Colour: Gray and black, sometimes red/brown colour.
Size: 300-700g, 14”-20” long.
Common den sites: Attics, chimneys, and soffit areas
Common areas of entry: Roof vents, roof exhausts, wall vents, soffit intersections, fascia board, brick soffit gaps, roof valleys and chimneys.
Sounds that may be heard: Running, gnawing, scratching and chattering. Squirrels tend to be the loudest pest to have in an attic space. They also sometimes can get into and are heard in wall voids and sub floor spaces. Squirrels are out during the day and most active in your roof during the late night and early morning hours (7pm- 7am).
Access points to roof: Tall trees, fences, vine, all brick types, power lines and also roof to roof.
Signs of entry: Damaged soffit, chewing or gnawing around fascia, rub marks, hairs, and feces. Also hearing and sighting activity in and on roof.
Reasons for entry: Less and less natural resources, food (from bird feeders which will attract squirrels to possible entry points), shelter, easy accessibility and a safe place to have their young. Squirrels are very persistent and will almost always find a way to access your roof. Squirrels are well adapted to survive in cities.
Solution for humane removal of squirrel in attic: Once area of entry is located, a one way door system will be set up within screening method to allow squirrel to leave but not enter. All other common areas on roof should be secured to prevent re-entry.
PREVENTION METHODS CAN INCLUDE:
Roof Vents: Screening around perimeter of roof vent to prevent pull off or gnaw through of roof vent cap(s).
Roof Exhaust: Screening around exhaust pipe matt to prevent entry(s) through exhaust pipe matt cover and pipe cutout.
Roof Line Gap (where roof board meets fascia board): Screening of roof line gap consists of securing screening to cover any gaps that may exist throughout roof line areas.
Roof Valleys: Screening of roof valley by securing area under roof valley where valley meets the fascia board.
Roof Soffit Intersection (where soffit runs into roof): Securing roof soffit to roof by screening area with “L” bracket cutouts. Each roof soffit intersection is custom fit.
Brick Soffit Gaps: Gap is covered by securing screening from brick to soffit track. Caulking methods can be used in junction with basic screening methods.
Wall Vents: Screen over wall vent cover and secure screening to building structure.
Window Flashing: Can be secured with a hardware cloth and or caulking method.
Chimneys: Squirrels will sometimes nest in chimney areas and need to be removed onsite. If squirrel cannot be removed onsite then either a humane one way door will be set at point of entry or sometimes modified and set in fire pit area as to allow squirrel(s) to pass through humane one way door and into trap to be taken from home and released.
Squirrels that have gotten into living spaces can in most cases be caught and removed on site (if not trapping methods can be used).
Baby Season: Squirrel litters can consist of 1-8 young, 4-6 on average two times a year in Spring and late Summer. Once one way door system is set up and all other possible common entries have been secured, an attic search must be done in order to obtain and remove any and all young. Squirrels sometimes will put their babies in wall voids and will have to be removed from voids by cutting a hole in drywall. Once babies are removed they are to be placed and secured in an incubator (box) near area of entry and are then usually picked up by their mother the same day. Babies are usually mobile after 6-7 weeks and become harder catch and remove from attic and wall spaces at that point. Usually they come out a one way door set up, but if necessary a baby door can be set up also (Baby door is usually set in same area as adult squirrel point of entry or one way door set up).
Hazards: Not only will squirrels chew on wiring causing a potential fire hazard, they will add to this by bringing in combustible materials which they use for nesting. Squirrels are also carriers of such parasites as ticks, mites and fleas. Squirrels also tend to clip flower buds, dig up bulbs and vegetables and strip bark from tree areas.
Diet: Consist mostly of nuts, pine cones and fruits.
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