Because it’s out of the way, your attic is likely a place you don’t use very often. However, what do you do when you have quiet friends who didn’t come over but are there anyway? These squirrels know how to get into your attic and use it as a secret place to hide. Let’s talk about these sneaky intruders and how to find and get rid of squirrels in your attic.
How to Understand the Silent Invaders
Squirrels are smart and flexible animals that do well in both cities and the country. For them, attics are great places to nest and stay safe. They get into your attic for a number of reasons:
- Nesting Sites: Squirrels can build their homes and raise their young in attics because they are safe and out of the way. Your attic is very appealing because it keeps you warm and safe.
- Access to Food: Squirrels are smart scavengers, so they can often find food around your house, like nuts, veggies, and bird seed.
- Weather Protection: Squirrels seek refuge in your attic during extreme weather, whether it’s very cold in the winter or very hot in the summer.
- Easy Access: Squirrels are quick movers that can get into your home through even the smallest holes. They will use holes in the walls, broken vent covers, and gaps in the eaves and soffits to get in.
What to Look for When Squirrels Are Living in Your Home
Because squirrels are so sneaky, it can be hard to find squirrel outbreaks. Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Auditory clues: Squirrels are busy and may make noises like scratching, scurrying, or gnawing, especially early in the morning or late at night. These sounds usually come from above, which means there are pests in the attic.
- Droppings and Stains: Look for squirrel droppings, which look like rice grains but are a little bigger. There may also be dark pee marks on the floor or insulation of the attic.
- Damage and chewing on wires: Squirrels are known for biting. They might do a lot of damage to your attic by chewing on electrical wires, insulation, and wooden structures.
- Entry Points: Look at the outside of your house for possible entry points. Squirrels love to nest in holes in the eaves and soffits, on damaged roofs, and in broken vent covers.
- Materials for the Nest: Squirrels make their nests out of different things, like leaves and insulation. It is a clear sign of an infestation when you find these nests hidden in the attic’s walls or cracks.
Dealing with Squirrel Problems
Once you know there are squirrels in your home, you need to act quickly:
- Help from a Professional: Call a reputable pest control company that has experience getting rid of squirrels. Professionals know how to get rid of squirrels in your attic in a way that is safe and kind to them.
- Seal Entry Points: Once the squirrels are gone, it’s important to seal all possible entry points to stop them from coming back. This could mean fixing the roof, getting new vent covers, and closing up gaps in the eaves and soffits.
- Clean and Fix: To get rid of the smells and droppings that have been left behind, clean and sanitize your attic. Fix any damage the squirrels did, like lines that they chewed through or problems with the frames.
- To keep squirrels from coming back into your attic, you might want to put up one-way doors or traps. Check the outside of your house often for weak spots and openings.
- Animal-Friendly Removal: Make sure that the way the squirrels are removed doesn’t hurt them in any way. Not only is a humane method the right thing to do, it also works in the long run.
If you have squirrels in your attic, they may be causing damage and pain without you even realizing it. You can get back control of your attic and keep these people out by staying alert, recognizing the signs, and acting quickly with professional help.
Squirrel Removal Barrie guarantees complete removal of the squirrels in question and uses safe and humane techniques to rid the property of the squirrels. Our technicians can use a combination of techniques and alternatives when the situation asks for it. We have resolved and excluded countless squirrels throughout the Barrie area and continue to do so with pride.