-fest with a family of squirrels that are paying no attention. It sounds crazy, and it is, but some companies have gone so far as to recommend yelling loudly and for a long period of time to scare squirrels away.
Could you imagine the neighbors in a subdivision listening to the crazy family-next-door yelling at the squirrels? What would you yell anyway? “HEEEEEEY, GET OUT OF MY ATTIC! GEEEEET OUUUUT OOOOF MYYYYY AAAAATIIIIC!” Your neighbors will be calling the cops thinking someone has broken into your attic. Just save your voice (and your dignity) because yelling at squirrels is number 1 on today’s top 10 list of stupid things to do to get rid of squirrels.
Lights in the Attic
Lights are useless as well. Since squirrels nest, they can easily burrow beneath a little more insulation to block the light. Just think of it as putting an extra curtain over the window. Despite the many recommendations, light in the attic won’t deter squirrels in most cases.
Repellants in the Attic
Repellants might have the best chance of working if you can get them right where the nesting site is. Otherwise, the attic heat will raise the repellant vapors right up to the roof vents where the cross-ventilation will carry it right out of the attic. This is why most people never even know when something dies in the attic. Smell rises upwards with heat and is swept away by the airflow created in a well-ventilated attic.
Call in the Pros at Four Seasons Pest Solutions
Occasionally a homeowner gets lucky and has success with a silly DIY trick. If you should decide to try a few DIY remedies of your own, remember one thing: squirrels may look cute and friendly but they are wild animals. If provoked or threatened, they will protect themselves. Sharp teeth and claws can do more damage to you quicker than you realize. It’s best to leave this to a professional.
When you have squirrels in your attic, getting a professional to handle the dirty work is your best option. If it were as simple as changing a lightbulb in a table lamp, you wouldn’t be reading this blog! So, there is your real answer. You’re here because you don’t know what to do. It took years of experience to have the knowledge it takes just to write this blog. Your health and safety is important to us and hopefully it is to you as well.
Don’t risk life and limb to get rid of a few squirrels in the attic. Call Four Seasons Pest Solutions and let us do the work you don’t know how to do while you do the work you’re familiar with. Let us keep you safe, healthy, happy and squirrel free!
Remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
Four Seasons Pest Solutions
You must be logged in to post a comment.