Professional Squirrel removal - how we get squirrels out of attics

“Squirrel in the attic” is one of the most common calls that we receive in the cooler months. The Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport all lie in what ecologist refer to as the Oak Hickory Region where nut trees are abundant and squirrels reap their benefits. This region is home to several squirrel species. Gray squirrels and flying squirrels are responsible for most of our squirrel related customer calls. Fox Squirrels, though present in our area, do not seem to create the same quantity of havoc.

One thing that squirrel customers all have in common is quality squirrel habitat outside their home. Customers who have well developed forest outside their home are several times more likely to experience squirrel problems. Large trees, especially those that produce what wildlife managers refer to as “hard mast” or acorns, provide the best habitat. These large trees provide all that the squirrel needs to survive. However, the warmth of an attic in the cooler months is very attractive and the squirrels will desert their natural homes for better accommodations.

Customers who call us have often experienced problems that come with these fuzzy invaders. Chewed wiring, chewed woodwork, accumulated feces, and carcasses of deceased animals are commonly found in homes infested by squirrels. If the invasion has been long standing, these problems will be severe. Squirrels can live in a home for years before suddenly encountering an extremely offensive smell. Sometimes the carcass can be recovered if it lies in accessible parts of the attic. Unfortunately though, many times the squirrels has died in a wall or other part of the attic that is completely inaccessible. Tearing out walls to remove the squirrel or squirrels is not feasible. It is usually impossible to tell exactly where the carcass is. “Speculative wall destruction” would have to occur to find the rodent

This soffit was packed with a combination of leaves, feces, shredded insulation, and shredded foam ventilation panels.

Flying Squirrel feces accumulated on attic insulation

Disease Risk

Wildlife species often serve as disease reservoirs from which the diseases can be transmitted to human populations. According to the Center for Disease Control, squirrels are not common transmitters of rabies, but can transmit Leptospirosis and Tularemia among others. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can lead to meningitis, kidney problems, liver failure, and possibly death. Leptospirosis has several vectors for transmission including bite by an infected tick, breathing in the bacteria, skin contact with infected animals, and drinking infected water. People with Leptospirosis may not exhibit symptoms.

Symptoms for Tularemia vary depending on the route of infection. Contamination can occur through contact with infected animals, inhalation of contaminated dust or aerosols, tick or deerfly bites, and inhalation of contaminated water. Tularemia can result in death; but is treatable with antibiotics. Generally speaking, these diseases are transmitted though contact with the feces and urine and care should be taken any time contact is made with wildlife or their bodily fluids.

Wiring destruction

Wiring destruction is another reality for homeowners with squirrel problems. Though it is impossible to truly understand the mind of a squirrel, it is not my opinion that squirrels actually search out wiring to chew on. There is no nutritive value in electrical insulation. But, as animals pass through walls, ceilings, and floors and encounter wiring that blocks their path their first instinct is to chew. It is also likely that chewing on wiring and other parts of a home produces a pleasant sensation for the squirrel…..until they complete the circuit and are shocked. Bare wires create a potential for fire.

Unfortunately, squirrels and other small rodents can reach areas of the house where it is impossible for humans to access. So, once wiring damage is done it may be hard to impossible to certify with certainty the degree of damage. You may need to contact an electrician to help with this.

The amount of damage done to wiring is related to the amount of time that squirrels are in the home and the number of squirrels. Homes where the problem has been overlooked or ignored for years have the greatest risk of wiring damage. Dealing with this problem promptly is important. Post exclusion monitoring might also be a good idea to make sure that the squirrels haven’t snuck past your defenses.

Wiring insulation chewed away by squirrels

Do it Yourself Squirrel Removal

We often see evidence of failed attempts to solve the problem when we reach the client’s home. Sometimes, box traps are set inside attics or outside homes. Customers sometimes catch an offending animal which is then released “in the country”; but soon another animals replaces the first. I have even seen bullet holes in the face of homes of extremely frustrated clients in a desperate attempt to “terminate” their problem. To completely rid a home of squirrels we use specialized squirrel excluders/traps in addition to proper sealing materials and techniques. To completely exclude squirrels all entrances must be sealed. Only sealing the preferred or current entrance will only send the squirrels around the home to an alternate entrance. Experience in this area, makes finding and sealing all entrances easier and more certain.

Fall Risk

Squirrel exclusion is extremely dangerous work. This may seem silly at first. After all, how dangerous could a little squirrel be? Squirrels themselves really aren’t that dangerous. But, they are able to reach the highest of heights with ease and people cannot. A fall from even moderate heights is often fatal. A fall from 15 to 20 feet carries a fatality rate of about 50%; and your odds are lower if you land on your head. Falling onto concrete also reduces your chances. Attaching exclusion devices usually requires that the installer be “two hands off” at a height that would likely be lethal in the event of a fall. OSHA recognizes that ladder risk increases greatly when users have anything less than three point contact with the ladder (two feet and one hand). The installer must first ask himself how he or she is going to hold the exclusion device, hold a tool, and hold onto the ladder. To avoid this risk, we use a special harness system. This give us a level of safety and security that the common homeowner does not have. Squirrel exclusion is easier to do wrong than to do right and it might be a good idea to call a professional. If you would like us to help you give us a call.

Exclusion a Must

(Endless Supply of Squirrels) Gray squirrels have, on average, four babies per litter with two litters in a good year. That means that one female produces on average eight young per year with the potential for twice that. Females can reproduce once they reach one year old. Seemingly insignificant food sources provided by humans (birdfeeders, etc.) can help squirrels survive difficulty times. Feeders may be located on neighbor’s property eliminating an individual homeowner’s ability to stop this perpetual food supply. All this can eliminate population bottle necks and increase the population of squirrels available to invade your home. If you have good squirrel habitat in your neighborhood (you probably do if you have squirrels in your home) you undoubtedly have much more than one female producing young in the area. Fortunately, things don’t always go perfectly and squirrels never reach their full population potential. If they did, we would be swimming in squirrels.

You are are probably starting to realize what you are up against. Even if it were possible to remove all the squirrels in your area, there are plenty of other squirrels on nearby properties ready to migrate into your area and into your home. You can see that there is an endless supply of squirrels out there ready to invade your home. Hauling a couple of squirrels “to the country” will not solve your problem. A home must be properly secured and sealed to end the problem.