These bushy-tailed critters are not a new thing for anyone who lives in Miami. Squirrels can be seen just about anywhere, scurrying up trees, burying nuts, and sometimes even in our homes. If a squirrel takes refuge in your home, it’s most likely because they’re looking for a dry and warm place to keep their babies safe. Anywhere that’s shielded from wind, rain, and extreme temperatures is an ideal place for a squirrel.

Problems Caused by a Miami Squirrel Infestation

If squirrels get in your home, whether it’s through openings in your roof or by other means, it can mean a lot of damage to your house. Once inside, squirrels will use anything they can get their little paws on to make a nest, including paper, garbage, attic insulation, and even your belongings. They will also venture out for food, sometimes bringing a variety of nuts or other meals into your home, or searching for it in your kitchen. Not to mention they’ll use wherever they’ve shacked up as not just a nest, but a bathroom as well, which will leave a terrible smell that can be hard to eliminate.

Humans and squirrels live in close contact, especially in Miami. People think these critters are cute and like to feed them, so squirrels have almost become reliant on humans for food and shelter. Especially in the hot Florida summers or the cooler nights in winter; squirrels like to have a home where the temperatures don’t get too extreme either way, so they turn to your home.

The Most Common Places to Find a Squirrel Infestation

Squirrels are a problem both inside and outside of your home. The most common places to find squirrel problems inside are in the attic, inside walls, on the roof, and in the chimney. Outdoor areas that may see damage include the roof and the yard, such as in your garden, trees, and lawn.

How Do Squirrels Get Into an Attic?

Squirrels will use their teeth to gnaw through damaged or unscreened vents or tiny gaps to enter the attic. They most often use the branches of trees near the home or wires to get to the roof. While ideal for squirrels, their presence damages homes and poses health risks for the families within.

The most common places where squirrels find entry into your attic include:

• Soffits – These are the finishing material, mostly made of wood or fiber cement, that covers the underside of a roof overhang. In addition to helping to make the roofline look aesthetically nice, soffits help keep moisture away from the rafters, reducing the chance of mold. Soffits that are not flush with the siding create a gap for squirrels to enter.
• Fascia Boards – These are thin longboards that run along the lower outer edge of a roof, covering the entire roofline. They help keep water out.
• Ridge Vents – Ridge vents are air exhaust vents installed on the peak of a roof that provides continuous exhaust ventilation at the highest part of the attic. Squirrels are attracted to the warm air that comes out of these vents.
• Gable Vents – On a gabled roof, these vents are located at the peak where the two sides meet. They usually have louvers, allowing air to flow into the attic, which works to cool it down in warm weather.
• Roof Returns – This is the part of the roof that doubles back to the wall of the house. It is between the end of the roof and a home’s walls.
• Chimneys – Chimneys conduct smoke and combustion gasses up from a fireplace, stove, or furnace and can run through the attic of a house.
• Siding Corners – This is the trim used to keep your siding in place where the corners meet.
• Gutters – Gutters capture rainwater and melting snow and channel it away from the house. Clogged gutters that prevent precipitation from running will cause deterioration along the roof edge through which a squirrel can enter.
• Plumbing Mats – This is rubber matting covering cylindrical vents on the roof that connect the plumbing system used to exhaust gasses.

Benefits of Squirrels

Although squirrels can be a great nuisance inside your home, around your home, they are quite helpful. Squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem; eating bugs like beetles and grubs that can be damaging to your home or foliage. Squirrels can act as guardians of your garden. But as soon as they enter the threshold of your home, they become more of a danger than a help.

If you’re dealing with squirrels in your home, don’t fret. Call Critter Control® to help remove them from your house. Our experts know exactly how to quickly and safely remove squirrels from you home, and keep them out. For questions, or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, call us today at 305-2363-7136.