Squirrels love your Miami home. Why? Because it’s warm, dry, and most importantly – their predators can’t get inside easily. Unfortunately, this means that squirrels will constantly try to find a way to make your home into their own.

How to Tell You Need Squirrel Pest Control

Short of actually seeing squirrels huddled up in your attic, there are a few things you can look for to figure out if you’ve got a squirrel problem:

• Nests and droppings. Squirrels will frequently use your insulation as nesting material and your attic as their bathroom.
• Chew marks. Pay attention to wooden beams and plastic pipes. Squirrel teeth are constantly growing, and they need things to gnaw on to file them down.
• Bad smells. The build-up of those droppings are going to create an unpleasant odor.

Are Squirrels Dangerous?

While you might not think squirrel control is necessary, consider this: squirrels are carriers of disease. They will attract pests, and they may reproduce inside your home. They will also damage your home by chewing your walls, pipes, and wires. While they might seem cuddly, squirrels can do a lot of harm to your home.

DIY Squirrel Pest Control

By the time you notice a squirrel infestation, the squirrels are well established in your attic or in the walls. It is a very good possibility that a single squirrel found in the attic (especially during breeding season) will be a female looking for a nesting area. During non-breeding months there may be multiple squirrels in the attic.

There can be two breeding seasons for tree squirrels. The most common times are in early spring and early autumn.

If a breeding female has been in the attic any length of time they may have already nested and given birth. Weaned squirrels will remain with the mother for some length of time thus stay in the attic.

The survival and nesting instincts of squirrels are incredibly strong, and they won’t leave just because of an unpleasant smell or noise.

Scent & Ultrasonic Squirrel Deterrents

There are many claims of deterrents that work to get rid of squirrels. There are multiple ultrasonic devices on the market and numerous squirrel control articles with DIY scent solutions. None of them work.

Squirrels usually always stay near the edge of the attic anyway, near a well-ventilated soffit, and the scent odors just don’t help because of this.

In addition, the entire attic is too well ventilated using ridge vents, attic fans, gable vents, and other ventilation. I have even seen the very cotton balls soaked with the deterrent scent incorporated into the nest in the attic. Research has confirmed the ineffectiveness of scent deterrents and ultrasonic devices.

Light/Strobe Repellents

The practice of leaving a light on, or using a high-intensity light often isn’t annoying enough and the squirrels get used to it. If there’s a strobe light, they may move to another spot in the attic or just end up somewhere else in your home such as the walls.

Either way, squirrels are not going to leave an attic because of lights, most especially if they have already nested and young squirrels are present. Besides, the lights will have to be connected into existing wiring and/or batteries/bulbs changed etc. Crawling around in the attic is NOT fun and doing so repeatedly is even less so.

Squirrel Trapping and Control

If you have a squirrel problem, we inspect your roof and attic for entry points, squirrel damage, and squirrel nests.

We need to seal all entry points for eco-friendly squirrel control solutions. We also cataloged for damage caused by the squirrel. squirrels in the attic are known for gnawing electrical wiring and thus creating an imminent fire hazard. Any damaged wiring needs to be repaired immediately. Look closely for structural damage and repair as necessary. Squirrels are notorious gnawers.

Squirrel trapping is one of the safest and most effective squirrel removal strategies.

The best squirrel trap is to use a 5- x 5- x 18-inch (minimum) cage or box trap. Box traps are built with solid walls usually of wood, plastic, or sheet metal. Cage traps are made of wire mesh. For squirrels, use a cage trap from ½- x 1-inch mesh.

Exclusions for Squirrel Control

Once you have gotten the squirrel(s) out of your attic/building, you must do everything that you can to keep them out. You will need to make certain your home or building is properly sealed. Without appropriate/proper sealing, you are letting not only squirrels into the attic, but possibly other wild animals too.

Squirrel trapping solves the immediate squirrel infestation. Your home has already been shown to provide ample resources for squirrels. Without exclusion, you are still at risk for future squirrel infestations.

Because squirrels only need a small entry point, finding all the potential weak spots takes skill and experience.

Exclusion methods keep squirrels and other nuisance wildlife from entering your home. Sealing all vulnerabilities in your roof, soffits, eaves, vents, and chimney is also important.

Squirrel Pest Control from Critter Control

Our professionals are specialized in not only safely removing all the squirrels from your home, but also excluding them from future infestations by sealing up any holes in your home. For your free consultation, call us today at 305-363-7136.