Squirrel Trapping & Removal

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Squirrels are some of the most common animals to spot in parks, backyards, and wooded areas. They rely heavily on their speed, jumping abilities, and small size to avoid predators, and have little need for stealth. However, if they are living in your attic, you are almost certain to notice their presence. In an enclosed space like an attic or tool shed, the odor of squirrel feces will be monumental. Squirrels are also very lively animals and tend to make a lot of noise as they movie around. You are likely to hear some dull thudding noises and scratching coming from your ceiling if squirrels have made their way into your attic.

Inspecting for Squirrels at Your Home

It's not uncommon for squirrels that you spot along the treeline in your yard to venture towards to the home or office space, especially if the trees provide coverage over the roof. Squirrels will use the roof of the building and gutters to cross the yard space, and in doing so, will leave behind feces and urine. Eventually, given factors like predators or inclimate weather, they may try to enter the attic through gable vents or damaged parts of the roof.

Attic spaces are prime real estate for squirrels because they resemble the elevated environment of a tree, but feature and enclosed space that is free of predators and moisture from rain and humidity. The insulation makes for great nesting materials for squirrels, and they have plenty of room to begin reproducing. Unfortunately, this is not great for homeowners because of the costly damage that squirrels can cause. The number one cause of squirrel damage is not chewing or scratching, but the combined damage of squirrel urine and feces left behind. When technicians inspect your attic, they will be on the lookout for animal waste to not only determine the presence of squirrels, but also to help determine their points of entry and exit.

Trapping and Removing Squirrels

Squirrels are tricky animals to hand-catch, so smart trappers will use cage-style traps that do not harm the animal. Because squirrels tend to nest in larger numbers than raccoons and possums, it may be necessary to use a repeater trap to ensnare your furry friends and remove them from your home. Repeater traps allow the capture of multiple squirrels, and can be set up to trap squirrels entering or leaving the property, depending upon how you place them.

Squirrel Sanitation and Waste Removal

The number one cause of damage from squirrel infestations is the sheer amount of waste generated by these animals. The number one cause of health concerns raised by squirrel infestations is squirrel urine and feces, as well. Squirrels are less likely to scratch or bite you than most other animals due to their extremely excitable nature. However, if left alone, their feces can reduce the quality of air inside the home drastically by generating bacteria spores that spread readily through the air.

When removing squirrel or other animal waste, Wildlife Management Professionals use air masks and waterproof gear in order to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease. We do not recommend attempting to remove any amount of squirrel waste on your own without the proper equipment. Once the waste is removed, in order to restore air quality in the home, our teams use antimicrobial spray and commercial sprayers to cleanse the air and make it breathable again.

Repairing Damage from Squirrels

Squirrels will burrow into insulation in your attic and cause damage with their claws and feces, but before they make it there, they may have caused damage to the exterior of the home that has exposed this area in the first place. Common damage caused by squirrels includes holes in stucco, displaced siding or soffit, and split fascia boards. While squirrels are not as strong as humans, they are tireless and will stop for very little on the way to their goals.

If squirrels are not the initial cause of damage to the exterior of your home, they will certainly exploit pre-existing damage and have the potential to make it much worse. Larger animals like raccoons will often cause damage to the roof or siding of the home that squirrels will also use as an entry or exit point to the attic space. Squirrels that are living in attic spaces will rely heavily on these exploits to enter and leave, and once repaired, it will be much easier to keep squirrels away from your home.

Keeping Squirrels Away For Good

It is not a good idea to hange bird feeders on the porch or near the home. This will attract all manner of wildlife, including possums and raccoons. It is also a good idea to feed your pets inside and not expose their food to the outside, as most trappers use dog and cat foods as bait for nuisance wildlife. If you want to solve your squirrel problem, be proactive and call a professional if it is necessary.