The Hidden Dangers of Squirrels in The Attic
Squirrel infestations are unfortunately very common in the Hampton Roads area. These nuisance rodents will scratch and gnaw their way into your attic, where they can shred your insulation, often soiling it in the process. Squirrels can also cause structural damage to wooden beams in your attic and chew through wires, which can lead to an electrical fire. Squirrels tend to stay out of the way, not venturing into living spaces often because of their healthy fear of humans. Unfortunately, this often means that squirrel infestations are allowed to proliferate longer, as homeowners are unaware of the squirrels inside their attic or are underestimating the damage that squirrels in the attic can cause. If you need squirrel trapping and removal services in Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, or Hampton, contact the wildlife experts at Summit Environmental Solutions today at 757-901-4455!
How Do Squirrels Get Into Your Attic?
Attics are a preferred nesting spot for squirrels because it provides them with a safe, warm place to build their nests and raise their babies, protected from predators and harsh weather.
Squirrels will get inside your attic space by using their sharp claws and powerful front teeth to widen entry points. These rodents will look for small gaps or damaged areas of your soffit or fascia board, then they will begin widening these holes until they are big enough to fit through. Unscreened gable vents also provide easy access to the attic, as do unscreened roof ridge vents. Squirrels can also enter your home through your chimney, where they can either build their nest inside the chimney itself or move on to the attic space.
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Most Common Types of Squirrel Damage
Destroyed Insulation: once squirrels get inside your attic, they will make quick work of your insulation, shredding it to build their nests. This can ruin the insulation’s effectiveness, leading to higher energy bills as your HVAC system struggles to compensate.
Chewed Electrical Wires: Squirrels are rodents, armed with prominent front teeth that never stop growing. In order to keep the length of their teeth manageable, squirrels will gnaw on everything in sight, including the rubber covering around electrical wires, which can expose the bare wiring to the insulation, posing a serious fire hazard. The risk of a house fire is compounded more when squirrels bring in their own dry, dead nesting material into the attic.
Structural Damage: Squirrels will also gnaw on wooden beams and support structures inside your attic, weakening these structures and leading to structural failure in some cases. Squirrels entering and exiting your attic can exacerbate damage to gable vents, ridge vents, eaves, and even your siding.
Contamination: Squirrels will often soil your insulation with their urine and droppings, which can lower its effectiveness and create an unsanitary environment in your home. Squirrels can also spread diseases like tularemia and leptospirosis, and parasites like ringworm, fleas, ticks, and mites.
How To Tell If You Have A Squirrel Infestation
It’s important to take action as soon as possible if you suspect a squirrel infestation in your home, as squirrels can create expensive damage very quickly. If you are hearing scratching, scampering, or chewing noises coming from your attic, it’s a likely sign of squirrels. Accumulation of droppings and urine can lead to a foul smell coming from the attic, and if you go into a squirrel-infested attic, you might spot frayed wires, shredded insulation, and piles of nesting material. Squirrel nesting material can include things like dead leaves, dry twigs, straw, moss, dead grass, and other organic material. Spotting holes in your soffit or bent gable vents can also be a clear indicator that you have squirrels inside your attic.
Why Ignoring the Problem Can Cost You More
Never ignore the presence of squirrels within your attic. Squirrels can establish large infestations within your home, and what started as a mother squirrel and her babies can quickly become a large group of destructive rodents, completely ruining your attic insulation and creating an unsanitary, disease-filled environment with their urine and droppings. Ignoring a squirrel problem can cost you a lot in the long run, as squirrels will incessantly gnaw at wooden beams and other support structures within the attic, requiring costly repairs. Squirrels gnawing through wires can disrupt crucial electrical services in your home, as well as create a potential fire hazard. If you have HVAC ducts in your attic, an unchecked squirrel infestation can damage these as well, necessitating costly HVAC repairs. The most cost-effective way to deal with squirrels is to have them removed immediately.
How To Get Rid of Squirrels and Prevent Future Infestations
If you have squirrels nesting on your property in the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area, your best bet is to contact a licensed wildlife removal professional like Summit Environmental Solutions. Our team of wildlife experts will start off by carefully inspecting your home for signs of squirrels, locating all of their entry points as well as any weak spots that may be left vulnerable to wildlife intrusions. Next, we will begin trapping and removing the squirrels, often utilizing an exclusion trap, which involves sealing and fortifying all the entry points/weak points except for the main one, and placing a trap at the entrance so the squirrels are trapped as they leave. After all the squirrels are gone, we will seal up the main entry point, preventing these nuisance critters from getting back inside. Additionally, we can remove any damaged or soiled insulation, clean the affected area, and replace it with newer, highly-effective material. If you need safe, humane squirrel trapping and removal services in Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, or Hampton, contact the wildlife experts at Summit Environmental Solutions today to get started with a FREE estimate at 757-901-4455!