So, You've Got a Squirrel Problem?
If you have stumbled upon this article, you may have a problem with squirrels intruding into the attic or other interior spaces of your home. These cute, furry creatures, at first glance, appear to be relatively harmless. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
As shown in our YouTube video above, our customer in Deatsville, Alabama had squirrels that decided to take up residence in the attic. Early Christmas morning, they awoke to loud noises in their kitchen. Items were falling out of the cabinets. When they went to investigate, they were greeted by the unwanted invader!
The customer sprang into action! They herded the squirrel into another room where they forced it to vacate the home through an open window! After this, they called Peskies Pest Control Montgomery! We advised the customer of the dangers of having wildlife inside the attic space of their home. Squirrels can chew wiring which can cause electrical fires! They also leave a huge mess from their foraging and their associated waste. This can be a health hazard to you and your family!
We immediately set up an appointment to inspect the customer’s property. When we arrived, we were able to locate entry sites where the squirrel was able to access the attic from the outside of the home. We recommended trapping and subsequent exclusion!
What Do I Do Now?
Now that you have identified the problem, you can only go up from here! Trapping and exclusion are the only two options that will successfully rid your home of these furry invaders.
There are two types of trapping you may utilize. You may choose to live trap the squirrel or use a trap that immediately kills the rodent. Live trapping can be effective, however, due to local or state statutes, you may be limited on getting rid of the squirrel. In Alabama, you are not legally allowed to transport a wild squirrel. You are also not allowed to relocate the animal across a county line or a major river drainage. Your only two options are to dispatch the animal immediately or release it at the trap site. While releasing the squirrel may seem like a viable option, this is not recommended. Squirrels know how to access your home. Should you release them, they will return using the same method of entry. This is why we recommend dispatching the squirrel on site or, using a trap that will dispatch the squirrel when it is caught.
Once the squirrel is caught, we highly recommend resetting the trap and placing it back at the point of entry. Sometimes, there may be more than one squirrel occupying the structure. You would not want to seal a live animal inside your home. This can lead to a dangerous, damaging situation where the wild animal attempts to exit the structure via an alternative route.
Keeping Squirrels Out For Good!
After you have ensured all of the squirrels have been removed, it is time to seal off the access point. This will ensure that no other rodents will be able to use that entry point to access the structure ever again. We recommend sealing off the entry point in a way that still keeps your home’s proper ventilation functions in mind. For example, if the rodent was accessing your home through a crawlspace or attic vent, we recommend using materials that still ensure proper ventilation of the structure while denying rodent access. Once this is complete, you can sit back and enjoy a rodent free home!
We know that this can seem like a very daunting task! If you feel you need assistance, give us a call today! We would be more than happy to assist you in handling your wildlife issues!
Are you having an issue with other rodents? Click Here!
