SQUIRREL REMOVAL
Effective Methods for Squirrel Control
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Call us at (214) 561-2744Are Squirrels in Your Attic?
Squirrels are adorable and fluffy creatures to watch as they run around outside. When they get into your attic, though, they may wreak major damage and pose a health danger to you and your family. Here are a few signs that you may have squirrels in your attic:
- Noises: Squirrels may be present if you hear scratching, chewing, or scampering noises coming from your attic.
- Droppings: Squirrel droppings are typically tiny and cylindrical, resembling rice grains. If you discover these droppings in your attic, it is a sure sign that squirrels are present.
- Chewed wires: Squirrels gnaw on wires, which can lead to electrical problems within your home. If you find any frayed or damaged wires in your attic, squirrels are present.
If you suspect squirrels are living in your attic, you should act immediately as possible. Squirrels can cause damage on your property and pose a health risk to you and your family. To safely and successfully remove squirrels from your attic, contact a professional squirrel removal service.
Critter Stop helps you put a stop to your critter problem in a safe way. We also offer the following services:
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The Rapid Rise of Squirrel Infestations in Attics
If your attic has become a newfound haven for squirrels, addressing the issue swiftly is crucial to prevent them from turning a temporary stay into a permanent residency. The warmth and darkness of an attic make it an ideal spot for mother squirrels to set up a nursery for their young, especially during their birthing seasons in spring and mid-summer. Without timely intervention, these uninvited guests can quickly become a larger problem as they begin to breed. Given that squirrels can have multiple litters a year, each consisting of two to five babies, a small issue can rapidly escalate into a full-blown infestation, complicating removal and increasing the potential for structural damage to your property.
Ignoring the signs of squirrel activity in your attic not only risks a growing population within your home but also increases the extent of damage they can cause. The longer squirrels inhabit your attic, the more likely they are to chew on wood, wires, and other materials, potentially causing significant harm and elevating the cost of their removal.
Quick action is essential to prevent the situation from worsening. Professional squirrel removal services offer the most efficient and least disruptive solution to evict these critters before they have the chance to multiply. By addressing the issue as soon as you notice signs of squirrel presence, you can save yourself the hassle and expense of dealing with a larger infestation down the line.
Squirrel Trapping and Removal
When it comes to squirrel removal, trapping is a critical part of the process. "Trapping" usually manifests itself through using a "one-way door" - a contraption that lets the squirrels leave the attic but because of a door that snaps behind them and does not reopen from the the outside, they cannot re-enter. Trapping should only be done by a professional, as it can be dangerous and requires knowledge of squirrel behavior. In this section, we will discuss the process of squirrel trapping and removal.
The first step in squirrel trapping is to identify the areas where they are entering and exiting the home. This can be done by observing the squirrels and looking for holes or other openings in the roof or walls. Once the entry points have been identified, traps can be set in these areas.
If the situation warrants trapping squirrels instead of utilizing a one-way door, there are several types of traps that can be used for squirrel removal, including live traps and lethal traps. A live squirrel trap is designed to capture the squirrel without harming it, while a lethal trap is designed to kill the squirrel. At Critter Stop, a humane squirrel removal company, we will only use live squirrel traps. We do not use lethal traps of any kind for any wild animal.
After the traps have been set, it is important to monitor them regularly to ensure that any trapped squirrels are removed promptly. Once a squirrel has been trapped, it should be handled carefully to avoid injury to both the animal and the person removing it. If a live squirrel trap was used, the squirrel can be released into a park or wooded area. You should always check your local and state laws regarding squirrel relocation, but if you want to relocate squirrels and live in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, most areas require the squirrel be relocated within 10 miles of where it was trapped.
It is important to note that trapping and removing squirrels is only part of the process of squirrel removal. The entry points that allowed the squirrels to enter the home must also be sealed to prevent future infestations. A professional squirrel removal service can help with both trapping and sealing the home to ensure that the problem is fully resolved.
Squirrel Exclusion and Prevention
Squirrel exclusion and prevention are important steps in keeping squirrels from entering your home. Squirrels can cause significant damage to your property and pose health risks to you and your family. Here are some ways to exclude and prevent squirrels from entering your home:
- Seal all entry points: Inspect your home for any gaps or holes in your roof, walls, or foundation. Seal any openings with caulk, steel wool, or wire mesh to prevent squirrels from entering.
- Trim tree branches: Squirrels can jump up to 10 feet, so make sure to trim any branches that are within 10 feet of your home.
- Secure your garbage: Squirrels are attracted to food, so make sure to secure your garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
- Install chimney caps: Squirrels can enter your home through chimneys, so make sure to install chimney caps to prevent them from entering.
If you have a squirrel infestation, it is important to contact a professional squirrel removal service to safely and humanely remove the squirrels from your home. They can also help you with squirrel exclusion and prevention measures to keep squirrels from returning.
Humane Squirrel Control
When dealing with a squirrel infestation, it is important to consider humane methods of control. There are several options available that do not harm the squirrels or cause unnecessary stress.
One effective method is the use of live traps. These traps allow squirrels to be captured and safely relocated to a more suitable habitat. It is important to release the squirrels at least five miles away from the infested area to prevent them from returning.
Another option is the use of deterrents. These can include placing mesh or netting over potential entry points, using specially designed squirrel-proof bird feeders, and using ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sounds that are unpleasant to squirrels.
It is important to note that trapping and relocating squirrels may not be legal in all areas. It is important to check with local authorities and follow all regulations and guidelines.
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Help me today!Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about squirrel removal:
It is not recommended to remove squirrels on your own. Squirrels can be aggressive and carry diseases. In addition, some methods of removal may be illegal or inhumane. It is best to hire a professional squirrel removal service to safely and effectively remove squirrels from your property.
Signs of squirrels in your attic include scratching or scurrying noises, droppings, and damage to insulation or wiring. You may also see squirrels entering or exiting your home through small openings or gaps.
Professionals use humane and effective methods to remove squirrels, such as one-way doors, live traps, and exclusion techniques. They will also identify and seal entry points to prevent future squirrel infestations.
To keep squirrels from returning, it is important to seal all entry points and trim tree branches that may provide access to your home. You can also use squirrel-proof bird feeders and remove any potential food sources, such as fallen fruit or nuts. When it isn't a large, plentiful oak tree, a bird feeder is often the culprit. "Bird seed" might as well be called "squirrel bait" - except it attracts basically ALL wild animals, not just the innocent-looking, relatively smaller squirrels with bushy tails. Removing a bird feeder can help prevent many animals, including opossums, raccoons, and rats.
The cost of squirrel removal varies depending on a range of factors, including the severity of the infestation, the size of the house, and the home or commercial building's building materials. A wildlife specialist can usually provide an exact estimate and scope of work. For homeowners living in Dallas - Fort Worth, Critter Stop offers free inspections and estimates!
Whether you have new squirrels in your neighborhood or you have had had a persistent squirrel problem for years, squirrel trapping is rarely the solution. Most squirrels are incredibly intelligent and know to avoid both one door traps and two door traps. Believe it or not, their natural habitats do not include a shiny metal live trap with perfectly placed sunflower seeds on a metal flat surface (the "trigger plate"). If you do place traps, it is recommended to do it close to where they gain access to the attic or crawl spaces - checking the trap at least once a day. Out in the yard, they will have plenty of other nuts to choose from that aren't in a suspicious looking trap. While live trapping can sometimes work, we generally do not recommend it due to the relative low odds of success. Before you try to catch a squirrel in your own trap, it is important you know your local and state laws regarding relocation. Oh yeah - and if you catch one, always wear gloves!
Squirrel repellent is one of the least effective squirrel control methods. Most repellents wash away or wash off in the first rain application, and squirrels tend to ignore it anyway. Squirrels are very intelligent creatures. Trying to repel squirrels with safe, humane methods can be an easy and harmless first step to remove unwanted squirrels. Just be careful of what you read online - it is important that any repellents used simply repels squirrels. While it is fine to discourage squirrels on your property, it is not ok to create a makeshift squirrel poison.
If you find a squirrels' nest in your attic that has babies, you find what you suspect to be nesting material, or you otherwise believe there is a mother squirrel inside your home, it is important that you handle it in a manner that does not put the baby squirrels at risk. While every squirrel control situation is unique, if you want to get rid of squirrels with babies, it becomes too nuanced to advise on without assessing the specific situation. Humane removal - ensuring there is not a single animal trapped inside - should remain the top priority.
There are several different squirrel species across the United States. In total, there are ~600 million squirrels in the U.S. compared to ~332 million humans, or a ratio of ~1.8x! While there are many species of what are called "ground squirrels" across the U.S., which include groundhogs, chipmunks, prairie dogs, marmots, and rock squirrels, most people think of what are called "tree squirrels" when they think of the traditional "squirrel." The vast majority of squirrels in Texas are either fox squirrels, eastern gray squirrels, or flying squirrels. Flying squirrels and eastern gray squirrels live primarily in far East Texas, where it is more wooded. Other squirrels in the U.S. include red squirrels, which live further north, and the western gray squirrel, which lives in the northwest.
Our 4 Step Process
Free Inspection
Critter Stop offers free in-home consultations to build custom solutions to your problems. We inspect your home thoroughly, inside and out, for signs of damage, animal entry, animal nesting, droppings, and more. Once we discuss the extent of the problem and what needs to be done to fix it, we’ll document a game plan together.
Seal Your Home
Sealing your home immediately is our priority. The exclusion team will thoroughly patch up potential entry sites from the roof to the foundation and everywhere in between. Once we’re sure no other rodents are getting in, we’ll set our traps in those areas we suspect animal activity.
Remove The Critters
Our technicians will check in on your home several times throughout this process. If game cameras have been set up, we’ll review those with you to discuss the animal activity. Once the traps are cleared, we will reset them and re-evaluate all the sealed points of entry to ensure no critter has re-chewed a hole or found a new way into your property.
Restore & Sanitize
We don’t call it a job well done once the pest is gone. There’s more work to be done! We completely restore your affected area by pulling up and replacing damaged insulation. Additionally, we fog the affected area to disinfect and remove animal pheromones that can attract new pests in the future.
“I used Critter Stop due to rats and squirrels in my attic. They also chewed up siding on the house to get in. Critter Stop was able to remove the rodents and secure the entry points. Everyone I dealt with was very polite and professional. They were able to come out quickly, communicated well, and they always showed up on time. I would use them again.”
Jeff L. via Google
