How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic

squirrel attic removal

Most people use their attic space for storage, so they aren’t likely to visit the room daily. Attics tend to be unfinished, dimly lit, and sometimes damp. Though you might not need to spend much time in your attic, the room can become a long-term home to squirrels.

Squirrels might seem harmless, but they can wreak havoc on your home. From unwanted sounds and foul odors to property damage, a squirrel infestation can cause more harm than good. You might not know how to get rid of squirrels in the attic, but it’s for the best of your home.

How To Get Rid Of Squirrels In Attic

Importance of Squirrel Removal

Like other rodents, squirrels can cause significant property and structural damage. They can chew through wooden boards, electrical wiring, and insulation. Squirrel attic removal is the best way to avoid costly damage.

These animals seek a warm shelter to avoid winter weather and have babies. Squirrels will chew openings through your home’s siding, roofing, and under eaves. Since the rodent will have access to shelter, safety, and food in your attic, they won’t have a reason to leave.

A squirrel infestation can lead to significant interior and exterior property damage. Along the way, they will defecate and urinate throughout the house. The waste will be smelly, and exposure to it could transmit diseases to your household members.

Professional squirrel removal is the best way to get rid of squirrels, but some home remedies to remove squirrels from attic spaces are also effective.

How Do Squirrels Get into Attics?

Squirrels enjoy living in attics because they are large, warm spaces that will protect them from predators and provide an ideal spot for them to have babies.

These pests may enter your home by pushing in chimney bricks or climbing textured siding, like stucco or brick. They can also pull slate and terra cotta roof tiles apart and chew through shingles, aluminum, and wood. The critters can squeeze through existing holes if your home has roof damage or missing fascia boards.

Signs of a Squirrel Infestation in Your Attic

Before applying squirrel repellent attic or squirrel traps for attics, look for these signs to know if you have a possible infestation:

  • You see evidence of gnaw marks in wooden structures or electrical lines.
  • You hear noises from your attic, like chewing, scratching, or scurrying.
  • You see water damage on your ceilings or walls, such as brown stains.
  • You smell a terrible odor in air vents, such as squirrel waste or dead rodents.

What to Do in Case of a Squirrel Infestation

You might wonder how to trap a squirrel in the attic or how much it is to get rid of squirrels in attics if you suspect one is using your home for shelter. You have several options to remove squirrels safely and humanely, including traps and repellents. However, if you have squirrels in your attic, it’s best to follow these steps first to ensure that your methods are effective:

  • Locate the Nest: Look for the nest first before initiating a removal. A nest consisting of materials like insulation and cardboard may have baby squirrels. The babies cannot survive without their mothers, so it’s best to wait several weeks for them to grow before starting the removal process.
  • Seal Attic Openings: Squirrels don’t need large holes to enter your home. Search your attic and seal all possible entry points with caulking or wire except one. They cannot chew through those materials easily.
  • Use One-Way Traps: Set a trap with a one-way cage door in front of the single exit you left open. When a squirrel enters the entrapment, relocate them somewhere at least five miles away from your home.
  • Hire a Professional: Pest management companies can use several effective methods to remove squirrels from your attic and keep them from returning.

Sometimes, flying squirrels can enter an attic. They glide through the air instead of flying, but they are difficult to remove from a dwelling. Instead of learning how to get rid of flying squirrels in attics, working with a pest management professional may be best.

Different Ways to Remove Squirrels from Your Attic

You might need to give squirrels an incentive to leave your attic, especially if they have babies. Effective squirrel repellents include loud noises and light. Consider keeping the lights on and playing loud music, banging pans near the attic entrance, or yelling loudly toward the ceiling to startle the rodents.

Another way to deter squirrels is with vinegar because they don’t like the smell. Soak rags with the liquid and leave them around the attic. Mothballs also work.

How to Prevent Squirrels from Returning

You can use scent to keep squirrels from re-entering your home. Spray homemade squirrel repellant with garlic, vinegar, and water around your property. It also helps to trim trees near your home’s roofline to limit their access to your roof and attic. Placing a plastic owl on your roof or fence post may also scare squirrels away.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Squirrels in Attic

Will Squirrels Leave the Attic on Their Own?

You might scare some squirrels away with a repellent. However, they are less likely to leave if they have a nest with babies inside the home.

Do Squirrels in the Attic Cause Damage?

Yes. Squirrels will chew through insulation, wiring, wood, aluminum, and personal belongings.

Do Squirrels Make Noise at Night in the Attic?

Squirrels are most active during the day. However, they may scurry around your attic during the early morning and late evening hours as they enter and exit your house.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to get rid of squirrels in the attic, reach out to the Attic Projects team for expert rodent removal services. Our skilled team knows how to get rid of squirrels in an attic without killing them by using humane trapping methods.

Our team also provides rodent waste removal and proofing services to protect homes from poisonous squirrel repellent in attics, foul-smelling waste, decomposing animals, and future infestations. Contact us today to request a custom estimate.

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