Squirrels are a double-edged sword. When you spot them out in nature, they’re fascinating and adorable creatures you can appreciate from a distance. But they’re decidedly less cute when they make their way into your home and start wreaking havoc in your attic. Anyone who’s had one of these fuzzy-tailed rodents breach their home can tell you that a squirrel infestation is nothing to laugh at.
How to Tell If Squirrels Have Broken into Your Attic
Squirrels are skittish and nimble, so you’re unlikely to verify a squirrel infestation just by looking for squirrels. You’ll need to look for evidence to confirm that you have some unwelcome rodent visitors. Here are some tell-tale signs to watch for:
Frantic noises that sound like something’s scurrying around and scratching or biting pieces of wood. Since squirrels are diurnal, you’re more likely to hear these noises during the day.
Bite marks on wood structures in your attic and other things like wires and flooring.
Squirrel droppings littered across your attic floor. However, use this in conjunction with other signs, as squirrel droppings bear visual similarities to those of other small rodents.
Foul odors can stem from squirrel urine or dead squirrels.
Other indicators such as nests, small footprints, and ceiling stains from urine that’s soaked through.
If these signs align with your situation, then it is highly likely that you have squirrels, and it’s time to take action.
Why Would Squirrels Go for Your Attic?
Squirrels like your attic for the same reason you like the rest of your house: It’s comfortable and warm to rest in and protects you from the elements. Additionally, there’s an element of safety from predators that makes it especially appealing to squirrels.
When to Call for Pest Control
However, even if they don’t mean harm, it’s important to recognize that a squirrel infestation can be more than an unpleasant nuisance. Left unchecked, squirrels can cause costly damage by chewing through materials in your attic and, in a worst-case scenario, cause a fire by chewing through a wire.
If you know you have a squirrel problem, you should call a pest control service as soon as possible to prevent these furry creatures from destroying your house and putting you and your family at risk. Alternatively, you can contact a wildlife control company, which will remove the rodents from your attic and help keep other animals away from your house.
How to Prevent Rodents from Invading Your Attic
Ideally, the best way to deal with squirrels and other rodents is to keep them from getting into your house in the first place. But if pesky critters have already invaded your home, you’ll want to keep reading; taking steps to prevent infestations can save you from dealing with a future rodent problem or the recurrence of a previous one.
To reduce your chances of suffering an infestation, you should look at the following list and do anything on it you haven’t already done:
Trim tree branches that aren’t at least eight feet away from your roofline. The closer a branch is, the easier it is for a squirrel to jump from it to your house.
Remove food from your yard that might attract animals (such as food left out from a picnic, assorted scraps, and fallen fruits).
Check your roof’s shingles, replacing any that are damaged or worn-out looking.
Check your attic for openings of any size that a squirrel or other rodent might gnaw through, sealing any that you find.
Replace bird feeders with squirrel-proof ones to deter squirrels from cozying up to your property and to remove vantage points they could potentially jump from.
Conclusion
With so much potential damage they can cause, regularly checking your attic for evidence of squirrel infestations and calling for pest control as soon as you’re certain you have unwanted guests is critical for damage control and maintaining your safety. Regardless of whether you’re recovering from an infestation or you’ve never had one before, taking the initiative and employing preventative measures can save you from a lot of trouble and headaches.