Squirrels are amazingly adaptable and can live in places humans can’t. They’ve survived harsh conditions, predation, and high youth mortality rates that humans don’t experience.
You can prevent squirrels from entering your home by removing their hiding spots, luring them out, trapping them, and closing off entry points. But these tactics can only be effective if the squirrels have already found their way into walls and ceilings.
Seal Off Entry Points
Squirrels enter homes looking for food, shelter, and a place to raise their young. They can fit through small holes in exterior siding, soffits, fascia, roof vents, and foundations. Seal all but one entry point with galvanized steel mesh, aluminum sheeting, or caulk. A squirrel removal Toronto professional can suggest other options to shore up your home’s defenses.
Squirrelings will dig beneath sheds, garages, and attics to find entry points and food sources. To keep squirrels out of these areas, cover them in steel mesh or plywood and spray the inside with a taste or deterrent repellent.
Be careful when using natural or commercial repellents around your home, as they can harm pets and children. Squirrels may react to them by moving farther away until the odor dissipates. If this happens, consider hiring a wildlife removal company that uses humane control methods. These companies can even provide a list of human “foster parents” willing to hand-raise orphaned baby squirrels until they are ready to return to the wild.
Remove Squirrels’ Hiding Places
Squirrels love to nest in warm, dry areas that are out of the elements and safe from predators. If they can’t find a suitable spot outside, they will try to enter the home through attic vents, chimneys, roof shingles, construction gaps, and more.
To keep squirrels away from your attic, install one-way exclusion doors that let them escape but prevent them from re-entering the house. This is a humane option that eliminates the need for trapping and relocation.
Using an exercise vibration plate to annoy squirrels is another great DIY method for getting rid of them. This technique is highly effective since squirrels are finely tuned and can easily hear vibrations. It will also stress them out, which causes them to move on to safer attics.
Trap Squirrels
Squirrels are cute in the wild but can become a nuisance when they live close to or inside your home. They can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage by chewing on wires, wood, insulation, and other household items. They also carry rodent urine, feces, and other waste, leaving your home smelling bad.
You can deter squirrels from entering your house by sealing off entry points with sheet metal and wire mesh, such as over eaves, chimneys, and attic vents. You can also install a fence.
If you hear scratching in your attic, check for holes in the eaves or roof using a flashlight and a ladder. You can seal these gaps with caulk, expanding foam, or other construction materials. If you find any, contact a pest control company that offers wildlife exclusion services. They can install one-way exclusion doors that humanely let squirrels out but not back in. A professional will use the right tools to do this quickly and safely without damaging your home’s value or exterior.
Humanely Remove Squirrels
Squirrels have survived for generations by escaping harsh conditions and predation. When they find a place to live that’s out of the elements and protected from predators, they’ll defend it just like you would. That’s why removing their food, shelter, and water sources from your property as much as possible is important.
To keep squirrels from accessing your home:
- Block their entry points with caulking or insulation.
- Seal up ridge cap vents, gable vents, soffit vents, and construction gaps.
- Trim back any overhanging tree branches squirrels can use to climb roofs or eaves.
Installing a one-way exclusion door is the most effective way to eliminate squirrels. This allows the squirrels to leave but not return. Alternatively, make loud noises at various times of day to scare them away. Bang on pans, shout, or dribble a basketball to create a distraction. This technique is most effective in cases where a squirrel has found refuge in your attic or crawl space.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.