SQUIRREL REMOVAL

Squirrels are one of the most common, and most irritating, household pests homeowners have to face. They are incredibly abundant in the wild but are increasingly turning to homes for shelter due to large scale urbanization and the resulting decline in their natural habitat. Winter months are especially a problem for some species of squirrels as not all of them hibernate, so they need a reliable and warm place to sleep at night as they are not nocturnal creatures.

Renowned for their climbing abilities, squirrels can quickly become a nuisance if not dealt with quickly. Like other rodents, squirrels have incredibly sharp incisor teeth that constantly grow during their lives, so they need to be maintained regularly to avoid growing too big. This is one of the main reasons why squirrels gnaw on wood and electrical cables, but they will also chew on something if it blocks them from getting to where they want to go, such as a source of food or shelter.

As a result, squirrels can cause a massive amount of damage to a home if left unchecked. This is especially the case if dealing with ground-based squirrels that tend to live in colonies rather than alone, with adult females often giving birth to a number of offspring. And like any other rodent, squirrels require food in order to survive.

They are primarily herbivorous, meaning they will target fruit or vegetables, which can be a big problem for your garden or yard.

Removing squirrels from your home follows a similar process generally used for all types of household pests:

1. Identify how and where the squirrels are getting into your home. Because of their habit of chewing and gnawing wood, you should keep an eye out for tell-tale signs of damage around any small gaps. Or, if you simply have squirrels outside your home, you will need to locate their nests, which will either be in the cavities of trees or made up of leaves.
2. Determine whether traps are needed, or whether other preventative measures will be enough. For example, you could consider blocking their access to any food source they might be using, especially any plants you have growing in your garden, to deter them naturally. Or, if you know you only have squirrels in your yard, search the exterior of your home for any gaps they might be able to use to gain entry and seal them up in advance.
3. If traps are necessary, you need to be considerate of placement which matters a lot more than bait, which can simply be seeds or nuts. For external use, make sure the traps are in shaded areas or camouflaged, or the squirrels will avoid them. For home use, find the main pathways the squirrels use and set up one-way exclusion doors to stop them from regaining entry after they leave to forage, and then seal up the path after you are sure they have all left.