Squirrels are excellent climbers and can chew through wood easily, so they can climb onto your house and chew through a wooden gable to gain access to your attic. Twice a year (late summer, early winter), female squirrels give birth to a litter, so this is the most common time that they will seek shelter in your home.
Squirrels can easily damage your home
Once the squirrels are in your home, they can do widespread damage. The squirrels will find bedding material by shredding your insulation and wood frame. They will also chew through electrical wiring, which can lead to a fire. They can also chew through PVC, which can lead to flooding or water damage. Basically, they can cause enough damage where you would need to file an insurance claim. The only problem, your homeowner’s insurance policy often will not cover damage caused by the rodents. However, it does cause ensuing damage such as if a fire was caused, or if a pipe opened and caused water damage.
Here are Four Ways that squirrels can affect you directly:
1- Chewed Up Power Lines: Squirrels live in large nests they build in the junctures or nodes of tree branches. They also live in holes in tree trunks. Trees usually provide a surface where electrical wires are bounded. Trees might even encapsulate the wires. Squirrels living on these trees might place way too much weight on a utility or power line.
2- Creating holes in your Attic and Walls: Squirrels are rather curious creatures. If they live on a tree in your backyard or are abundant in the neighborhood, they are very likely to want to explore your house, particularly the easily accessible and empty area like the attic. To do so, they’ll chew a hole in the wall.
3- Nesting In the Attic: The most common area in your house for rodent activity is inside the attic. Once a squirrel gains access to the attic (which is often through the roof), they can build a nest in the fiberglass insulation or just use the attic to store their food and rest. It doesn’t matter how they choose to use your attic. It’s very unhygienic and unhealthy. Your average squirrel is quite far from house-friendly.
4- Increased Power Bill: Squirrels and little rodents love to chew holes. They’ll tear your wiring and make holes in the roofline. In the case of the latter, however, they are not likely to stop chewing. They’ll make the hole larger. This will further decrease the heat insulation of your house, and the damage will surely cause your power and other utility bills to rise.
How to Prevent Squirrels From Entering Your Home
It is important to fix any holes that squirrels may use to get into the attic. If you leave these holes open, eventually some type of wildlife will seek shelter through them. On the outside of the attic, you will want to secure any soffits and seal them shut. You’ll also want to make sure that any doors or windows shut properly, and don’t have any wide gaps on the outer edges that would allow rodents to squeeze through. On the inside of the attic, you’ll want to repair any previous damage caused by squirrels, like replacing insulation and inspecting all electrical wiring. You can install a steel screen to bolt over your vents; this will usually prevent access through them.
If the squirrels are inside your home, problems only grow bigger. Be proactive, check areas of your home such as the garage, attic, and basement regularly so you can locate holes or other access points before the squirrels do. Keeping these tips in mind this fall and winter season will help you avoid filing something like an Insurance Claim.
Let The Experts Handle It:
Go Green Pest Control provides caged trapping service which will allow removal of squirrels without harm to the Squirrels. Once captured, we will safely transport them far away to discourage a return appearance. For more detailed product information, please contact our team. For Help with any other pest control Service.
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