If you’re hearing the chirping, rolling, or running noises up in the attic during the middle of the day, and don’t know what to make of it, congratulations – you probably have squirrels!
Now, the first thing homeowners ask us when dealing with such a problem is, why do squirrels seem to love my attic so much? Why not other areas of the house? And of course, what can I do to get rid of them?
If you want to skip straight to that last portion, we recommend that you visit squirrelattic.com to learn about humane squirrel removal. But for now, let’s talk a bit about what it is about squirrels and your attic.
So what are squirrels looking for, exactly?
To understand a squirrel infestation, you first need to put yourself in the squirrel’s shoes (so to speak) – what is it that these creatures want? Well, like most other animals and living beings on this earth, squirrels are mainly looking for three things: food, water, and shelter.
And the reason why they’re hanging around human homes so much is that our homes offer at least one of the three (though often, more).
Okay, but why the attic?
So we know why squirrels are here, but what is it about the attic? Well, the reason why squirrels love your attic so much is simply that the attic is a space in your home that’s safe from the elements and fairly easy to access. The way wild animals get into the attic is often not by clawing their way in, or anything vicious like that. No, the truth is, since the attic isn’t that frequented, and since roof inspections are sparse, it’s not uncommon for natural wear and tear to occur, creating gaps and cracks in the walls and roofs. And that is the perfect entryway for a squirrel.
And the fact that we don’t spend as much time in the attic as we do in other rooms in the house is just the reason why you’re more likely to find a squirrel nest up there. Because there aren’t that many people (read: predators) to endanger the squirrels. Because the attic is usually left on its own for long stretches of time, it provides an ideal space for wild animals to live in, without worrying too much about being discovered. It’s warm and fairly protected from the elements, not to mention other wild predators, so in other words, ideal for their needs.
On top of it all, squirrels love your attic because it’s usually pretty cluttered, with boxes and other storage stuff up there. Only to them, it’s not storage stuff or your precious memories from third grade. It’s ideal nesting material. So there you have it, that’s why squirrels love attics so much, because they’re cluttered, deserted shelters.
So what can you do?
The good news is that, as a homeowner, there are a bunch of things you can do to keep squirrels out of your attic. The first thing is, to check your roof and attic walls on a regular basis. We don’t mean every week, but once every 2-3 months would be a great time to run a quick check, especially if you’ve been getting harsh weather (storms, hurricanes, etc.), which might have damaged the structure of your roof.
Look for holes and cracks, no matter how small and irrelevant they may seem, and fill them up with sturdy material that’s difficult to chew or claw through (think wire mesh, caulk, or expandable foam).
Second, try to clean up and rearrange your attic. Try to get rid of the stuff you no longer need, because the cleaner the attic is, the less appealing it becomes to squirrels (since open spaces mean more exposure to potential predators).
You might also want to consider secondary attractions to your property like food sources (fallen fruit, bird feeders, pet food, etc.), and water sources (bird baths, ponds, leaks).
And if squirrels in your attic are causing a serious problem for you, don’t hesitate in calling Complete Wildlife Removal Wyoming. Hiring a professional wildlife removal company is often the best, and not to mention the quickest way to get rid of undesired wild animals.
