Last Updated: May 2016
Squirrel in the Attic?
An attic provides a safe shelter for a squirrel, and usually meets all of their living requirements: shelter, safety and food. The first step if you have a squirrel in the attic is to identify if there really is a squirrel in the attic as it may be a raccoon or another wildlife animal. Next, you’ll need to determine how to remove the squirrel in the attic. Last, you need to know how to prevent future squirrels in the attic.
How to know you have a Squirrel in the Attic
Three common ways to identify if you have a squirrel in the attic is by sight, noise, damage.
Sight
The easiest way to know you have a squirrel is to spot it. You may see it entering or leaving however this could be rare as they are very skilled at staying hidden. Squirrels are active early in the morning and make a lot of noise, this may be the best time to spot them. If you do see a squirrel in the attic have them removed immediately.
Noise
The most common way to know you have a squirrel in the attic is to hear it. Noise is the primary way our customers know they have a squirrel in the attic. We get calls early in the morning as the squirrel in the attic can be a definite nuisance. A squirrel in the attic can be very loud, move fast and keep you awake at night compared to a raccoon who moves slower and are heavier. Raccoons are nocturnal and only make noise mainly at night were a squirrel will make noises throughout the day.
Damage
You can also identify a squirrel problem by the damage they cause. They may destroy anything that gets in their way in their search for food. They will knock over garbage cans, break glass, and destroy property. The longer you have a squirrel in the attic the more damage they will cause. Having a squirrel for two weeks will cause a lot of damage to your attic as they can chew through the wood at the side of your house or chew through soffits to gain access. They don’t just make one entryway they make several and having several holes on your roof affects the energy costs in your house. In some cases, squirrels chew on electric wires which can cause a fire hazard. As soon as you notice a squirrel in the attic you should have them removed immediately! For more information on squirrel damages read our Squirrel Removal page.
What to do if you have a squirrel in the attic?
If you have a squirrel in the attic you have two options to remove it: Do it yourself squirrel removal or hire a professional like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated to remove the squirrel in the attic for you.
Do it yourself squirrel removal
Gimmick Products:
This involves using sprays, loud music, sound devices and other gimmicks to scare away the squirrel. Although these methods may work temporarily, the squirrel usually returns.
Eliminate Attractants
Other ways you can resolve a squirrel problem without trapping the animal is to eliminate whatever is attracting the squirrel to your property – garbage, pet food, a pond, tree branches etc. Assess you house for weak points where they may enter and exit.
There is a lot of dangers with do it yourself squirrel removal and you may spend a lot of time and money on gimmicks that don’t work. We highly recommend removing squirrels professionally by someone who is a trained expert with experience. If you are going to try to remove the squirrel yourself please read up on the Ministry of Natural Resources Laws. It’s important to make sure the safety and welfare of the animal is considered at all times. Check out out Squirrel Removal page for more information.
Baby Squirrels in the Attic
If you have a squirrel in the attic, be aware that depending on the time of the year, there is a high chance for baby squirrels to be present as well. If you have baby squirrels in the attic, do not remove them by yourself, hire a professional. Mother squirrels are extremely protective of there young. You will not want to enter an attic with a mother squirrel and babies as a wild animal in a confined space protecting her young can be dangerous! Read our method for baby squirrel removal on our Squirrel Removal page.
Prevent future Squirrel in the Attic
To prevent future animals entering your home SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated provides wildlife prevention for your home. Wildlife Prevention helps keep them out and is a very smart move to save you money in the future. Read our Wildlife Prevention page for more information.