They’re So Cute – Tips To Prevent Squirrel Damage

Many of us enjoy their humorous antics as they chase each other around our lawns. Some folks enjoy them so much (after all, “they’re so cute”), they encourage them to visit by placing feeders on their lawns and yards. Yet, you have others that view them simply as rats with fuzzy tails.

As you have guessed, I’m talking about squirrels. These tree squirrels include the common grey squirrel, the red, the flying and the fox squirrel. In their natural environment, squirrels are a wonder to watch and enjoy.

Squirrels normally inhabit wooden areas (hence the term tree squirrels) where they will construct their nests, but, as it usually happens, we enjoy the same locations for the same reasons they do. We build our homes in what used to be their home turf and that invasion at times causes a conflict. To the squirrel, our home is simply a strange looking tree with many new opportunities, so that racket you hear in the attic could mean that you have unwanted visitors staying with you.

The average tree squirrel will have two litters of young each year, in the spring and late summer. Depending on the species, the number of young may range from three to eight. At this point they’re not so cute, since they can cause serious damage to your home. Damage includes ectoparasite problems as a result of nesting sites, electrical damage caused by their gnawing and  bites that result from a close encounter of the unwanted kind.

You’re wondering what you can do to assure that you keep them out of your home. The following steps will assist you in achieving that goal:

• • Find their means of entry: utility lines, drain pipes, uncapped chimneys, overhanging tree limbs as well as open attic and basement vents.

• • Trap and remove them from the site.

• • Exclude their entry points by installing Cat-Guard.

“They’re so cute” when they play on your lawn and stay out of your home, but if you’re hearing something in your attic, give us a call and we will let you know who is visiting.