DIY squirrel removal from your home’s attic is possible if you are up for the task at hand. This guide will walk you through the squirrel removal process. You may find that the process is best handled by a professional wildlife control company.
STEP ONE – Locate How Squirrels Are Entering Your Home
- Roof vents, ridge cap vents, gable vents, soffit vent and construction gaps occurring between the roof sheeting and fascia board are the most popular entry points.
- Construction gaps are particularly troublesome. They allow squirrels to use your rain gutter to push up on the bottom of the roof shingle and slip into the house wherever these gaps exist.
- Sometimes, the easiest way to find access holes is to enter your attic and walk around the perimeter of the space looking for bright lights showing into the attic.
- Do not forget to take a flashlight with you. Check if you can see the back of the roof shingles below the bottom of the roof sheeting. If so, you will need to cover all these areas with a galvanized steel flashing or galvanized steel drip-edge.
An attic space can be extremely dangerous, slipping off trusses and falling through the sheetrock ceiling can cause broken bones and the fall can even be fatal. DIY squirrel removal can be dangerous contact a professional squirrel removal company who carries liability insurance on their employees.
STEP TWO – Check for Baby Squirrels Before Doing DIY Squirrel Removal
Mother squirrels will have babies twice a year, the first batch will be born between January and May and second batch will be born in the fall between August and early October.
- When searching for nests, look for areas where insulation, leaves or other yard debris is mounded into a large clump.
- Nests are typically built near an entry point but can be anywhere in the attic.
- As you approach a nest with very young babies, you may sometimes see movement in the nest or hear some soft “peeps”.
- It is best not to disturb or touch them at this time since the mother may abandon them to die causing even more problems.
If baby squirrels are present, you should probably not do DIY squirrel removal. Its best to contact a professional squirrel removal company in this situation. A trained professional will know how to work around the baby squirrels until they are ready to leave on their own with their mother. They may also have a list of human “foster” parents able to raise orphaned or vacated baby squirrels. These foster parents will hand-raise them until they are able to release them back into nature.
STEP THREE – Seal All Entry Points Except for Main Hole
- Establish which access hole is the main entry point; do not close this hole.
- Seal ALL other holes with galvanized steel sheeting or heavy wire, squirrels can simply chew through wood, plastic, aluminum or steel wool.
- Make special effort to cover construction gaps between roof sheeting and fascia completely and securely with galvanized roofing drip edge, which can be found at a home improvement store, if this area on your home is not secure.
Knowing what areas to secure and how to do it while hanging onto a ladder 40 feet in the air, can be quite a challenge. DIY squirrel removal may not be as easy as you thought. Sometimes you have to admit when it may be best to hire a professional wildlife control company that specializes in squirrel removal services.
STEP FOUR – Build & Install DIY Squirrel Removal One-Way
- Build a squirrel one-way gate to remove the squirrels from your home through the remaining hole.
Part 1/2 How To Build A One Way Trap For catching Squirrels In The Attic Trapping
Part 2/2 How To Build A One Way Trap For catching Squirrels In The Attic Trapping - Secure the one-way gate to the remaining squirrel access hole.
- Secure galvanized steel mesh around the one-way gate so the squirrels can’t chew around it to enter your home.
STEP FIVE – Secure Main Access Hole From Squirrels
- After 2-3 days have past, verify no squirrels are visible in attic
- Secure the last hole or gap with galvanized steel.
Don’t forget to paint everything so your DIY squirrel removal project looks professional. If you are not sure you can complete the repairs without negatively affecting the value of your house, then you should contact a professional wildlife control company that is known for quality work. Not all companies are equal, check their reviews and look for comments about the quality of their work.
STEP SIX – Get Your Attic Back to Pre-Squirrel Condition
Some feel they can handle DIY squirrel removal up to this point, but you are not done! If you do not address the issues within your attic left behind by the squirrels, then you may have bigger issues on your hands in the future.
- Vacuum feces and nesting materials from your attic insulation. Feces left in the attic during hot months can develop mold spores which can threaten the health of your family. Pinecones and dry twigs are potential fire hazards if left in your attic.
- Remove any urine contaminated insulation. If you are smelling foul odors in your attic, then you may need to remove the top layer of your insulation. In some cases, it may be best to replace all the insulation.
- Fluff your remaining insulation to restore the insulation R factor. Squirrels can compress your insulation making your home energy inefficient.
- Clean contaminated hard surfaces with a deodorizing disinfectant solution. Also, spray the deodorizing solution throughout your attic to freshen up the space.
- Repair any electrical wires chewed by squirrels. Squirrels are to blame for about 30,000 house fires each year, don’t miss this step!
Just remember, some attics do not have floors to walk on or they can be only a few feet tall. You need to decide before you start your DIY squirrel removal project whether you want to work in a often hot and confined space. In addition, are you up to the chore of cleaning your attic? Working outside on a sunny day may sound pleasant, but addressing the issue inside may not. Lastly, to you feel confident to repair any electrical wire damage knowing your family may be at risk? The decision is yours.
Are You Sure You Want To Do DIY Squirrel Removal?
If you live the Charlotte Metropolitan area and have come to the conclusion that it may be best to hire a professional, contact us at 888-391-3330 or schedule an inspection online with Varmint Gone professional. Varmint Gone is a licensed, insured, and local veteran owned company providing fast and reliable squirrel control services to homeowners and commercial facilities since 1983. You can trust Varmint Gone to do your squirrel removal project right from start to finish.
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