Do I Have Squirrels in My House?

Is scratching in your walls and attic driving you nuts? Are squirrels running on your roof or on the power lines leading to your home? Does it sound like something is knocking on your ceiling? You may find that you have yourself a good old-fashioned squirrel problem.

What Are the Signs of Squirrels in My House?

If you hear scampering in your attic, knocking noises above your head, or scratching in the ceiling and walls between 6:00am–10:00am or between 4:00pm–6:00pm, you quite possibly have squirrels in your home. If it is a pregnant squirrel that has chosen your home to birth her young, she will then look at this as her home. It won’t be long until you have a family of squirrels enjoying the benefits and bounty of your home as protection from the elements. The longer they remain, the more potential damage to your greatest investment, your home.

Squirrels 101

Gray squirrels are the primary squirrel species found in the Greater St. Louis region. The average adult squirrel is about 20 inches long.

Most adult females first breed in December or January, with a small percentage of older females breeding again in late spring. Babies are born after about 44 days and will remain in the nest for several weeks before heading out to explore the world.

What’s so bad about a Squirrel?

In a word: Damage. While many wildlife visitors to your property are merely a nuisance, a squirrel can pose a significant threat to property, health, and welfare. Squirrels are avid chewers, and the bark on your trees and shrubs is of particular interest to them. During the fall and winter, squirrels will often enter homes and businesses for shelter, while in the spring they enter to breed and raise their young.

Many structure fires of unknown origin are believed to be caused by pests, such as squirrels, gnawing into electrical wires. These zealous chewers have also been known to destroy wiring in cars.

Disease is also a concern where squirrels are concerned. They are known carriers of, and capable of transmitting, the following diseases: leptospirosis, salmonellosis, tularemia, encephalitis, typhus, and in very rare cases, rabies. Lyme disease is also spread by the ticks that squirrels carry.

The First Steps to Control Squirrels

Scratching in the walls or attic, or knocking noises above your head, can be telltale signs of mice or squirrels. A thorough inspection is the only way to determine which pest has invaded your home.

After consulting with you to pinpoint where the noises have been heard, a technician will inspect the gutter line and roof, looking for entry points and damage. If no obvious entry points are found, the attic will also be investigated to help identify nesting areas and activity.

Reclaiming Your Home or Business

Once a technician confirms that squirrels are present, a customized treatment plan is developed to address both the infestation and any damage.

Several factors are evaluated, including the construction of your home, the location and size of entry points, and the areas affected such as attic vents, soffits, gutter lines, or dormers. These considerations determine the most effective removal strategy.

During the removal process, monitoring is conducted to ensure no animals remain inside the structure. Since every infestation is different, the timeline can vary, but most removal processes are completed within 30 days or less.

Continued Pest Management with Holper’s

Preventing future infestations is always the goal. Once it has been confirmed that no activity remains for a sustained period, repair work begins to address any damage caused by squirrels.

To prevent re-entry, exclusion methods are installed, including sealing entry points and reinforcing vulnerable areas. Chimney caps may also be installed to block access.

Ongoing maintenance recommendations may include trimming tree branches 8 to 12 feet away from the structure to limit roof access.