When bright-eyed squirrels chatter in the trees outside your house, munching acorns or chestnuts, they are far less appealing. The subfamily of rodents includes more than 30 species of tree-dwelling squirrels. While these rodents are tolerated mainly, if not revered, in their natural habitat, they are closely related to rats and mice. If they infest your house, they may be considerably more destructive.
Squirrels breed twice a year, in mid-autumn and early spring. A nest of squirrels in your home can cause significant damage by gnawing through wood, electrical wires,plumbing pipes and displacing insulation.
Squirrels come into your home for the same reasons mice, rats, and other rodents do. They’re looking for food, a warm place to sleep, and a place to raise their young. If your home has vulnerable entry points, squirrels will be enticed to come inside and try to establish a home.
How to Prevent Squirrels in the House?
Once you’ve gotten the squirrel(s) out of your house, attempt to figure out how they came in and close those entries. Look for cracks around the chimney, nests in the attic, and holes in the foundation and exterior. Squirrels can get to your roof or eaves through overhanging tree limbs, so trim them back. To prevent another squirrel or wild animal from getting in, seal any potential entry points. When repairing or reinforcing, use high gauge steel to avoid chewing and damage by squirrels. Squirrels can chew aluminum, wood, plastic and asphalt. Chimney caps should be checked and replaced if damaged or loose. When not in use, shut all outside doors, especially garage doors.
Feeding squirrels or providing accessible food sources such as open garbage cans is not recommended. Take precautions to prevent squirrels from taking seeds from your bird feeders. Place pet meals and bird seed in sealed metal containers if kept in the garage. The more squirrels cluster around your house, the more likely they are to find a way into your home or garage, so do all you can to make your property unpleasant to them.
How to get squirrels out once they are inside your house?
1. Provide an escape route. Contain all areas you don’t want the squirrel going to with household items or planks of wood. Leave only one exit from your residence, like an open window or main door. If approaching a window or door in the same room as the squirrel puts you too close to the squirrel for your comfort, proceed to step 2.
2. Keep your distance while closing off hiding areas. Drawers, cabinets, and other nooks and crannies comfort the squirrel similarly to its native surroundings in its nest like a tree knothole. You can prevent the trespassing squirrel from seeking refuge in these locations and help it flee your home.
3. Make a compelling reason for squirrels to leave. Like many other animals, Squirrels are sensitive to many odors and stimuli. Squirrels loathe the scent of cider vinegar, in particular, so soak some rags in it and place them in the room where your squirrel stays.
4. Put a humane trap in place. Humane traps come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These are made specifically to assist you in getting rid of squirrels from your property. A humane trap may be purchased at most hardware stores or through an internet merchant.
6. If you fail to remove the squirrel from your home, leave the room and seal it off if necessary. If the room isn’t consisting of a door, close all other doors leading to it and if feasible, construct a temporary barrier. You’ll want something the squirrel won’t be able to get around or hop over, like a door-sized piece of particle board or plywood. Finally, call for professional squirrel removal help.
Squirrels may look harmless in the wild, but if they get entry to your house, they may become a nuisance. If you can, take preventative steps and seek expert assistance if a squirrel enters your home.
