Squirrels are funny wild animals. It is a delight to watch them running and playing. Unfortunately, sometime their lives interfere with our lives, and the conflicts start when they choose to live and play in your attic.
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Squirrels in the attic, it is the most common scenario in North America. You realize that a wild animal is living in the attic when you hear different noises coming from above the ceiling. Many wild animals such as mice, rats, raccoons, bats, pigeons and of course squirrels may choose to live in your home attic.
It is very simple to find if you have squirrels in your attic. Unlike other wild animals, squirrels are active during the day. Therefore, if you hear funny noises such as scurrying and scratching during daytime, then you have squirrels in your attic. Especially gray squirrels are the most active in the morning and in the evening.
Why squirrels prefer to live in a house attic?
They are very adaptable and agile animals. Attic is the perfect place for them is dry, warm, safe and they realize quickly what good opportunity is for their nest or for storing their nuts.
They are rodent animals and they chew their way into the attic. If they find a gap in the house’ architecture is even better. They climb easy everything, and a tree with large branches near your house is a perfect road for them.
Damages
They make their bedding material, shredding wall and roof paper, insulation, etc. The biggest problem is that they can chew electrical wires, which can be a fire hazard. Sometime they can generate a flood chewing the PVC plumbing lines.
They are also, unhealthy animals. They urinate and defecate almost everywhere in the attic. These droppings smell bad and are carriers of Leptospirosis and Salmonella.
In many cases, squirrels choose to live in the chimney, which is even more dangerous and unhealthy for you.
How to remove squirrels humanely?
However, even these animals do not bother you for the moment you should consider their removal as a good option.
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1. Use Repellent
Repellent is working in many cases. In most cases repellent is efficient against a squirrel female which try to find a safe place for her future litters. Therefore, any scent as a predator urine or noise (you can use a radio) may decide her to leave the attic.
Spraying habanero sauce on any areas likely to be chewed can deter them.
You can use also, high-pitch electronic devices.
2. Use Traps
There are two kinds of traps lethal and non-lethal. If you want to remove squirrels humanly then consider trapping them and transferring them far away from your home.
However, usually the squirrel from your attic is a female, which have already given birth to its litters. In this case, you should take more precautions when removing them. You do not want to harm them and maybe it is better to call a professional to help you.