Hey there. Today I want to help you solve an attic squirrel problem. These rodents are good jumpers and can climb a wall in a few seconds. The squirrel nests on the roof are a widespread issue because the population of squirrels is big, and they search for the warm shelter quite frequently.
They damage the electrical cables and can carry some dangerous diseases. They also like to crunch wood furniture or walls. As you see, you better protect your house from the squirrel attack, and I will describe the best methods to you.
What Does a Squirrel Look Like?
The rodents we talk about today are medium-sized with a long tail and vivid coloring. There are several types of squirrels, but not all of them want to live in your house. The most common species that tend to get to the roofs and cause damage are grey squirrel and red squirrel.
Their population is large, that’s why they sometimes need to find a shelter in a human house. I would tell you more about these rodents and how to identify them.
Eastern gray squirrel is common in the North America area. It is a tree squirrel that has grey and sometimes brown fur. The coloration of its underbelly is white, just like any other squirrel’s underbelly. It also has a big fluffy tail. The size of the body is between 9.1 and 11.8 inches, and the tail is the same measurement.
Gray squirrel hoards food in different places for the latest safekeeping. They consume tree bark, berries, various types of nuts and seeds, etc. They have strong teeth that may damage the trees and some solid plants. These squirrels can appear in your attic because they search for a warm place. They may use your attic as a nest for wintertime and cause damage by chewing the electrical cables or wood furniture.
The red squirrel is smaller than the gray one and has a height of about 8 to 9 inches. It also has a bushy tail that helps to balance while jumping and keep warm during the sleep. These squirrels are usually red, but the color varies due to the time of year and location: Its winter fur is darker and thicker.
Related Post: How to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels
The belly is white, and the animal also has whitish circles around the eyes and ear tufts, in which it differs from the grey squirrel. They have curved claws which they use to get to the roof climbing the walls.
Their diet includes mostly the seeds, hazelnuts, and some other nuts, berries, and young shoots. Red squirrels are active during the day when they search for food. They, like all squirrels, look for a place for their nest before the winter comes and may occupy your attic. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to protect your house.
How to Detect a Squirrel?
Squirrels are quite noisy neighbors, so it is easy to detect them at the moment they appear. They need to get to the roof, and they make this by climbing the walls. You may detect them when they are only trying to get to your house because they will make a loud sound.
If you did not see how the squirrels get to the attic, but you think they can be there, the first sign is the sound of scurrying on the roof. When the squirrels find the place to live, they tend to make a nest. That’s why they need to get away to collect the materials and then return. They are active during the day, so you will hear them.
If you have children or pets, for example, dogs, it may be harder to detect the noise squirrels make. In this case, try to decrease the activity in your home for some time, but don’t get close to the attic because the squirrels may get scared.
When you are sure that someone is living on your roof, you should go and search for other signs. You may find the footprints near the windows or other open spaces. But it is not always easy to see them. In case you did not detect anything, you may put some flour on the stuff in the attic, where it is possible for a squirrel to leave the footprint.
Wait for one day, and if you see medium-sized footmarks, be sure it is a squirrel. It may also be mice, but their feet are smaller, and they are active at night. It is important to see a difference because you need to know what pests to fight and what pest control products to use.
Another sign of the squirrel is droppings on the floor. If you detect some unpleasant smell and you see the animal excrement, you need to take quick steps. The first reason is the damage they can cause to the electricity and construction of your home.
But what is more important, they may carry various diseases. When you clean after the squirrel or any other rodent, always wear gloves. After you made sure the animals are in your house, you should choose the best way to remove them.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic?
I will provide the step-by-step guide which is easy to apply, and repel squirrels from attic. It consists of four steps and a list of remedies from which you can choose what to use. All the products will work effectively, and it only depends on your preferences.
Step 1
The first step is to find entry points around the home, especially in the attic. Squirrels get to the attic by climbing on the walls or jumping from the trees. They rarely will enter your main entrance, so you should search for the open space on the roof. It could be windows, tubes, crack in the wall or floor.
Step 2
The next step is to seal all the entry points except one. You need to do this to allow the squirrels to run away after they smell the repellent. You may use old cloth or furniture to close all the entries. It is not necessary to do if you use traps, but this may prevent the attack of the other squirrels.
Step 3
After you make sure all the open spaces are closed, you need to trim all tree branches near the roof. Squirrels are good jumpers, so you should cut all the long limbs. It is an important step because squirrels may be afraid to get to the roof using the walls. The noise people make can scare them. But using the tree branches, they may easily get to your attic.
Step 4
The last step is to apply the repellent or set a trap to catch a squirrel. You may choose from the living cages, that are organic and won’t hurt the animals. There is also a variant to use the ultrasonic repellent that frightens the pest with pressure waves.
Сhemical repellents will scare the squirrels away with their strong smell. You can also use the poison that attracts squirrels with its taste, but I don’t recommend using it inside as rodents may die in a hard-to-reach place. All these remedies are easy-to-use and provide effective protection from rodents.
Best Attic Squirrels Control Remedies
Havahart 1077 Easy Set One-Door Cage Trap for Squirrels and Small Rabbits – Best Squirrel Live Trap
Specifications:
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Special Features: Maximum resistance to rust and corrosion
- Item Weight: 4 pounds
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 17 x 7 x 7 inches
- Target Species: Weasel, Rabbit, Squirrel, Mink, Skunk
The Havahart manufacturer knows how to get squirrels out of attic. Most of the company’s electronic traps do not harm the pets and other living species and save your energy. Havahart team strives to create more and more innovations developing effective technologies to control the wildlife.
The cage is the best way to get rid of squirrels in the attic. The construction allows catching only the specific animals, so the trap won’t work on mice or rats. It has a spring-controlled door and triggers that react to movement and quickly close the cage.
You will easily transport the cage because it has a comfortable handle that will protect you from contact with the animal. The smooth edges allow keeping squirrels safe inside the trap.
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Diaotec Squirrel Repellent Ultrasonic Rodents and Squirrels Repeller – Best Squirrel Ultrasonic Repellent
Specifications:
- Safe, Humanely
- Is Electric: Yes
- Item Weight: 10.4 ounces
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 6.7 x 4.2 x 4 inches
- Target Species: Cockroach, Cricket, Flea, Mouse, Rat, Ant, Cat, Squirrel, Mole
Diaotec squirrel repeller was created to protect your house from the rodents using the intermittent ultrasonic sounds. This product is safe for pets and children. Releasing the acoustic wave and 25KHz-60KH ultrasonic wave, it can get squirrels out of the roof.
The construction of the repellent allows you to secure your home all-season and covers from 5,000 to 6000 sq. ft. You may use it not only in the attic but also in your whole house, in the apartment, or any other indoor space. The product has a four-function switch. You can check what sounds the pest hears and how properly the repellent work – it is the first mode.
The “trans” function is the most effective in fighting the squirrels in roof space because it uses the pressure waves which irritate them. The ultrasonic sound is better to use when you want to repel the smaller rodents or insects. You may apply the repeller also when you want to prevent the attack of squirrels.
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Plantskydd Animal Repellent – Best Natural Squirrel Repellent For Attic
Specifications:
- Item Form: Liquid, Spray
- Item Volume: 32 Fluid Ounces
- Item Weight: 2.57 pounds
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 11 x 9 x 6 inches
- Target Species: Rabbits, Elk, Moose, Hares, Voles, Squirrels, Chipmunks and Other Herbivores
The Plantskydd company has been offering products that are proven by independent research for more than 30 years. It is confirmed that the odor which Plantskydd repellents emit is very powerful in fighting the attic squirrel problem. It is also certified to be harmless for animals, people, and plants.
If you want to remove squirrels from an attic, this product will do it for you after the first usage. It releases the chemicals that are unpleasant for squirrels. The basis made of vegetable oil provides a long-lasting effect. Even when three months pass from the day you applied the Plantskydd repellent, your attic will be secured.
You may use it also to fight the deer, rabbit, chipmunks, etc. The repellent can be helpful if you want to protect your garden. It is safe for your plants and the environment.
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JT Eaton 166004 709-PN Bait Block Rodenticide Anticoagulant Bait – Best Squirrel Poison Bait
Specifications:
- Active Ingredient: Diphacinone .005%
- Number of Items: 144
- Item Weight: 1 ounces
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 11 x 11 x 10 inches
- Target Species: Mice, Rats
If you are looking for professional products for getting squirrel out of attic, JT Eaton knows a lot about this. This manufacturer offers repellents and baits that are available in a variety of sizes. Even the packaging of the products is organic, so with JT Eaton, you don’t need to worry about environmental protection.
The peanut butter flavoring of the rodenticide attracts the squirrels in the attic. The product is perfect to use in the indoor basements. In a few days, the active ingredient of the poison will eliminate the tiresome pets. You can store the blocks of bait for about a year and use them when needed. The rodenticide also works on smaller rodents, such as rats and mice.
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How to Keep Squirrels Out of Attic?
If you live near the area that squirrels may inhabit, and you want to prevent their visits, I will give you some tips. Firstly, you need to find all the entries to the roof that you can seal with no damage to the inhabitants of the house. You should also trim the branches that reach the attic.
In short words, you may repeat the steps that I described above. You can remove all the food that can attract squirrels, such as nuts, seeds, and others. The ultrasonic and chemical repellents can also be applied to prevent the forming of squirrel nests. You may also use the organic homemade repellents.
Squirrels do not like strong smells like spicy odors, vinegar, garlic, lemon, etc. You can put some of these near the roof openings. But the professional remedies are more effective because they have a higher concentration of the chemicals.
FAQ
How to Catch a Squirrel in the Attic?
If you want to catch a squirrel, it is better to use the trapping squirrels in attic devices. In case you want to scare them, you may apply ultrasonic or other repellents.
How Do Squirrels Get in the Attic?
They have curved claws and can climb the walls. They also jump from the tree branches.
What Time of Day Do You Hear Squirrels in the Attic?
The squirrels are active during the day.
How to Tell If You Have Rats or Squirrels in the Attic?
Rats are more active at night, squirrels may scramble at day time. Rats do not leave the footprints because they have long claws. If you have found the footsteps prints, you can be sure it is a squirrel.
Key Takeaways
It feels safer if the squirrels don’t sleep in your house, am I right? I’m glad that I was able to share the information about how to control squirrels in the attic with you and hope it will help you. Rodents are quite dangerous pests, and it may be hard to catch them.
But with professional repellents and traps, it takes a few days to protect your house and have a calm sleep. The plus of using the repellents is that they will also protect you from other rodents, such as rats, mice, rabbits.
Have you already faced the squirrels in the attic? What measures did you take? You can write in the comments below.
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