Squirrels in the Attic

While your children may be listening for the sound of hoofbeats from Santa’s reindeer this holiday season, there is another rooftop and attic sound that you probably don’t want to hear. Pesky squirrels, searching for a warm place to stay, will take up residence in warm, dry locations that offer shelter and ample food storage opportunity. Your attic is one popular choice. If the creatures coming from above don’t sound like they are from the North Pole, then it may be time to bring in reinforcements.

About Gray Squirrels
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is a tree-dwelling rodent who likes to spend their winters in high, dark locations like tree nests and cavities. Their typical winter nests are similar to an attic in many ways. They are dry, high in the air, and lined with mosses that are very similar to the consistency of fiberglass insulation. Their nest, called a drey, can be a permanent residence for these rodents. While some other rodents will only nest during breeding season, these squirrels may work out of their homes year-round. They will use these homes for nesting, breeding, and storing food. Gray squirrels are most active during the day. If you are at work and/or school during the day, you may miss most of their activity, which would give them time to set up an extensive nest before you discover their presence.

Determining Point of Entry
Squirrels are tree-dwellers by nature, so they are extremely agile when it comes to climbing wooden siding, navigating roof eaves and discovering any issues with jointery, siding gaps, or other breaches in home integrity. They may enter your home through a single point of entry or create several entrances and exits. They may live singly or in a small group. The best way to deal with a squirrel or squirrel family who have entered your home is to discover all of their points of entry. A wildlife removal company may use a camera or series of cameras to try and find these points. When combined with infrared technology, they can find warm bodies entering and exiting your home. They will also visually inspect your home to try and find areas that look like probable points of current and future entry.

Exclusion Removal
The most humane way to remove a squirrel family from your attic is with the use of excluder devices. These items will allow the squirrels to freely leave, but not to return. These will typically be placed on one or two of the main points of entry/exit, while the rest will be sealed to prevent re-entry via a different route. Once you can be relatively sure that all squirrels have been removed, then these devices can also be removed and the exits sealed. Your local squirrels are then allowed to find a home in your local trees, leaving your rooftop area free for Santa and his reindeer alone.