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One of the most common types of infestations to
be found in areas of properties above ground
level is a squirrel infestation, and while at
first glance these little creatures can appear
to be cute, when they are in your home the
damage they can cause certainly is not. There
are several variables when it comes to dealing
with each infestation, with the number of
animals certainly having an influence on how
long it will take to remove the squirrels.
However, when done correctly a squirrel
infestation isn’t one that should take too
long to deal with, as long as you are thorough
in the work that you are carrying out.
The Best Method Of Removing Squirrels
In the vast majority of squirrel infestations,
it will be in the attic that these little
rodents will be located, which means that it
gives you a good idea of where to start. The
first part of the process is to carry out a
detailed survey around the roof-line of the
property, looking for any holes, which can be
quite small, that the squirrels are using to get
in and out. You will then need to seal most of
these entry holes, and over the remaining one or
two access point, you should install a one-way
funnel or exclusion netting, which will allow
the squirrels out and then prevent them from
being able to get back in to the property.
How Long Will This Take To Be Successful?
This approach to dealing with a squirrel
infestation can actually be very successful, and
in some cases the results that you can see will
take only a few days. Once you have installed
the exclusion measures, you will need to monitor
the attic or loft cavity regularly for signs of
activity, and it is also worth checking to make
sure there aren’t any nests of squirrel babies
remaining, as in some cases, these may also need
to be removed. Once you are confident that there
are no more signs of squirrel activity present,
remove the funnels or netting, and seal these
remaining holes to prevent other animals from
being able to get in. Still an issue? Some squirrels are attracted to bird feeders.
Learn more about squirrels living in ubran and rural environments: Do more squirrels live in urban areas, or wild areas?
What Could Go Wrong?
One of the most common failures in this approach
is simple - squirrels can access the attic
through very small holes, and in some cases
these holes don’t always have to be around the
roof-line, so if they can still get back in the
exclusion materials will be ineffective. This
can mean you may have to be persistent, and look
for signs of where the squirrels have been
active, to give you clues about where the
remaining access holes are. Squirrels are also
quite clever and adaptable creatures too, so in
some cases they may also be able to find an
alternative way of getting into the attic or
loft cavity of the property.
Alternative Methods Of Removing Squirrels
From A Building
While exclusion is the approach that generally
works best with squirrels, if you have a
situation where there are quite a few animals,
or you have a larger property with lots of
access holes, then using repeater traps is
another possible option. This will involve
installing a one-way cage trap over some of the
holes, and then removing the squirrels caught in
these traps over a regular basis. You certainly
shouldn’t try to use poison or any type of
repellent when dealing with squirrels, as
repellents are generally ineffective, and poison
will often cause more problems in terms of
dealing with animal carcasses than it will
actually solve in your building.
For more information, you may want to click on
one of these guides that I wrote:
How
much does squirrel removal cost? - get the
lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of squirrels - my main
squirrel removal info guide.
Example squirrel trapping photographs - get
do-it-yourself ideas.
Squirrel job blog - learn from great
examples of squirrel jobs I've done.
Ammonia as Squirrel Deterrent - The Truth You Won't Find Online
Bright Lights & Squirrels: Do They Work?
Ways to Kill Squirrels on Your Property