Squirrels may be adorable when nibbling on a nut in a park or when leaping from tree to tree, but they quickly become a nuisance if they make their way into your attic. Unfortunately, the attic is an attractive place for these rodents for a variety of reasons, including access to food and shelter.

Risks

The rodents are more than annoying once they make their way into your home. First and foremost, they may cause damage when gaining entrance. Squirrels will tear out vent screens, gnaw at wood, and destroy shingles in an effort to seek shelter. Once inside the attic, they will continue to gnaw and pull on things, which can lead to damaged electrical wiring and fire dangers.

Like all rodents, squirrels defecate and urinate a lot, which can lead to bad odors and an increased chance for the spread of disease in your home. Squirrels may also bring pests into your home, like fleas. Their habit of storing food in the attic may also attract insects and other types of rodents.

Access Points

A squirrel usually first gains access through a minor bit of damage on the roof. This could be a soffit vent that is missing its screen or through a loose vent or chimney cap. If you have vinyl eaves, a missing end cap on the eaves can also provide easy access.

More severe damage can also provide access, as squirrels are opportunistic. For example, if a shingle is curled up and there is a visible gap in the decking board below it, a squirrel may gnaw and pull at that gap until they can just squeeze through. Once they are in the attic, they will likely continue to look for easier entrances. Sometimes they will create their own, which further causes damage.

Removal

Removal is a two part process. The first part is to locate and seal up all entry points to the attic. This means a thorough roof inspection, including all the eaves, chimneys, and vents, is required. Once the damage is repaired, there is no way for a squirrel to get in or out.

The second step is trapping. Your pest removal service will place live traps, which contain bait, in the attic to capture any squirrels that didn't leave before the entry points were sealed. They will also perform an inspection to find any hidden nests that may contain young. You don't want to use poison as this can lead to dead squirrels in your attic, which will smell quite bad.

Contact a wildlife removal service if you are having issues with squirrels in your attic. For more information, contact a company like Velocity Rodent/Wildlife Control.