Year after year home owners from all over Canada discover they have squirrels and other wildlife in their home - and that these animals have lived in their home for quite some time.
Once inside your home or business, they will shred insulation and gnaw on most anything including electrical wiring, causing significant damage to property and a hazard to people.
That’s why knowing the signs you need squirrel removal is actually quite important.
Sign #1: You hear strange noises in your home
The two most common sounds you’ll hear are either a bunch of scampering and jumping sounds in your attic, or the sound of persistent scratching if one of them have become stuck in your wall cavities or down chimney your sweep.
Sign #2: You see squirrel droppings here and there
Squirrel droppings are quite similar to and can be mistaken for bat droppings. If you see droppings in your attic or anywhere inside your home including your garage, you’re going to need removal and control services. Remember, like most wild animal feces, there is the chance of contracting salmonella if you’re not careful or if you don’t practice proper hygiene and cleanliness after handling it.
Sign #3: Damaged entry points
Most people don’t know that squirrels, like raccoons and mice can almost chew through any material – at least the materials that most Calgary homes are built with!
Their teeth and chewing capabilities are quite strong but their entry points have different characteristics over the other animals. Mice will sneak in through small holes, raccoons will create larger holes, but squirrels can get through smaller holes which at first glance don’t even seem to be there - until an actual inspection is done. You may see damage around the fascia boards, shingle damage, damage to eaves troughs and outer panels with all kinds of damage along the roof line.
Sign #4: You see interior damage
The most common squirrel infestation is in your attic. Squirrels find this area of your home to be particularly welcoming when your attic insulation is readily available. Squirrels will tear up this insulation, shredding it to pieces and making it less effective. Shredded duct work is also a likely outcome. With time, your attic will begin to emanate the foul odor of squirrel urine. Their burrows will also create an easy avenue for bats, insects, and other pests to enter your home or simply create a leaky roof. If the squirrel ends up dying in your attic, you’ll forget about the odor of urine, as the smell of dead squirrel causes headaches and nausea. The greatest danger, however, is the fire hazard they create. Squirrels will gnaw on anything and everything. If it finds wall space where your electrical wiring is hiding, the damaged wiring can set your house ablaze.
Sign #5: Your shingles are chewed and ripped up
When we say squirrels are determined animals, we mean it. In an hour or less they can chew through a layer of shingles and gain entry into your attic to start nesting. If you see shingle damage done by squirrels - you’re going to have to do two things, one is the process of humanely removing the squirrel and securing the entry point and, two, you’ll need attic repair.
Sign #6: You see squirrel footprints
It’s pretty easy to determine if the footprints you’re seeing are from squirrels or not. The front paws have four fingers and are slightly shorter than the hind paws which have five fingers. You’ll see tracks in the snow, on your deck, in your garage, in your attic and even in your garden. You won’t always see squirrel footprints but if you do, just be aware that there’s a potential problem.
Sign #7: You smell a strange odor in your home
Sadly sometimes squirrels fall into gaps behind the walls and in the attic. If they’re not heard scratching for a way out, they eventually die. That’s when you’ll start smelling a pungent odour coming from somewhere in your home.
Sign #8: You see “water damage” on your walls and ceilings
The longer squirrels live in your attic or walls, the longer they're going to leave behind their trails of feces and urine.
Sign #9: What should you do if you start seeing damage to your ceiling or walls?
At this point the problem is urgent and you need to call the experts. You’re going to need to do a lot of repairs and also find out how the squirrels are getting into your home. Less common, although still a real possibility, squirrel infestation poses a serious health risk to humans. Squirrels are primary carriers of tick fever, encephalitis, and rabies; insects also commonly live on squirrels who can import all sorts of nasty micro-organisms and disease. This is one of the reasons homeowners should never attempt their own squirrel control solutions. While squirrels have become accustomed to humans, ones that appear particularly fearless around you may be rabid and should definitely be avoided. I have had many squirrels jump out at me when I inspect attics during Home Inspections!
What to do if you have squirrels:
Squirrel control is a job for professionals. You should never take a squirrel problem on by yourself. While you might be able to trap and/or kill one squirrel, more effective and humane -+treatments will prevent problems such as dead offspring rotting in your attic or crawlspace. The health risk and the common pitfalls that arise from taking the matter into your own hands simply aren’t worth it.
Call a specialist specifically trained to handle squirrel infestations.