Unwanted Guests In Your Attic? How To Evict Squirrels From Your Home

Squirrels are furry little creatures. If you have them in your yard, you may enjoy watching them scamper around. However, scampering around your yard often ends with them scampering around your attic. That usually happens once they figure out that your attic provides them all the security they need; food, bedding, and protection. Once squirrels find a way into your attic, they can be next to impossible to get rid of. Unfortunately, squirrels don't make the best tenants. In fact, they can be downright destructive; tearing up insulation, chewing through walls, and defecating everywhere. If a family of squirrels has moved into your attic, you'll need to evict them as soon as you can. The following tips will help make the eviction process a little easier.

Make It Harder for Them to Get In

One thing you should know about squirrels is that they'll take any opportunity to get into your home. It's up to you to remove the access points so they have a more difficult time finding the opportunity.

Holes

The size of a squirrel can be deceptive. They don't need a big hole to climb through to get inside your home. In fact, your basic squirrel can fit through a hole about 1"-3" wide, while a tree squirrel only needs a hole about 1" wide. To keep squirrels out, seal any holes you find in your exterior walls. For small holes, you can fill the space with spray foam insulation. Larger holes can be covered with wire mesh, and then sealed with stucco or putty.

Trees

If you've got trees that are near your home, squirrels can use them as a ladder to your roof. Trim the branches so they're about eight feet away from your home. That way, the squirrels won't be able to climb, or jump onto your roof.

Vents

Vents are another easy access point for squirrels. Whether it's the heater vents on your roof, the dryer vent on the side of your house, or the vent that leads into your attic, you'll need to cover them up. Use wire mesh to cover your attic vent and dryer vent. Use vent caps to cover your rooftop heater vents, and chimney top.

Clear Away Food Their Food Supply

Squirrels are always scavenging for food. If they can find easy access to food in your yard, they're going to stay. To prevent permanent relocation into your yard, and home, you need to clear away their food supply. If you have fruit trees, clear away any fruit that falls to the ground. Store pet food in airtight container, and keep the lids on all your trash cans.

Bring in Reinforcements

Once you've done your part to eliminate the squirrel problem, you'll need to bring in the professionals. You'll need to call an exterminator. They'll be able to set traps and remove the squirrels for you. It's a good idea to arrange semi-annual inspections of your home to ensure that the problem doesn't return.

For more information, contact a service like American Pest Control Inc.