How to Repair Squirrel Damage
If your house has been invaded by squirrels, you must know how to repair their damage. In many cases, you may not have noticed their presence until after they have left. You should first repair the damage they have done to your house, and then cut off their access points before the spring mating season. For more information on this topic, visit the website of Animal Remover.com. You can also learn how to prevent squirrels from destroying your home.
Trim trees to keep squirrels away
While we think of deer, birds, and rabbits when we think of wildlife in our Denver area, we often forget about the nuisance squirrels. While they’re small, squirrels can cause quite a bit of damage to your trees and landscaping. Squirrels scratch and strip the bark of trees, leaving exposed parts that are vulnerable to damage and disease. Here are some tips to keep squirrels away from your trees.
The first step to keeping squirrels from eating your tree is to prevent them from climbing your trees. Squirrels can chew on tree twigs and may even gnaw on them. If your maple trees are too old, you can remove the limbs or branches and release them. Remember that most trees can survive some damage, so do not worry about the twigs and leaves if you do this.
Install drip edge
If you notice squirrel damage on your fascia or decking, you may need to install a drip edge. This simple accessory bridges the gap between your decking and the back of the gutter. Without it, you can’t keep out these pesky creatures, as they will often chew right through the wood or fascia. A properly installed drip edge will also act as a rodent-resistant armor. If you notice the appearance of rotting wood, contact a professional exclusion specialist who will repair any damage, including caulking and painting.
When you install drip edge, you’ll be preventing squirrels from getting on your roof and tearing into your home. Squirrels are known for their propensity to chew through shingles and fascia, and it’s much harder for them to do this if you have this installed. Drip edges are made of galvanized steel, which makes them extremely tough for wildlife to chew through. Not only does this help you keep your roof safe, but it’s also a cost-effective way to repair squirrel damage.
Repair insulation
A professional can easily repair a squirrel’s nesting material, which is usually your insulation. However, squirrels chew up insulation, leaving it contaminated with feces and decreasing the energy efficiency of your home. A specialist from Landmark can remove the contaminated insulation and replace it with clean insulation. To prevent the infestation from happening again, Landmark also applies a residual product that will control the parasites that the squirrels may have left behind.
Squirrels will run across the insulation, compressing and pounding it down. This reduces its R-value, increasing your heating and cooling bills. A professional can remove the damaged insulation by using a large vacuum and replace it with new material. The added cost of replacing the damaged insulation isn’t worth the hassle of dealing with a squirrel infestation. However, if you can afford it, repair the insulation yourself. Otherwise, you may have to replace the entire attic and rebuild the home from scratch.
Clean up droppings
Before attempting to clean up squirrel droppings, you should know what to expect. The feces and urine left by these creatures are a breeding ground for various diseases and disease-causing organisms. Squirrel poop is similar to that of rats, and can be anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and one eighth to one inch across. In addition to causing damage to your lawn and garden, these droppings can also harbor disease-causing spores, which are spread through contact and inhalation. Hence, you should always wear protective gear when cleaning up their droppings.
Squirrel droppings are slick, smooth, and black. They are larger and resemble the stools of rats, but their appearance is not very different from that of mice. Squirrels usually stick to a centralized diet of nuts, berries, acorns, and insects. These can leave behind extensive damage to your home. This is why it is crucial to clean up squirrel droppings as soon as possible after they leave.
Prevent squirrels from entering your home
If you’d like to prevent squirrels from entering your home, you need to take the appropriate steps to ensure their safety. Many animals have a similar reaction to humans. They respond with aggression when their safety is in danger, and squirrels are no exception. Furthermore, squirrels are prone to diseases and parasites, which can harm your pets. Here are a few tips to help you prevent squirrels from entering your home.
Remove tree limbs that can offer an entry point for squirrels. Leaving limbs in open spaces allows squirrels easy access to the roof. Make sure you cut branches away from the roofline, and cover open holes around chimneys and other openings. Once you have completed these steps, call pest control to come and remove the squirrels. Otherwise, you may have to remove the squirrels and replace the damaged wood.
What are some common signs of squirrel damage?
Some common signs of squirrel damage include chewing on wires gnawing holes in wood and scratching or dug up insulation.
What kind of damage can squirrels cause?
Squirrels can cause a variety of damage including Chewing on wires which can create fire hazards gnawing holes in wood which can weaken structures and scratching or dug up insulation which can compromise the home’s energy efficiency.
How do I prevent squirrel damage?
There are a few things you can do to prevent squirrel damage including: sealing up any entry points into your home trimming trees and shrubs away from your home and removing any food sources that might attract them.
What should I do if I find a squirrel in my home?
If you find a squirrel in your home the best thing to do is to gently guide it outside using a broom or similar object.
Once it is outside make sure to seal up any entry points it may have used to get in.
How do I know if a squirrel is getting into my home?
Some common signs that a squirrel is getting into your home include: finding droppings in your home hearing scratching or scampering noises and seeing damage to your insulation or wires.
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels are mostly herbivores and their diet consists of things like nuts seeds fruits and vegetables.
However they will also eat small insects and birds eggs on occasion.
What is the best way to get rid of squirrels?
The best way to get rid of squirrels is to seal up any entry points they are using to get into your home remove any food sources that might be attracting them and to live-trap them if necessary.
What is live-trapping?
Live-trapping is a method of capture where an animal is lured into a trap with bait and then detained live for relocation or euthanasia.
How do I set a live-trap?
First you will need to purchase a live-trap from a hardware or pet store.
Once you have your trap bait it with something that the animal is attracted to such as nuts seeds or fruits.
Once the trap is baited place it in an area where you have seen the animal and check it regularly.
Where can I release a squirrel once I have caught it?
Once you have caught a squirrel it is important to release it in an appropriate location away from your home.
Some good places to release squirrels include: parks forests or nature reserves.
What should I do if I can’t release a squirrel?
If you are unable to release a squirrel the best thing to do is to contact your local animal control or wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance.
What are some other methods of getting rid of squirrels?
In addition to live-trapping other methods of getting rid of squirrels include: shooting them using squirrel-proof fencing and applying repellents.
What is the best time of year to get rid of squirrels?
The best time of year to get rid of squirrels is in the late fall or early winter when they are preparing for hibernation.
What is the best time of day to get rid of squirrels?
The best time of day to get rid of squirrels is in the early morning or late evening when they are most active.
How long does it take for squirrels to die after eating poison?
It typically takes 3-5 days for squirrels to die after eating poison.
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.
