CALL NOW! 
Have you ever encountered having squirrels running atop your roof’s surface?
While it’s easy to chase them off, the greater problem lies once they’ve nested under your roof.
Squirrels cause all sorts of chewing, playing, and rumbling noises. They can even cause long-term damage to your whole house.
So how do you deal with these pesky critters? Read on below, as I’ll guide you in this article on how you can banish them for good!
Why Do Squirrels Stay in the Roof?
Squirrels have lived close to humans for a very long time. Their natural habitat should be far away from the city, in the woods.
Nowadays, you can find them in parks, playgrounds, or even in trees right beside your own home.
Tree squirrels like to burrow their way through tree trunks. Squirrels gnaw a hollow space into the wood for them to live in.
Squirrels also use these crevices for their nuts, berries, and grains. Especially during the winter, it serves as their nesting place.
Since an attic feels more warm and safe, it’s a good place for them to nest their offspring from the cold.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels From My Attic?
When it comes to banishing these critters, you can seek professional help or do it yourself.
The process is the same, and you’ll only have to pull it off right.
Here are some ways on how to get rid of squirrel inhabitation:
Trapping and Relocation
Once squirrels get comfy in your roof, it’s almost impossible to chase them out.
The best way to keep squirrels out is by trapping squirrels alive. To do this, you’ll need a squirrel trapper, the size of a small cage.
It’s important to note that no poisonous baits for squirrels are available. Rat poison or mice bait isn’t an adequate alternative for them.
You can use squirrel food favorites like bird seeds, nuts, and bread crumbs as bait to lure them in.
To know where to set these traps, make sure you first locate their entryways into the house.
These are usually gnawed up holes or crevices on the walls or roof.
Branches that overhang on your roof can also be a possible entry point.
Trapping Tips
- Always wear gloves to prevent them from biting or scratching your arm.
- Make sure the bait is far inside to lead them away from the entrance
- Locate their entry points to your home and set trapping devices in these areas.
Make sure you move them miles away from your area, into the woods.
I’d suggest you release them at least 6 to 10 miles away.
If you set them free within your area, they’re crafty enough to find their way back to your home.
Exclusion
After trapping and sending them away, it’s only futile if other squirrels still find a way in.
First, find their entry-point. Second, find a way to seal or prevent them from entering these locations:
- If your attic walls have cracks and crevices, these expose its interior to squirrels.
- Watch out for an unscreened vent or loose or rotten trim boards. These attract adult females as a workable nesting place.
- Fruit trees and bird seeds attract squirrels. They’re also most likely to dwell in trees. If your house is close to a few, these crafty critters can crawl their way in through the branches.
You can stop squirrels from entering these areas using specific exclusion tools.
Squirrel Exclusion Tools
For wall crevices, I’d suggest you use copper mesh wool or wire to seal them — especially the bigger ones.
You can use exclusion fabric or hardware cloth to fill up smaller cracks. Replacing rotten wood prevents them from gnawing in.
For tree branches, make sure their branches don’t extend onto your rooftop.
Keep them trimmed. But if it’s too much maintenance, I’d suggest you cut them down.
You can also wrap their trunks with metal sheets to prevent them from climbing.
Squirrel Repellents
Some repellents used to ward off squirrels are of natural remedies. These include cayenne pepper, pepper flakes, or garlic pepper.
Commercial repellents of squirrel predators’ urine, like a fox’s, are also available. Still, results can be a hit or miss.
Based on research, there’s still no proven squirrel repellent to exist. But here are some solutions worth considering:
Strobe Lights
Strobe lights are a popular deterrent to frighten squirrels away. You can install a few of these on your roof.
These glaring lights can annoy animals, including squirrels.
Ultrasonic Sounds
These devices emit sounds at a very low frequency, only heard by animals. Additionally, these sounds are disturbing to animals. You can play this in the attic through a radio. When you place it closer to the squirrel’s area, it’s more audible to annoy them away
Ammonia
Ammonia releases a strong scent that appalls humans and animals alike. Its scent is irritating enough to ward off any squirrel from your attic. You can use a soaked rag to place it close to their hideout.
What Damages Can They Cause Inside the Attic?
When you have a squirrel in attic spaces, it can get comfortable and may even breed offspring.
You wouldn’t want to risk this as it can cause damage and life-threatening hazards.
Squirrels love gnawing through your exterior and interior walls. Squirrels also tend to chew on electrical wirings, timbers, or cables.
Besides this, they stack hay, twigs, and dried leaves in your attic. These are harmful to potential fire hazards.
They also leave behind a lot of their droppings and urine. If left unresolved, squirrels can cause odor problems and health risks.
These can also leak through your drywall and ceiling. Once the damage is too severe, it may affect the quality of your home.
You may also have to resort to a full attic restoration to clean up their droppings.
Where Can I Buy These Tools?
You can find squirrel trapping tools in pest control shops. They’re also for sale in local hardware stores.
Perhaps you’d also like to look for specific brands. Depending on the price and quality you’re after, you can browse through a variety of them online.
Many of these tools retail in online stores like Amazon. Amazon also offers the best squirrel catching tools available in the United States.
How to Know if There Are Squirrels in My Roof?
Strange Noises
These include noises of grinding, scurrying, and scratching under your roof. A squirrel always finds something to gnaw on like wires, wood, or chords.
They also scavenger for more materials to build up their nests. Baby squirrels emit shrill cries to signal their hunger.
In some cases, a squirrel emits subtle calls in the form of a screech.
Squirrel Droppings and Odor
A squirrel’s droppings let out the putrid odor. Droppings and urine also leak on your attic walls and ceilings.
It’s a bit tricky to spot squirrel droppings without any build-up. You can seek help from a wildlife control professional to inspect this.
Chewed Walls and Wiring
You can expect a lot of damage to walls, electrical wirings, and even attic furniture.
Squirrels in attic spaces can leave many wood chippings on your floor.
They also nibble on air vents for entry. If you see damage on your air vent, you might have a squirrel under your roof.
Eaten Garden Food
Fruit trees and bird seeds lure squirrels. They also enjoy munching on the fruits and vegetables growing in your garden.
They’re capable of digging up your garden to bury the scavenged food.
When squirrels are in your garden, they cause noticeable damages.
Conclusion
If you need squirrel removal services, it’s best to consult your local animal control.
These professionals are experts in wildlife removal education. Additionally, they can do the trapping and relocation of squirrels for you.
Also, remember to take care of the areas they enter from.
