How to Access Squirrel Damage Inside Walls
If you’re battling with squirrel damage in your home, you need to get to the root of the problem. In this article, we’ll provide tips on how to repair squirrel damage in your walls, keep them out, and repel them with cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Hopefully, you’ll find this helpful. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck dealing with a messy mess that will take forever to fix.
Table of Contents
Repairing damage caused by squirrels
If you have experienced squirrel damage inside your walls, it’s time to get to work. These animals can do a great deal of damage, ranging from causing major structural issues to causing electrical damage. As a result, it’s important to repair all the damage they’ve done before they start nesting inside your walls again. You can start by replacing damaged vents, patching up holes in brickwork, and making permanent repairs to prevent future infestations.
After removing the damaged insulation, Ryan checked out the hole in the upstairs closet. He saw some cardboard taped over the hole in the drywall. Peeling back the cardboard, he saw a leafy nest. Obviously, the squirrel had tried to get inside the closet, so he climbed the ladder and checked the outside of the closet. A gaping hole and water damage were evident. Luckily, the squirrel had not yet chewed through the wall, but they were close.
A squirrel’s trail of urine and feces can ruin a home’s insulation and wood. Squirrels will live in walls and attics for years. Eventually, the damage will get so bad that it will be expensive to repair. After all, the waste is there for a reason. You may need to replace insulation or wood. Eventually, you’ll also have to clean out the area.
Keeping them out of walls
If you’ve noticed squirrels in your walls, they’re more likely to scurry towards your attic. You can deter them by using peppermint oil, crushed red pepper flakes, or apple cider vinegar, sprayed on the walls two to three times a day. If you don’t want to use peppermint oil, you can mix two cups of water with two tablespoons of peppermint oil and spray around entry points.
You can also use steel wool to plug up holes that allow squirrels to enter. While this method may only work temporarily, it’s easy to replace steel wool with a screen or metal flashing. You can also use cayenne pepper to repel the rodents without harming them. If you can’t find any suitable alternative for steel wool, you can always turn to other methods, like placing a funnel-like structure under your eaves.
Squirrels are known for using wall cavities as their preferred nesting spot. Since their nests are typically in attics and chimneys, it can be difficult to find evidence of their presence inside the house. However, it’s possible to use live traps to capture them. Cage traps can be mounted over the hole where the squirrels regularly access the wall. You can also use lethal traps. You should avoid leaving the carcasses of dead squirrels as they may attract more animals.
Repelling them with cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
Using Cayenne pepper or crushed red-pepper flakes can deter squirrels from chewing through the inside of your walls. These peppers are ground from a mixture of hot and spicy varieties, including black, cayenne, and white pepper. Capsaicinoids in peppers cause burning sensations in mammals. Because of this, cayenne, white pepper, and black pepper are not desirable to squirrels. You can make your own pepper spray by mixing four cups of water and one tablespoon of cayenne, peppermint, and dish soap. These ingredients will repel the squirrels without harming them.
Another repellent is vinegar. This can be either white or apple cider vinegar. Add water to create a spray. Then, spray the plants in the area. Remember that pepper repellents only work as a temporary fix. If you’re not able to buy cayenne pepper, you can purchase it in bulk at discount stores. Another way to repel squirrels is by placing peppermint oil on cotton balls or placing them inside nylon stockings.
Cayenne pepper has several benefits for pest control. Its hot taste makes it an excellent repellent for pests. Sprinkle it around bird feeders, cushions, and other outdoor areas. Cayenne pepper works as an insecticide and a natural pest repellent. Unlike poisons, cayenne pepper won’t burn your plants, so you can rest easy knowing that your house is free of pests.
How do I access squirrel damage inside walls?
Answer: You will need to remove the squirrels from the wall void and then repair the damage they have caused.
How do I remove squirrels from a wall void?
Answer: You will need to remove the siding or drywall to expose the wall void.
Then you will need to set up a one-way door to allow the squirrels to exit the void but not re-enter.
Where do I get a one-way door to keep squirrels out?
Answer: You can purchase a one-way door at a hardware store.
How do I set up the one-way door?
Answer: You will need to follow the instructions that come with the door.
What do I do with the squirrels once they are out of the wall void?
Answer: You will need to release them into the wild away from your home.
How do I repair the damage the squirrels have caused?
Answer: You will need to patch up any holes or damage to the siding or drywall.
Do I need to do anything to prevent the squirrels from returning?
Answer: Once you have repaired the damage and removed the food source the squirrels should not return.
However you may want to take additional steps to prevent them from returning such as sealing up any holes or cracks they could use to enter your home.
What if I cannot find the source of the squirrels?
Answer: If you cannot find the source of the squirrels you may need to call a professional.
How can I prevent squirrels from entering my home in the first place?
Answer: You will need to take steps to squirrel-proof your home such as sealing up any holes or cracks they could use to enter.
What if I have a squirrel in my home?
Answer: If you have a squirrel in your home you will need to remove it.
You can do this by following the steps in Question 2.
What if I cannot remove the squirrel myself?
Answer: If you cannot remove the squirrel yourself you will need to call a professional.
What should I do if I find a dead squirrel?
Answer: If you find a dead squirrel you will need to dispose of it.
The best way to do this is to place it in a garbage bag and put it in the trash.
What if I find a nest of squirrels?
Answer: If you find a nest of squirrels you will need to remove them.
The best way to do this is to follow the steps in Question 2.
What if the squirrels have chewed through electrical wires?
Answer: If the squirrels have chewed through electrical wires you will need to call an electrician.
What if I have a questions that has not been answered here?
Answer: If you have a question that has not been answered here you can contact a professional for help.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
