How Do You Know If You Have A Squirrel In Your Attic?

North American is full of squirrels. Look around the next time you are at a park, or on a walk. It doesn’t have to be in a forest, the neighborhood is full of them too. And they all have to live somewhere, just not in your attic.



So how do you know if squirrels have taken up residence? There are several signs that will tip you off and sounds in the attic are your first clue. Squirrels are active during the day, so if the sounds are made then, chances are you have squirrels. If they are nighttime sounds, it is more likely to be a raccoon or other rodent.

Another sign is smells. If squirrels have inhabited your attic for a while, the smell of their urine and feces will eventually find its way into your home. Just hope the smell doesn’t get exponentially worse. That could indicate a squirrel has died and it must be found. If you go into the attic and find bits and pieces of materials, such as leaves, twigs, paper and insulation, chances are that a female squirrel is raising her young. If repairs to the property are not performed, the squirrel will keep coming back for her next litter, and the next, and the next.

Now that you have established an unwanted tenant, what should you do? Remember, squirrels are rodents, so they need to chew to keep the constantly growing incisors in check. This means that they will chew on wiring, insulation around water pipes, wood and sometimes, even through drywall. This will cause significant damage to your home.

The best thing to do is hire a professional to deal with the little family. They know the latest technology on how to humanely trap the animals and how to decontaminate your attic. Decontamination is important for two reasons: one, this is the only way to get rid of the possible parasites in squirrel feces and urine that can make you sick; and two, the smell left behind can attract other animals to your attic, causing the same problem with a different unwanted tenant.

You can also install one-way doors on the places they use to get in and out of. A word of caution though; if you don’t repair places around your roof to make them chew-proof, the squirrel will only chew its way back in. They will just use a different place.

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