Keeping Squirrels Out of Your Attic

Do you hear critters in your attic and suspect an unwanted pest has visited?

Problem: An unwanted pest has taken up residence and has become a nuisance. You are searching for ways to remove it and prevent it from returning. You are hearing sounds in the walls, above the ceiling, or below the floor, such as scratching and crawling. You may notice visual evidence on wires, vents, wood, or footprints. You may also notice an odor or water damage.

Reason: You are worried that a wildlife pest, such as a squirrel (something other than an occasional mouse), may cause damage to your attic, insulation, wiring, and possibly stored items, as well as pose a health risk due to the animal’s droppings.

How to Remove Squirrels from Your Attic

Considerations & Solutions: There are several options to deal with squirrels who are causing property damage.

Hire a Wildlife Damage Control Agent. Contact a licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent to remove the wildlife animal causing property damage. The following link will allow you to find agents in your county: https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/WCA.

Trap and Remove Wildlife Yourself With an NC Depredation Permit.

Try to locate a nest, if possible. It would be made of leaves, insulation, chewed cardboard, etc.

Seal any openings in your attic. Use caulking or ½” hardware cloth or wire mesh to cover small entry points into the space. Attempt to identify and cover all openings and leave one opening available for the squirrels to leave.

Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at https://www.ncwildlife.org/ for information and to obtain a Depredation Permit which allows property owners to kill, trap and relocate wildlife causing damage.

Relocate pest. After trapping, it is legal to relocate the squirrels, but according to their guidelines, it must be onto private property with the permission of the landowner. Resources suggest relocating five miles from your home.

Injured Squirrels. If a squirrel becomes injured in the process of trapping, contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator who is the only individual who can attend to the animal. You can search by your county at this link: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Injured-Wildlife/Find-rehabilitators-by-county.

How to Prevent Squirrels from Nesting in Your Attic

Prevention.

Trim tree limbs near the roof line so they are at least six feet away from your residence to prevent squirrels from jumping onto your roof, which will then help prevent them from attic access.

Invest in a squirrel-proof bird feeder.

Use a plastic owl to scare squirrels.

Make a spray repellant out of water, garlic, and vinegar to use to discourage squirrels from entering.

Consider a motion-activated sprinkler system to spray when animals approach.

Benefits of Removing Squirrels from Your Attic

Investment Pay-Off: It is an obvious no-brainer – wildlife residing in your home will cause property damage. Squirrels and other rodents are chewers. Removal of nuisance animals will avoid future damage to areas such as wood, insulation, wiring, ductwork, vents, soffits, and more. Depending on the length of time the animal has taken up residence in your home, repair costs could range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

Conclusion

Conclusion: Do not wait. Be proactive in taking measures to remove the animal from your home. This is the best course of action to save money and to best protect your property and maintain the investment value of your home. The following link gives information on other wildlife challenges: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Have-A-Problem/Preventing-Wildlife-Conflicts.

John Norlin and the All Points Home Inspection team can help make sure your home and appliances are in tip-top shape. Check out all our Primary Home Inspection Areas to learn more.