Squirrels are territorial rodents that will nest inside your attic when given the chance. Attics provide squirrels with a warm place to live that is relatively safe from predators and close to sources of food. Once inside, they like to nest in the insulation, driving energy costs up as they crush and shift the insulation around. These nests are hazardous as the animals urinate and defecate inside them. Squirrels are also known to chew on electrical wires, putting your home at risk of power outages or fire. For professional squirrel-proofing and removal services, call Pest Control Guelph today.
Squirrels get into the attic by crawling through the roof vents, drip edge, soffits, siding, or chimneys. Because their teeth can chew through practically anything, there does not necessarily need to be a whole in the roof for the squirrels to get in. They can chew their way through a weak spot they have found in the roof, such as a gap between the drip edge of the roof and the framing of the house. The plastic caps on the roof vents are no match for squirrel teeth, either. Squirrels try to get inside the attic because they can feel the warmth coming out of the vents and even smell the food you cook inside the house.
If you don’t want any squirrels to get inside the attic, you should first perform a thorough inspection of your roof. Look for any gaps or cracks that need repairing and do what you can. Seal cracks with silicone caulking, and screw steel mesh along any gaps you find. To protect your chimney and vents, cover them with steel mesh as well. Squirrels, thankfully, cannot chew through galvanized steel mesh. You can do the same thing on the inside of your attic as well. Check for any holes, gaps, or cracks anywhere in the walls or the ceiling of the attic.
When squirrel-proofing your home, consider making your yard less attractive as well. Store trash in sealed containers, and don’t leave any food out after a meal. If you have fruit trees in the yard, be sure to pick up the fruit as soon as they have fallen to the ground. You should also trim tree branches away from the house. Only use hanging bird feeders if you like to feed the birds and keep them far away from other branches so that they won’t feed the squirrels. Finally, you can install squirrel baffles or trunk collars to the bottoms of your trees to reduce the number of squirrels on your property.
Preventing a squirrel infestation in the attic will save you thousands in damages. Remember that there is always professional help available if it is too much for you to handle. A technician from Pest Control Guelph would be happy to perform a thorough inspection of your property and squirrel-proof the attic for you. Call Pest Control Guelph now for the best squirrel removal and pest-proofing services: 519-900-1180.
