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HOW TO GET RID OF SQUIRRELS

Contact us for professional Squirrel trapping, removal, odor control, and clean-up services. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, check out the suggested techniques below.

    INFORMATION

    Why do we want to keep Squirrels Around?


    Potgut Squirrel Plague -Video

    Squirrels don't just live in forests, they are very helpful in a woodlands renewal process. When squirrels bury nuts and seeds they find on the ground, they put them in energy rich soil. While many of these are recollected for food in the spring, some are left behind and help to plant trees and other vegetation, keeping the forest thriving. Not to mention that their continuous digging helps aerate soil and bring air to other plants.

  1. Why do we get rid of Squirrels?
    Squirrels are similar to raccoons in a lot of their behavior, but they're smaller so that they have more access points into homes and other structures. It is also important to remember that like many animals, though occurrences are rare, squirrels can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and others. These diseases can cause symptoms as mild as sickness and as critical as kidney failure and death. On a less serious note, the real reason people want to get rid of squirrels is because of the damage they can do to their homes. Once a squirrel has made a nest in your home, they will store a lot of dried fruit and nuts which doesn't feed just squirrels, but also builds a food source for other animals (mice, rats, raccoons, etc.) as well. This food storage also creates weight that can become so heavy it damages siding and/or ceilings. In places where the squirrel's food storage gets this heavy it can bend and break soffit, siding, sheet rock, and other areas it weighs down. Squirrels can also open up entrances that other animals can use to gain access to your home also. Due to the constant growth of their teeth, squirrels will chew on whatever they get their hands on. This includes wires in your attic that can cause electrical shortages and house fires; they will also chew through swamp cooler water lines that can cause water leaks and flooding.

  2. Dead Squirrels


    Like all things dead, squirrels die and attract flies who leave eggs on the body which eventually bring about maggots. Along with all of these horribly awful things, it always smells and (depending on the size and location of the carcass) it can smell up to 6 months after death, depending on the rate of decomposition. Dead squirrels should be placed in a plastic bag and taken to the burn plant to be incinerated to avoid the spread of disease. If a squirrel is dead on your property, follow those same directions.
  3. Dead Squirrel removal on City or County Property


    If a squirrel is dead on city property like a road or other, you can clean it up if you'd like or it would be better to call your local humane society or Best Friends of Animals Society. We do not remove dead animals off of city and/or county properties.
  4. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SQUIRREL REMOVAL


    1. Squirrels like to dig into areas like siding that they will chew and gnaw their way into to have their young
    2. If a squirrel has young in your home, you might not be able to remove them until they grow to a size where they can survive outside of the nest
    3. Holes that squirrels rip open for entrances can be used by various other animals like rats, mice, raccoons, bats, woodpeckers, etc. to gain entrance to your home
  5. KILL OR KEEP ALIVE?
    Before you go and kill a squirrel it's important that you check your local laws, it may be prohibited. It's also important to remember that squirrels are beneficial to the land around you and, unless inhibiting your home, will cause you little harm or bother. It is important to control squirrel numbers on your property so that the damage that they DO cause is minimal. If you trap a squirrel, it's best to release it at least ten miles away from your home near a natural river, lake, pond, or other suitable location. If you are unsure about your squirrel problem, it is best to call in one of the professionals listed on this site.

  6. Steps to getting rid of Squirrels:

    1. Why We Want to Keep Squirrels Out
    2. Squirrels, once inside of a structure, can do more harm than good. They can tear out insulation in attics, chew holes in walls and various other things, and can cause electrical shortages and fires by chewing on and through wiring in your home. The food they store can also warp walls and ceilings and attract other animals to your home. When outside, squirrels can damage plants, trees, and flowers by chewing on them and occasionally eating them. Squirrels are a part of the rodent family and act a lot like rats in their behavior.

    3. When to Get Rid of Squirrels
    4. When you discover you have a squirrel problem, it's best to get rid of it BEFORE the squirrel(s) has its young. If squirrels in their infancy (before their fur is developed) are inside of the home they cannot be removed from the nest and they can't lose their mother. If they do they will most likely die and rot inside of the nest and your home. If young squirrels are inside of your home, they shouldn't be removed until they reach 10-12 weeks of age.

    5. Places to Check for Squirrels Entrances
    6. Squirrels can gain entrance to a structure through any hole that is about 2x2 inches and larger (even smaller depending on the squirrel). They will also use old vents, they can chew through piping and types of mesh, along roof lines, rain gutters, and any holes in wood or metal around your home. If you've ever had a raccoon or woodpecker problem, check the area where the animal dug around the home and where the bird may have pecked holes near the roof line. Squirrels will use these areas to access many areas of your home.

    7. Block Squirrels Entrance
    8. Squirrel entrances need to be blocked by heavy duty steel, metal, or thick wood. You can also use wire mesh to block off entry but remember that squirrels can occasionally chew through this.

    9. How to Identify Squirrels Droppings
    10. Squirrel and rat droppings look very similar at a glance so to tell the difference, you may have to get a little closer. Squirrel droppings are typically bigger than a rats and have a rounder shape similar to a black bean. They are also most often found in clusters rather than scattered.

    11. Information about Squirrels Droppings
    12. Squirrel poop can be hazardous to pets and, in cases, to people. Squirrel droppings can contain diseases that can cause a variance of symptoms and shouldn't be taken lightly.

    13. Cleaning up Squirrels Feces
    14. If you have a squirrel problem, you have a poop problem too. When cleaning up squirrel feces, it is important to take precaution and wear gloves, a respirator, a mask, and possibly even a full body suit. It is best to call in a professional, but if you insist on doing it yourself you should pick up all large droppings by (gloved) hand, and vacuum the rest with a special HEPA vacuum. Then, spray the attic with a cleaner that will break down the waste and remove any danger.

    HOW TO

    1. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic

      How to Get rid of Squirrels in Attic or Roof -Video

      We prefer to trap squirrels once they're large enough to move into traps, babies don't trap well because they don't leave the nest until they've grown their fur after about 10-12 weeks. When trapping squirrels, it is important to remember that they may have more than one entrance. After you locate all or as many of the entrances that you can, block off all but the main entrance and set a trap there. You can use something as simple as a cage trap if you like or one way vents and doors that allow the animals to leave the area but not to come back in. It is important to remove the squirrels so that they don't cause any damage to the attic like torn insulation and boxes, warped ceilings, and even electric fires from chewing on wires. Once all squirrels are removed, make sure to use a heavy duty metal or wood to seal of the entrance so it can't be reused by squirrels, or any other animal.

    2. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Chimney

      If a squirrel falls into a chimney, there may be more than one place it could have fallen into depending on the fireplace and chimney you have in your home. From the chimney, squirrels can get into attics and various other nooks and crannies in the home. It is important to have a well-made chimney cap protecting your chimney to prevent these incidents. If a squirrel has fallen into the fireplace and is now in your living room, it should only need a little encouragement to get it out. Sometimes, by opening a door or window, they will leave without hesitation. If the squirrel is trapped somewhere inside the chimney, it is best to call in one of our professionals listed on this site.


    3. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the House

      Squirrels can gain entry to your home through various holes, but they can also come in through open doors and windows. Once a squirrel is loose in your house, it can cause a lot of damage to inside plants, furniture, and other items. Squirrels should only need a little harassment and an open door or window to get back outside. Then again, you may have to set special trapping and venting depending on where it is hiding.

    4. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in Walls

      Squirrels will get into walls from outside holes, and even dig into it themselves from attics and crawl spaces. While squirrels are excellent climbers, occasionally drywall is to slick for them to climb and they can't get back out. If you are hearing scratching near the bottom of a wall, it is likely that something is stuck. If there are squirrels in your wall, you can find the entrance and set up one way doors, or you may have to cut into the wall and remove the animal by hand. It is highly recommended that you call a professional to deal with squirrels in the wall because they may have to search for a nest elsewhere.

    5. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in a Vent of the House

      Once a squirrel is inside of a vent in the home, your best chance is to trap it IF it doesn't have any young. It's best to use a cage trap unless the squirrel is unable to access the interior of the home from the venting; then one way vents are another option that allows the squirrel to get out but not back in. You can also use an exit trap that lets the squirrel leave, but then contains it inside of a cage. This gives a better opportunity for relocation. Once a squirrel(s) is removed, make sure to safely block off the entrance so no more squirrels or other animals can use it again.

    6. How to Get Rid of Squirrels on the Roof

      If squirrels are causing a ruckus on your roof, it may be time to trim down trees and bushes that come near to the roof. We, when dealing with squirrel control, also use a product called a Slip Sheet that we set up in places that squirrels are climbing up posts, columns, or any other climbing area to get to the roof (we can even wrap the tree). This product, that we use and sell, makes so that the area is too slick for the squirrel to get a grip and climb upward. If squirrels continue to be a problem after taking these two measures, you may need to trap and relocate them.

    7. How to Get Rid of Squirrels on your Porch

      Squirrels will crawl underneath a porch to make a nest for their young and to protect themselves from predators. They may also be able to gain access to various parts of your home from here, so make sure to check that this is not possible. The best way to remove them is by setting up traps and one way doors and removing them and their young from the area. Remember, the safest distance is 10 miles away or more for relocating squirrels. Once squirrels are removed, block off the entrance with heavy duty wood or metal to ensure that no other animal will use it.

    8. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Barnyard/property

      If you are having troubles with squirrels defacing your property, your best hope is to trap and relocate the animal ten miles or more away from your home. We often relocate squirrels to areas near a river, pond, or other waterways.

    9. How to Get Rid of Squirrels in crawl spaces

      Squirrels will get into crawlspaces from small holes around piping and even from areas around the foundation. From here they can get into walls and other places in your home. It is important that you trap and remove the squirrels BEFORE they have young, once they do the removal process can get complicated and it will become better to call in a professional. Once removed, animals should be relocated about 10 miles away from your home and near a waterway (check your local laws); their entrance needs sealed to prevent future use.

    10. How to Get Squirrels out of Window Wells, Garbage Cans, and Dumpsters

      Either tip the garbage can or dumpster over so the animal can crawl out, or install a low pitched ramp like a rough 2x6 or 2x12 piece of wood at a slight angle so that the squirrel can use it to climb out.

    NEED HELP GETTING RID OF SQUIRRELS?

    If you are having problems, or don't want to deal with the squirrels yourself after reading this article, please give us a call at 1-888-488-7720, you can also contact us through email. You can also call one of the technicians from your area and they can help you figure out a solution. REMEMBER: Squrriels can be dangerous and working with them can be very complicated; it's best to hire a professional. Check out our YouTube channel and our website, AllstateAnimalControl.com, or use other Google resources to help you solve your problem. We do offer coaching solutions. Please send digital photos of your problem and we can coach you over the phone and ship you products for a fee.

(Artwork by Sharon Davis. Contact us for her info.)

(Artwork by Sharon Davis. Contact us for her info.)