CritterChatter™ Blog
Squirrel Control Blog
What Kinds of Damage Do Ground Squirrels and Tree Squirrels Cause? How Can Critter Control Help Prevent This Damage?
Tree squirrels are active animals that can create a host of damage concerns. In urban settings, tree squirrels use man made structures to build nests and rear young. Attics spaces, chimneys, eaves, dormers and gutter areas are the prime locations for squirrels to inhabit. Since squirrels have teeth that grow continually throughout their lifetime, they must chew to keep their teeth short and sharp. Tree squirrels chew on a host of things including wood trim, fascia boards, electrical wiring and roof joists. The damage that tree squirrels create can leave homeowners frustrated and scratching their heads. The costs associated with repairing these damaged areas can be very extensive. Electrical wiring can also create short circuits and possible fire damage.
Critter Control can develop a strategy to solve tree squirrel problems. Critter Control can remove or exclude the nuisance squirrels from the structure, as well as, provide the services needed to repair damage and to prevent further infestation. Critter Control personnel installs chimney covers, roof vent covers and welded screens to vents. Critter Control can also provide a whole host of other preventative repairs that will eliminate future invasions and reduce damage concerns.
- Mike Faler
Critter Control of Columbus
Critter Control of Dayton
Critter Control of Toledo
What is the best way to keep squirrels out of the attic? What can be done to prevent squirrels from entering fireplaces?
With metal flues with round chimney caps, there is still a chance that squirrels may fall between the inner (smoke) flue and the outer containment flue (flue within a flue). These flue systems are designed to meet code and do not easily come apart. A squirrel that has fallen between the flues may come up a rope or other item dropped down to the fire box / fireplace. If your chimney is as above, then wrap the area below the splash guard (bottom of the chimney screen) to the crown to prevent entry with wire mesh.
- Ed Carrow
Critter Control of Tampa Bay
How can homeowners identify if they have squirrels in the attic? How does Critter Control effectively keep squirrels from entering homes?
Homeowners should be able to identify squirrel activity a few different ways. One way is to keep track of the time you hear the noises. Squirrel will generally make noises about an hour before sunrise and then later about an hour after sunset. Not much heard during the evening hours as they are day timers like you and I. Another way to tell if you have Squirrels is simply look for evidence around the house like insulation on the ground or chew marks on the fascia or trim. These are some good indicators of Squirrel activity. If the homeowner is more diligent a simple attic inspection will tell all. Look for tracks/trails in the insulation or duct work also look for droppings and chewing. Squirrel droppings look teardrop in shape and are easy to distinguish from mice dropping which are more like grains of rice.
Critter Control will trap and remove squirrels from your attic and seal up entry holes with the proper materials, such as sheet metal, hardware cloth, steel wool and industrial foam. Trapping is sometimes not needed but coupled with exclusion work this is the most effective way. Some Squirrels that are born in a attic have what we refer to as "imprint". They will always seek to find shelter in a attic as oppose to building nest in trees. These Squirrels almost always have to be removed to assure no further damage is done.
- Mike Rossi
Critter Control of Greater Nashville
