Squirrels in the Attic

Here is an example of what one person did to try to stop squirrels from getting into the attic.  It didn't work very well, and it looks unattractive. We do NOT recommend this!


A very common animal problem is squirrels in the attic .  People call me because they hear scratching, chirping, jumping and bumping noises coming from above their ceiling.  The problem could be bats, mice, rats or raccoons, but a good percentage of the time it is squirrels.  Squirrels like to be up off the ground, which is why they live in trees, but an attic is a good substitute.  From the attic, they may fall down inside the walls.  I have also found squirrels many, many times in chimneys . 

Squirrels enter human homes looking for shelter, food, warmth, and a nice place to raise their young.  They are not usually aggressive and do not enter homes looking to attack people.  They are just sponges looking for free rent!  It is possible for squirrels to carry rabies and other diseases, but that is not often the case.  Most rabies cases come from bats.  I was bitten by a squirrel myself once, when it ran up my pant leg, but that was just an animal reacting to stress.  They are not usually ferocious animals. (But if you want to know the truth, it hurt a lot more than I thought it would.)  Their front teeth are quite sharp.  Sharp enough to chew through your soffit to get in!

At any rate, you'll want to get rid of the attic squirrels before they do significant damage to your home.  They will make your attic stink of urine and feces , and will destroy, chew, and mat your insulation.  This seriously cripples your home's efficiency and increases your utility bills.  A dead giveaway of animals in your attic is finding pieces of insulation outside on the ground.  And not only do they rip insulation out, they bring their own nesting material in, such as leaves and grass.  If you see signs of animal entry, call me for a complete home inspection.  I can tell you which animals are present just by looking at their droppings, and I have an awesome steel exclusion system to prevent animals from entering your home again! .

Squirrels and rats are guilty of chewing on power lines that run through the attic, which will play havoc with your electrical system.  Of course, the biggest concern with squirrels in the attic is the danger of fire hazard . Many a house fire of unknown origin was ultimately blamed on wires exposed by wild animals.  I have seen dead squirrels and rats that were electrocuted because they chose the wrong wire to chew through.  Can you imagine what would happen if a live wire were to contact something flammable in your attic? Something flammable like, for instance, all that nesting material they hauled in?  It would catch you totally by surprise. 

Speaking of surprises, a woman called me recently who came home from work to find three squirrels in her fireplace .  They had fallen down the chimney and got stuck there.  She didn't want to scare them even worse (they were already pretty frantic) and she didn't want to be bit (naturally) so she called me to remove them.  After I got them out safely, I installed a special chimney cap to keep the problem from recurring, while still allowing her to use the fireplace.  We all get to live happily ever after on that one.

I'm glad that lady thought to call a professional to remove the squirrels.  Sometimes people try all kinds of things to get rid of unwanted animal guests and you know what?  It never works.  Mothballs, Tabasco sauce, urine from a predatory animal.the things people will try stretch as far as the imagination.  In my opinion, it is better to get it done right the first time because if you piddle around with these homemade remedies, it just gives the problem time to grow bigger. 

I use high-quality, very effective traps for squirrels.  There are several styles for different purposes, but basically they are small, steel traps with entry points and no exits.  They are completely humane, and after I catch the squirrels I can usually release them in a wildlife area far away from your home, as permitted by law.  I will absolutely follow the laws and regulations of your area.  I will also do everything I can to make the process easy for you and painless for the squirrels in your attic . I am a full-service operation and even provide clean-up of the infested area to remove waste, bacteria, and odors.  This final step is very important, both for your health and as to not attract more animals with the scents.

Call Allstate Animal Control to schedule an inspection of your home or attic today.  Our excellent service will make you glad you did! .

If you frequently see squirrels on the roof, you may also have squirrels in the attic.