Having squirrels invade your home is not something new in homes all over Canada. Some homeowners are shocked to find that squirrels have been living in the house for quite some time. If you happen to be one of the unfortunate homeowners that these critters have set up home, you may be looking at quite a bit of damage that you’re going to have to address.
Here are some of the signs that you may have squirrels living in your home.
Strange noises in your home
Throughout the year, keep your ears open for unusual noises in your home. If you pay attention, there’s a good chance you’ll hear a squirrel before you see any visual evidence. The two most common sounds you’ll hear are scurrying, scampering, scratching or chewing. Squirrels aren’t fussy about what they chew. They will chew on everything from wood beams to drywall and electrical wiring. Attics are a preferred location for squirrels to make their nests, but you may hear them in other areas of your home such as one of them becoming stuck in your wall cavities or down the chimney.
Visual squirrel droppings
As gross as this sounds, squirrel droppings and bat droppings look quite similar; however,
any droppings are not a good thing and must be checked out immediately. More often than not, you’ll see the droppings in your garage, attic, or near entry points around your home
Remember, if you notice any droppings, exercise caution. Wildlife droppings carry diseases and bacteria such as salmonella.
Entry point damage
While you may not immediately notice if a squirrel is chewing up the inside of your attic and walls, it’s easier to spot signs of squirrel damage around the exterior of your home.
Most people don’t know that squirrels, like raccoons and mice, can almost chew through any home, including metal. Their teeth and chewing capabilities are quite strong, and their entry points have specific characteristics over other animals.
An inspection is certainly called for if you notice:
- Holes in your shingles
- Roofline damage
- Chew marks on the outer panels of your home
- Ripped open garbage bags or garbage scattered around your yard
- Damage to bird feeders
- Chewed up outdoor furniture
- Chewed bark on young trees
- Eaten garden plants
Interior damage
While most of the interior damage may be hidden and not seen, there are some signs you may notice if you venture around the areas of your house. They are:
- Teeth marks on wires, wood, and walls
- Chewed electrical wires
- Nests in your insulation
- Wood chips scattered everywhere
- Air vent damage
Your interior is at higher risk because of the fire hazard squirrels create. Because they chew on everything, electrical wires are the most significant risk because the damaged wiring can set your house on fire!
Foul smell
If squirrels find a way into your home, some may not find their way out. They may get stuck in the walls, or young squirrels cannot take care of themselves, die and start to decay. If you suddenly notice a strong, terrible odour in your house, the chances are pretty high, and something is dead in the house. If you’ve seen other indicators of squirrels in your home, the likelihood is even higher that stench is a dead squirrel.
A note of caution, don’t try to deal with a squirrel problem on your own by using poison. The result will be dead squirrels and a horrible smell inside your home. It’s always better to call an expert to take care of the issue naturally to avoid this issue.
Next step
If you hear or see any signs that you may have a squirrel in your home anytime between March to September, call a wildlife removal expert to solve the problem. They are professionally trained to deal with these situations and know what to do for removal of squirrels in your home.
