Cute little chattery animals that gather acorns and scurry up the trees; that is what you think of when imagining the squirrel. Squirrels will even chase one another, playing and jumping to and fro. It can be quite amusing to observe. However, if you have a squirrel family you cannot get out of your attic, you will no longer think they are so cute. At that point, all your concern will be is getting them out!
Covenant Wildlife Removal can take care of that task.
Soon, you will learn all about the squirrels hiding away in your attic. Our experts share the many reasons why and how these little critters are in your home. Plus, we’ll go over squirrel prevention methods every homeowner should know.
Continue reading to get these scurrying squirrels out of your attic for good.
A Squirrel’s Behavior
Still thinking squirrels are adorable? If you feel that way, you have never had them in your home or attic. You see, squirrels can run, jump, and climb just about any surface, making no wall or roof impossible for them to reach. That is not good news for homeowners.
Listed below is a brief list of the squirrel habits that squirrel-loving homeowners should be aware of:
- Squirrels can gnaw their way into the tiniest opening in your home or roofline.
- They can climb a brick wall up to around four stories, incredibly.
- Their healthy teeth and jaws can chew right through aluminum.
- Squirrels are very territorial and will fight for their space.
- The females have two litters of 4 pups each year.
- They work together to accomplish their goals and warn one another of danger.
- Chatty and loud in the attic, they will keep you up at night.
- Most unfortunately, squirrels will defecate and urinate in one spot creating a pile and a mess for you.
Why Do They Like the Attic?
Why in the world do all sorts of pests like it up there? Honestly, your nesting place is their nesting place… I mean, according to the squirrels. And why not? You keep the temperature just right, and the attic space gets very little traffic. There is plenty of room up there and optimal materials for nest building.
The Humane Way to Move Squirrels Out
If you can avoid traps and hurting the squirrel, that is the preferred method. There are resources available to help you out, found at the Humane Society’s site.
Furthermore, three things make an attic unappealing to the squirrel. The three things are bright lights, loud noises, and particular smells.
A Bright Light:
No doubt, squirrels like dark areas to make nests and raise their young. They simply want to hide away out of sight. Leaving a light on 24/7 can keep them out of the attic if you are having a problem with them returning.
The Loud Noise Method:
These timid squirrels are easily startled and often quite scared. Encouraging them out, you can open a large and prominent area, then make loud noises. You can bang on pans, turn up the music, yell, and bang on the walls. That should startle them enough to find that opening and get out.
Try Smelly Things:
Finally, if those two are not working as planned, you may have a really stubborn squirrel in your attic. Then we suggest you try soaking rags in vinegar and placing them around the attic.
Squirrels have an incredible sense of smell. They use it to find the nuts and acorns they’ve buried in the ground. Using this ability squirrels have to your advantage is an excellent humane removal option.
Additionally, using apple cider vinegar typically has the most success. This type of vinegar has an extra-strong smell that may deter the hard-headed squirrel in your attic.
If that doesn’t work, call your local wildlife removal team to get them out so you don’t have to. If none of the referenced humane ways work for you, traps will be necessary. Then your local removal company will have all they need to take care of the job and relocate the squirrels.
Keeping the Squirrels Out of Your Attic
As the homeowner, there are several things you can try to keep squirrels out of the attic and the rest of the house. Listed are a few things Covenant Wildlife suggests you do to keep your home as pest-free as possible:
- Remove pet bowls that are kept outside on the porch.
- Take away any outside bird feeders and birdbaths.
- Secure all trash can lids.
- Invest in some metal trash bins to store seeds, animal feed, or pet food you need to keep outdoors.
Protect your home and property by keeping access to your house limited. Though they are incredible acrobats, you can still cut tree limbs back from the house, ensure the gutters are sealed off and cover all downspouts with wire mesh. Then be sure the vents to the home are covered with a fine wire mesh and look for any other holes in the house that could be points of entry.
One More Important Thing to Note
If you can get the squirrels out and then look around the attic only to find a nest of baby squirrels, please call for help. No one wants to separate a mama squirrel from her babies. Furthermore, you certainly don’t want to seal up all the entry points and trap the babies in the attic. Then you will have an angry mama squirrel on your hands, and the babies may not make it.
Helpful Squirrel FAQs
Squirrels can be a nuisance anywhere on your property- the yard, the shed, the garden, or the home. That’s why we have provided the following frequently asked questions about these cheeky little animals.
Are Squirrels More Active at Night?
No – Squirrels are not nocturnal animals and are most active in the daytime.
Squirrels may move around some in the night. However, they will make the most commotion during daylight hours. If you hear noises coming from the attic mainly at night, you likely have an entirely different pest on your hands.
Is it Safe to Remove a Squirrel Nest from a Tree?
No – We do not recommend attempting to remove a squirrel nest for a couple of reasons. First, their nests are typically high up in the trees to avoid being bothered or preyed on. Trying to get rid of a nest may put you in danger.
And second, as you may assume, squirrels do not respond kindly when their nests are messed with. Therefore, removing it may result in an attack by the squirrel. Squirrels are undoubtedly adorable, but their teeth and nails are sharp.
Can Squirrels Cause Property damage?
Yes – Squirrels can damage your home and your property in the following ways:
- Chewing the structure of your home
- Gnawing on insulation
- Shorting out transformers
- Cutting wires, potentially causing electrical fires
- Ruining gardens and other outdoor structures
Count on the Team at Covenant Wildlife Removal
Squirrels and all kinds of critters find their way into our homes, whether we like it or not. Squirrels can make annoying sounds and damage your attic. And worst of all, you may start to smell the stench of a diseased squirrel.
You want to act quickly and get the squirrels out before this happens. And that’s what the experts at Covenant Wildlife do best.
Instead of fooling with all this on your own, call a professional who deals with wildlife every day. They have all the supplies, tips, and tricks to get the squirrels out of your attic efficiently.
If you suspect squirrel activity in your attic, call for squirrel removal immediately!
