Squirrel Damage Control for Your Home

Each year, squirrel damage costs millions in repairs for homeowners across the country. However, you do not have to be the next victim of these costly pests. There are some simple, yet effective methods that can help ensure that your home and investment is protected and your pockets aren’t emptied. In this article, we will discuss methods to control squirrel damage in and around your home.

Why Squirrels Invade Homes

These are numerous species of squirrels, with the most common being the tree squirrel. This is primarily due to the fact that these animals are very abundant across the country and they are constantly in search of new, safe shelters to live in and raise their young. Although their first choice for a shelter is typically trees, brush and other natural cover, they are also always searching for better areas. These areas need to offer warmth, protection from the elements and from predators. Attics and homes strike off all of these requirements, making them the perfect candidate for a squirrel infestation. This infestation will quickly lead to destruction and damage around one’s home, making for a costly bill to the owner. Squirrel damage can manifest in many ways, such as:

• Teeth marks in wires, wood, and walls
• Chewed electrical wires
• Insulation damage
• Air vent damage
• Foul odors & fecal matter damage

What Makes My House More Susceptible to Squirrel Damage?

Squirrels are very clever and agile creations. They can find access into a home very easily and can fit through a gap that is only a 1″ in diameter. Think of all the spaces around your home that have that! Some of the primary ways that squirrels gain access to a home is by using tree limbs. If there are overhanging tree limbs above a house, squirrels can easily jump right onto the roof and find their way inside. Also, bird feeders will attract squirrels for one obvious reason – Food! Bird feeders are known to be messy, leaving seeds all over the ground to further entice squirrels to one’s yard. They can also climb feeders and use them to gain access to a home, too. Another way squirrels gain access to a home is by using gutters as “roadways” and searching for a small hole or construction gap that leads them right into a warm attic. One final issue that leads to squirrel damage is wood rot around a home. Wood rot makes the wood weaker and soft to where squirrels can chew right through.

How Do I Prevent Squirrel Damage?

In the last section, we discussed ways in which a home is more susceptible to squirrel invasions. Below, we cover the three main access methods that squirrels use & steps one can to take in order to prevent new or additional squirrel damage to their home:

• Trees:
  • Keep ivy and tree branches trimmed away from your house
  • Removing tree branches can remove easy access to your home however the squirrels may just use your drain pipes as trees to access your gutters and roof. However, trimming your trees also provides these other benefits:
    • Pruning can boost healthy growth on all types of trees and can encourage flowering on blooming varieties
    • Remove damaged branches that could pose a nuisance or cause damage in storms or high winds
• Gutters:
  • Clean gutters of acorns, nuts, pinecone and leaves to encourage squirrels to stay in trees
  • Seal construction gaps behind gutters to prevent easy access for squirrels
  • Install QUALITY gutter guards. PLEASE NOTE: Many cons and non-reputable animal removal “specialists” will be cheap and install non-steel guards that squirrels can chew right through.

• Wood Rot:
  • Repairing wood rot can help keep squirrels from invading your home
  • If the damage has already allowed the squirrel to access your home, then you should call a professional to handle repairs

What To Do Next

It is important to get rid of squirrels as soon as possible in order to avoid squirrel damage including chewed electrical wires and insulation damage, not to mention the severe health issues that can occur if they are around you and your family. Varmint Gone identifies all entry points, evicts or exterminates any existing rodents and seals holes after we are certain all animals have been removed from your home or business.