At first glance, squirrels are furry little creatures that many find adorable. However, despite their harmless appearance, they can cause real damage, particularly if they get into your attic.
To prevent damage to your home, it’s important to know about the risks of squirrel infestations, how to prevent them and how to get rid of squirrels if they do get into your attic.
The risks of having squirrels in the attic
When a squirrel gets into the attic, it’s usually looking for a warm place to nest, particularly as summer draws to a close.
Here are a few of the problems squirrels can cause:
- Squirrels can damage your home’s insulation, either by trampling it or by using it to build their nests.
- With damaged insulation, your electricity consumption may increase, giving you an unpleasant surprise when your bill arrives.
- Squirrel droppings may soak into the insulation and the wood of your home, threatening the health of the occupants.
- Squirrels are rodents. Their teeth never stop growing, so they need to chew on hard objects to maintain their length. If they gnaw through electrical wires, they can become a fire hazard.
The extent of the damage squirrels cause will depend on how long they stay in your attic. That’s why it’s important to have a squirrel exterminator deal with the problem as quickly as possible to limit the risks and the costs associated with repairing the damage to your home.
Do you have a question? Take advantage of a free consultation with our experts!
How to prevent squirrels from getting into the attic
Squirrels are very agile animals that can easily gain access to your roof and attic. Taking pest prevention measures will help you lower the risk of an infestation.
Limit access to your house
To limit access to your roof and make it more difficult for squirrels to reach, we recommend cutting the tree branches closest to your house. This will prevent the creatures from being able to move easily from one to the other.
To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, combine it with other simple methods for keeping squirrels away from your home. If you need help or advice, don’t hesitate to consult a professional.
Keep food sources out of reach
To get rid of squirrels in the attic or otherwise, you need to avoid feeding them, voluntarily or involuntarily. If you have a bird feeder, make sure it is out of reach of squirrels and other rodents, who will be quick to steal the seeds it contains.
Also, be careful not to leave compost and garbage cans visible and unprotected outside your home.
Close off all entry points to your home
Squirrels can also target mouldy surfaces and gnaw at them to gain access to your house. It’s best to clean gutters regularly, add squirrel repellent and check the condition of the roofing.
If you notice any openings that pests could slip through, call us to benefit from our top-notch home sealing and caulking services.
Call an exterminator to get rid of squirrels in the attic
Even with the most stringent precautions, no one is completely protected from a squirrel infestation. The best you can do is to take what preventive measures you can and contact a professional at the first sign of an intrusion (noises coming from above, droppings, holes, etc.).
At Elite Pest Control, we offer free estimates to help you get through these unfortunate situations with equanimity. Simply fill out our contact form and one of our technicians will be dispatched to your home. Equipped with a thermal camera, they will conduct an in-depth inspection of your attic, identify the entry points and propose a comprehensive extermination plan to put an end to the infestation once and for all.
