When squirrels invade, they usually choose your attic, crawlspace or chimney as the site of their invasion. They can gnaw through any weak spot in the roof, wiggle through any hole and shimmy through any crack in the foundation.
Squirrels in the Attic
The most common place for squirrels to take up residence in your home is the attic. They prefer attics with exposed insulation as they like to shred the insulation to create burrows. They’ll also damage ductwork, gnaw on wooden beams and even chew on any wiring they find hidden behind the insulation. This is one of the things that makes a squirrel infestation so dangerous. Damaged wiring is one of the top causes of house fires.
Squirrels Can Carry Diseases and More
The second thing that makes a squirrel infestation so dangerous is that they can carry diseases such as rabies, tick fever and powassan encephalitis. These illnesses can be dangerous to people and pets. Squirrels often also carry fleas and ticks, which can leave the squirrel and infest your dog or cat. While squirrels are accustomed to people, an overly friendly or fearless squirrel is cause for concern as fearlessness toward humans is a sign of rabies infection.
Let the Pros Handle Squirrels
It’s important to never handle squirrels. Attempting to remove squirrels from your home yourself can result in you getting bitten, sickened or worse. Always call in wildlife professionals to trap and relocate squirrels. There are also squirrel repellents and even lighting devices that squirrels dislike enough to leave the home. It’s also possible that the squirrels’ invasion opened the way for other critters to invite themselves in such as bats, raccoons and insects. A wildlife removal professional can handle getting all of the unwanted critters out of your attic, crawlspace or chimney safely.
Once the infestation has been taken care of, it’s important to remedy how they got in to begin with. Seal cracks, repair holes, replace shingles and install a new and secure chimney screen are just some of the steps you’ll need to take to ensure you don’t experience another invasion of these unwanted housemates.