Your attic is a quiet, often-overlooked room in your house that has many uses. It protects, stores things, and adds an extra layer of storage. However, what happens when it becomes the uninvited home to a squirrel species? These furry animals are known for being sneaky and flexible, so they can sneak into your attic and make it their cozy home. You might not even be aware of the unwanted guests above your head during this silent assault.
The Infiltrators Who Stay Quiet
Squirrels are very good at climbing and doing tricks. They can get into your attic through the smallest gaps and often don’t even notice. Damaged rooflines, chimneys without caps, and open attic vents are all common places for pests to get in. There are several reasons why squirrels are silent intruders:
- Sneaky Entry: Squirrels are experts at finding cracks and holes in the outside of your house. Their bodies are very flexible, so they can fit through very small openings.
- Nesting in the Dark: Squirrels are surprisingly quiet when they build their nests. They gather insulation material and trash to make cozy houses that can block out noise.
- Foraging at Night: Squirrels are usually busiest in the early morning and late evening, so their noisiest activities might not happen at the same time as your daily routine.
Warning Signs of an Invasion
Even though squirrels are quiet intruders, they leave behind signs that they are there. People who own homes should keep an eye out for these signs:
- Strange Sounds: Listen for sounds like scratching, running, or chirping coming from the attic. These could be signs that squirrels are around.
- Animal waste: Squirrel waste looks like small brown pellets. These are a clear sign of an invasion if you find them in your attic.
- Insulation Damage: Squirrels often tear insulation apart to make nests. Finding insulation that is torn is a good sign.
- Wires or Wood Cheered: It’s in squirrels’ nature to chew, which can damage wiring and wood buildings and even put people at risk of fire.
- Entry Points: Look for holes, gaps, or chewed-up areas on the outside of your home that could be used as entry points.
Effects of the Silent Invasion
If squirrels get into your attic, it can lead to big problems:
- Damage to Structures: Squirrels can chew through insulation, wires, and wooden beams, which can lead to expensive repairs.
- Health Risks: Squirrels can bring diseases and bugs into your home, which can make you and your family sick.
- Energy Efficiency: Insulation that is damaged makes your home less energy efficient, which means it costs more to heat and cool.
Stopping and Taking Away
To deal with a squirrel problem, you need to stop them and get rid of them:
- To stop squirrels from getting into your attic, start by sealing off any possible entry spots and making sure the outside of your house is squirrel-proof. This can include fixing roofs that are broken, filling in gaps, and putting caps on chimneys.
- Removal: If squirrels have already moved into your attic, you might want to hire a professional pest control service. To get rid of the squirrels safely, professionals use gentle methods such as one-way exclusion devices.
- Cleanup: Once the pests have been removed, you should clean and sanitize your attic to get rid of any signs of their presence.
In conclusion
You may not even be aware that squirrels are in your attic, but their presence is very much felt. You can make sure that your attic stays a peaceful and pest-free haven by being careful and taking precautions. If there has already been a silent attack, don’t be afraid to get professional help to get rid of the unwanted guests safely and effectively. You can make your attic a peaceful and quiet place again.
Technicians at Squirrel Control Bolton use the best materials to protect your property against squirrel break-ins. They will use thick galvanized steel mesh and heavy gauge flashing, and we know to provide people with custom solutions unique to your case. We can squirrel-proof roof vents, gable vents, drip edges, soffits, ridge vents, wall vents, chimneys and more.