Last winter was a brutal one for all of us. Let’s hope we don’t have a return trip this winter season. Not only did the cold and snow drive people indoors seeking warmth and shelter, wildlife was a well. Just imagine lying in bed on a cold winter night with a nice cozy fire in the fireplace. You are nice and quiet reading in bed when all of a sudden you hear something scamper across the bedroom ceiling. It must be just a mouse?, you convince yourself. Then you hear it again but this time it sounds like something much larger. The noise continues over the coming days and eventually the noise level begins to increase. Does this sound familiar to you? Other sounds that animals in the attic can make include scratching, thumping noises, digging, running, and even vocalizing. If you do decide there is an animal problem in your attic, making observations can help in the treatment of the problem. Do you hear the noises all over the attic or is it concentrated in one area? Do you hear the noise during the day or at night? Does it sound like one animal or more than one? Do you hear any vocal noises? If you do choose to use a wildlife removal professional to solve your problem, the more details you can provide the easier it will be to diagnose the issue. Now let’s discuss a few of the most common animals humans encounter taking up residence in their attic spaces. We will start with squirrels. Over the next couple of posts we will discuss raccoons and bats.
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS
Several types of squirrels including the eastern gray squirrel, southern flying squirrel, and red squirrel are potential invaders in our attics. As it gets colder, squirrels will look for shelter in walls, between floors, and in crawl spaces. They will use insulation as nesting material. The eastern gray squirrel is the most common species to live inside the home. Once they get inside the damage begins. Squirrels are rodents, and therefore they are excellent at chewing. Wires and wood of any kind have the potential to be chewed. Chewed wires are a very dangerous fire hazard. The other major problem with squirrels in the attic is all of the feces and urine they leave behind. If you just let the squirrels have their way up there the damage will be great. Once a squirrel moves in and feels at home, it will return every year. Most likely it is a female returning to raise a litter. Squirrels will have two litters per year so the numbers add up quickly!
If you usually hear noises during the day, it is most likely eastern gray squirrels. They are diurnal animals (active during the daytime). Flying squirrels are nocturnal (active at night). Squirrels are opportunistic animals when it comes to finding a way into the attic. They almost always enter high up on the house. They can climb very well so any part of the structure is reachable. Squirrels will chew existing holes bigger to get inside. Rotten wood is easy access for them as well. They only need a hole two inches big to get in. Gable vents make good squirrel doors. Most gable vents only have fly screening on them, making quick work for them to open a hole.
FLYING SQUIRRELS
Flying squirrels do not fly. They soar from place to place by stretching out flaps of skin on either side of their bodies. Most people that have problems with them have tall trees around the house that allows them to soar over to the high points on the house. Flying squirrels pose the same problems as gray squirrels. They are nocturnal animals so most of the noise they make is at night. Flyers can live in large colonies of 30 or more individuals. If left to multiply, they will quickly trash the insulation with their urine and feces.
If you do find yourself with a squirrel problem, it is best to hire a wildlife professional. If you don’t know what you are doing and you try to take care of it, more harm than good could come from it. Call Aaxis Wildlife Control today at (610) 247-0501 to have your squirrel problems solved permanently. Once they removed we will repair the access points to prevent reentry.