Squirrels in the Attic: Getting Rid of Them and Preventive Measures

As a homeowner in the Midwest, you know how annoying squirrels can be – they’re seemingly everywhere. They can mess up your garden and even worse, get inside your home. When you have squirrels in the attic, all hope seems lost.

They rustle around making all sorts of noise throughout the day and night. They won and you lost. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Getting rid of squirrels in the attic and preventing them from returning in the future is very much possible. We’ll go over how you can get rid of squirrels in the attic and preventive measures to take to keep them away for good.

Signs That You Have Squirrels in the Attic

The signs of squirrels in the attic are pretty obvious. You’ll hear rustling, scratching, chewing and you’ll probably hear them communicating.

You’re likely to hear them more when it’s colder out because they tend to stay out of the attic when it’s warmer.

Another sign is the odor that comes with squirrels in the attic. They’ll use your attic as a bathroom and the scent will be noticeable throughout your home.

Other signs to look for are nests that might be visible from the outside and any holes in your home’s exterior.

How to Get Rid of Those Squirrels in the Attic

There are a number of ways to get rid of squirrels in your attic. Different methods might work for different homeowners so it’s important not to rely on one method until you know what works for you.

Seal Any Holes

Thoroughly check your home’s exterior for any cracks, holes and other openings that shouldn’t be there that are large enough for a squirrel to fit through.

Cover your vents or chimney cap with strong mesh wiring. Patch up any chewed-out holes on your homes siding or soffit and fascia. Also, check your roof for any damaged shingles and repair or replace them.

Another important measure to take is to secure any openings that go from your attic into your home. Flustered squirrels will look for anywhere to go when they feel the attic is becoming unsafe.

Create an Exit and Draw Them Out

Once you’ve sealed all the holes, it’s important to leave one exit area for the squirrels to evacuate. To make sure they don’t reenter, create a funnel exit out of sheet metal or mesh wiring with the narrow end outside.

In an attempt to speed up the exit process, you can place some food next to the outside of the funnel to draw them out. However, this isn’t necessary as the squirrels will naturally leave the attic throughout the day. It’s just a tactic to help speed up the process.

Using Traps

One of the more common ways to get rid of squirrels in the attic is to use cage traps. You can find a live cage trap at your local hardware or department store.

Place the trap near the corners of your attic or anywhere that seems hidden. Use food such as nuts, crackers or apple slices to bait them in. Be sure to put the food in the cage where they can only access it by going completely in the cage.

Once you’ve trapped any squirrels, take them away from your home and let them go. Placing them in your yard again will only help draw them back to your home.

Also, Check with your local municipality to confirm any regulations about relocating animals.

Repellents

Another way to get rid of squirrels in the attic is to use repellents. Mothballs, lights and spicy mixtures are a few common repellents used to combat squirrels.

For more repellent ideas and inspiration, click here.

Preventive Measures to Take If You Have Squirrels In the Attic

Getting rid of squirrels in the attic is only the first step to keeping your home completely squirrel-free.

You’ll need to take preventive measures to ensure they never invade your home again.

Routine Home Inspection

You should regularly check your home’s exterior for any new holes and other various damage. Doing this once a month is good practice to prevent having squirrels in the attic.

If you notice that anything has changed, immediately fix the problem.

Have Durable Siding

Squirrels are relentless in their attempt to enter your home. If your siding isn’t up to standards, it creates an easy target for squirrels to enter your home.

Wood siding is susceptible to rotting, warping and is easily chewed by squirrels. A surefire way to prevent squirrels and other pests from getting inside your home is to install durable, long lasting vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding from Feldco will never rot, warp or crack. It also features a backing system that makes the siding resistant to rodents and pests from entering your home. Installing vinyl siding is an excellent way to prevent squirrels in the attic.

Don’t Forget Soffit and Fascia

Along with vinyl siding, it’s imperative to have soffit and fascia that’s in good shape. These are the areas underneath wherever your home overhangs and any horizontal spaces under the roof edges.

Soffit and fascia are major entryways for squirrels as they often go overlooked. If you find any holes in your home’s soffit or fascia, you should replace it immediately.

With Feldco’s soffit and fascia, you’ll never have to worry about your home’s exterior again. It’s extremely durable and will help keep the squirrels out of your attic for good.

Check Your Gutters

Squirrels use gutters to get around all the time. If your gutters are damaged, squirrels will use them as a hidden entry point into your home.

It’s important to regularly maintain your gutters so this doesn’t happen. If you find that your gutters have been a gateway for squirrels to enter your home, replace them right away.

Trim Your Trees

Any low hanging branches near your home are extremely welcoming for squirrels. Trim any branches near your home to make it harder for squirrels to get near your attic.

Heavy Duty Screens

Installing heavy duty screens behind your vents and any other large entry points will prevent squirrels from chewing and clawing their way into your attic.

Keep Your Property Clean

This may seem like an obvious measure to take as a homeowner. However, it’s important to keep your property clean especially near the garbage cans.

Anything you can do to limit the interest of squirrels is good measure for preventing squirrels in the attic.

Keep Squirrels Out for Good

If you’ve found squirrels in the attic, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. They’re annoying and can cause damage in your attic. Get rid of them by covering up entry points and using traps or repellents.

To keep them from ever coming back, make sure your siding, soffit and fascia are up to standards. Feldco has the best products on the market that offer excellent durability, dependability and energy efficiency.

Get a free quote online for our siding and gutter products or call us at 866-4FELDCO to start preventing your home from having squirrels in the attic.