You take joy in your home and work hard to keep it in good shape as a homeowner. But there is one problem that can catch even the most careful parent off guard: squirrels in the attic. Even though these fluffy things might not seem dangerous, they can become a big problem if they get into your home. This guide will help you understand why squirrels are living in your attic and what you can do to get rid of them.
The Problem of Squirrel Squatters
Because they are naturally clever and quick, squirrels are great at climbing trees and finding cozy places to live. Your attic is a great place for them to hide, especially when the weather is bad. Why do you think rats might choose your attic?
- Place to hide from the weather: Attics are good places for squirrels to hide because they are dry and warm, and they are protected from rain, wind, and cold weather.
- Lots of Nesting Materials: Squirrels are very good at building nests, and your attic has many things, like insulation, that they can use to make cozy nests.
- Easy Access to Food Sources: Stored things like grains, nuts, and other tasty foods for squirrels can be found in attics, making them a convenient place to find food.
Squirrel Proof: Look for These Signs
If you catch a squirrel problem in your attic early, you can avoid a lot of damage and trouble. Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Strange Sounds: Squirrels are busy during the day and often make noises in the attic by scratching, scurrying, or chewing.
- Droppings: Squirrel droppings are small and look like dark rice grains. They might be near places where people come in or where they live.
- Power lines and Wood: Squirrels have strong teeth and may chew on power lines, wooden supports, or attic insulation.
- Visible Entry Points: Look at the outside of your house for any holes or damage that squirrels could use to get inside.
What could go wrong if squirrels break in?
There are a few things that can go wrong if squirrels get into your attic that might not seem dangerous.
- Structure Damage: The way they chew and build nests all the time can damage your attic’s insulation, wires, and wooden supports.
- Fire Risks: Electrical problems and fire risks can be caused by chewed electrical lines.
- Concerns about health: Squirrel poop can contain dangerous bacteria and pathogens that could make you and your family sick.
- Noise Disturbance: The sounds of rats running around in your attic can make you lose your peace.
Taking Steps to Stop Squirrel Intruders
If you think squirrels are living in your attic, you need to take action right away. You can do the following:
- Find Entry Points: Figure out how squirrels are getting into your attic and block these entry points so they can’t get back in.
- Talk to Experts: If you want to get rid of squirrels humanely, you might want to hire pest control experts. They can safely catch the rats and move them.
- Clean and Fix: Once the squirrels are gone, clean up any mess they left behind, like droppings and insulation that is broken. Fix any damage to the structure.
- Avoid Future Problems: If you want to avoid future squirrel problems, you might want to keep your attic space clean and install vent covers that are squirrel-proof.
In conclusion, having rats in the attic can be a real pain for people who live there. You can keep these unwanted attic invaders out of your home by spotting the signs of an invasion, acting quickly, and taking preventative steps. Remember that taking care of the problem right away will save you time, money, and stress in the long run.
At Squirrel Control Lindsay we have many years of experience dealing with squirrels. We focus on safe and ethical wildlife animal extractions from residential and commercial properties with proven methods in accordance with federal and local rules and regulations