Top tips on getting a squirrel out of your attic

Have you ever had to deal with a persistent squirrel who believed that your home attic is their new home? If not, consider yourself lucky. While squirrels could look like the most cuddly and cute creatures generally, getting rid of squirrels from an attic can be a pretty herculean task. However, fret not as we have got you covered with some of the best ways to get a squirrel out of your attic safely.

The first thing to do is locate the problem. Check if you have a large number of trees within jumping distance of the house, which is six to eight feet. If you do, there are some preventive measures that can help:

METAL SHEET COVERING

Fasten a two foot band of metal sheet around the trees close to your house. Then wrap wires around the trunk and attach them together with springs. This will allow the metal sheets to expand as the tree grows. You can also trim the limbs of the tree so that they are always at a safe distance from your home.

ATTIC INSPECTION

Summers can make attics quite warm, almost making it untenable for squirrels to dwell in them. However, this is the best time for house owners to thoroughly check the attic for any kind of gaps and entry holes that will allow squirrels in the home. Look for entry holes from where you can see light shining through from outside. They could be potential gaps from which squirrels can enter the house.

ENTRANCE SEALING

Entry points such as gaps between pipes and walls. You can fasten hardware cloth over vents to block the entrance. Make sure to only use hardware cloth and not a mesh cloth and squirrels can easily chew their way through them.

REPELLANTS

You may also choose to use a repellent which is available at any local garden, hardware or pet store. You can also consider making a DIY repellent if you don’t wish to use any chemicals.

CHIMNEY

One of the most common entry points for a squirrel is the chimney gap. Make sure to secure the lid on chimney after using it.

EXTERIOR CHECK

Once the attic is secured, make sure to perform a thorough check of the exterior as squirrels can enter homes through the tiniest holes even the size of a hand fist. Gaps between wooden panels and rotten surfaces can potentially be entry points for squirrels.

Preventive measures can help to keep squirrels out of your home for a long time. But, if you are reading this blog because you already have a squirrel squeaking through your attic, we have you covered too. First examine if there are squirrels in your attic. For this ball up a few newspapers and fill them in the hole. Wait for a couple of days. If you notice that the newspapers have been pushed, get a trap from your nearest hardware store. If not, chances are that there are no squirrels in your house. Remember, release the squirrel from the trap at its entry point in your home so that they are not stressed by unknown surroundings. Make sure to completely block their entry point before releasing them in the wild.

While getting rid of a single squirrel may seem tedious, imagine handling a squirrel’s nest. If a squirrel has built a nest and already has babies, it may be impossible and wrong to get rid of the squirrel. However, it doesn’t mean you need to make a home for them. There are some effective ways in which a squirrel and its babes can also be removed without any harm.

The first option is to wait until the babies mature and leave the dwelling by themselves. Another option is to make the mother squirrel move the babies by herself. This encompasses the following steps:

• Locating the nest
• Pulling off the top of the nest or sliding the nest away by a foot
• Place a small talk radio at a 6ft distance
• Place an ammonia filled rag near the nest
• The mother will remove the babies by herself very quickly if these steps are followed.

If nothing works, you may consider calling a qualified exterminator to get rid of the squirrel. The expert pest control company, Gilpin’s Pest Control, can take care of your squirrel problem efficiently.