Squirrels are troublesome and destructive pests that will wreak havoc on the structure of your home if they get inside. These rodents will damage the insulation and leave a mess of feces and urine wherever they nest. They’ll even chew on electrical wires, putting your home at risk of power outages and fire. If there are squirrels living in your ceiling, you need to evict them as soon as possible. Call Pest Control Kitchener for help.
Two species of squirrel are very common in Ontario. The Eastern grey squirrel is the largest of the two, measuring somewhere between 23 and 30cm in length. This squirrel is either fully black or grey-brown in colour with a lighter white belly and pale rings around its eyes. The red squirrel is much smaller as it only grows up to about 21cm in length. As the name would suggest, this squirrel is reddish in colour. Both squirrels enjoy a diet of buds, nuts, seeds, and berries, but the red squirrel prefers the seeds of coniferous trees. Twice a year, in early spring and late summer, these squirrels deliver litters of 3 to 5 babies each.
Female squirrels look for places to nest during mating season. Trees are a squirrel’s natural habitat, but, unfortunately, human houses also make attractive homes. Much like the canopy of a tree, the attic or upper level of a house is safe and above ground. To get inside, squirrels look for a weak spot somewhere on the roof or outer wall and break in. Roof vents, chimneys, weakened soffits, and warped roof edges are common entry-points. As rodents, squirrels can easily chew through nearly anything, so they can chew their way through a vent’s material and find their way inside the attic or ceiling. Once inside, squirrels like to nest in the insulation of the home. During the day, especially at sunrise and sunset, you may hear squealing, scratching, and thumping sounds coming from inside the ceiling.
If there is a squirrel in your ceiling, you will need to find where exactly its nest is. Search your roof for any potential entry points and listen carefully. If you can, you should also search the inside of your attic. Look for any gaps or spaces a squirrel could fit through. Squirrels only use one entrance to their nests, so once you’ve found it, cover it with a one-way door. You may be able to purchase one at your local hardware store. The squirrel will eventually walk through the one-way door and be left outside, unable to get back into your house. Once there are no more squirrels living in your ceiling, you should seal up the entrance to prevent another infestation from happening again soon.
The process of removing a squirrel from the inside of your house is much easier said than done. The best way to get rid of a squirrel in your ceiling is to get the help of a professional. The certified wildlife removal technicians at Pest Control Kitchener perform thorough inspections to find exactly where the squirrels are nesting and have the tools to remove any squirrel infestation in the safest and most effective way possible. We also offer quality pest-proofing to keep the squirrels out for good. Call Pest Control Kitchener today: 226-778-3098.