How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic

Posted on July 25, 2017 by admin — No Comments ↓

Are you hearing noises and not sure what is causing them?

We may get taken in with the antics of squirrels and how interesting and fun they look. But we should not forget the havoc that they can cause to an attic, your valuables or your family. If by chance you have an uninvited guest that is a squirrel, if not discovered quickly, you’ll have a much more difficult situation to deal with.

For more information and a FREE INSPECTION/ESTIMATE Call 1-866-263-WILD or (941)729-2103. We are your local expert for humane nuisance bird, exclusion in Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and surrounding areas.

Getting rid of squirrels is always a job best left to professionals. We have the tools and squirrel removal equipment to ensure not only a successful capture, but a thorough inspection is done to find entry points. Ladders are always needed to to fully inspect a home for squirrel damages and openings that they use to gain entry into an attic.

Why does a squirrel LOVE my attic?

Small Squirrel Standing on Brown Wood — Small Squirrel Resting on Brown Wood

There are several reasons why a squirrel might be drawn to an attic. Squirrels are looking for the best place they can survive and do well. An attic provides a place out of the elements where they can feel somewhat protected as attics are not normally traveled by humans. Attics tend to be dry and warm even if you are in a cold climate. It’s almost like a hotel has put out a shingle stating “come stay here and build your nest and you won’t be disturbed” none of your enemies or threats are here so step right up!

So how do I get rid of them?

The first thing you will have to do is to seal off the entire attic. Cover up holes and entry points that are wide enough for a squirrel to get through. If you have vents, cover them with a wire mesh guard. Next, you should locate any areas that are chewed that lead inside– with the exception of one area. That is where the little guy will exit, and where he will be trapped. Additionally, make sure to secure openings between the attic and everywhere else in your home. There are several other steps to do additionally. However, if you would like to call a professional, please feel free to contact us. 1-866-263-WILD.

For more information or a FREE ESTIMATE on squirrel removal please call 1-866-263-WILD or (941)729-2103 and speak with a trusted professional. We would like to be your local expert and learn about your current situation. Call us now! We specialize in humane wildlife trapping and we take pride in using the most advanced technology which is the least invasive to you and your property.

Exclusion

Prevent squirrels from climbing power poles and individual trees by encircling them with a 2-foot-wide collar of metal 6 feet off the ground. To give trees adequate growing space, attach the metal collar using encircling wires held together with springs. Similarly, these squirrel baffles can be placed on poles that support bird feeders or bird houses. Many different squirrel-proof feeders are currently on the market that may deter squirrels. Prevent squirrels from traveling on wires by installing 2-foot sections of lightweight 2- to 3-inch diameter plastic pipe. Slit the pipe lengthwise, spread it open, and place it over the wire. The pipe will rotate on the wire and cause traveling squirrels to tumble.

Close openings to attics and other parts of buildings, but make sure not to lock squirrels inside. Place traps inside as a precaution after openings are closed. A squirrel excluder can be improvised by mounting an 18-inch section of 4-inch plastic pipe over an opening. The pipe should point down at a 45 degree angle. A one-way door can also be used over an opening to let squirrels out and prevent them from returning. Close openings to buildings with heavy 0.5-inch wire mesh or make other suitable repairs. Custom-made wire-mesh fences topped with electrified wires usually will keep squirrels out of gardens, but this method is costly, and squirrels do not often cause much damage to gardens. Source

Acorn Production in Overdrive! [Sarasota Wildlife Removal]

Posted on December 22, 2016 by admin — No Comments ↓

Acorns Everywhere, but what Causes It?

wildlife-removal-sarasota — Beautiful acorns in natural environment.

The scientists see and make note of this event every few years. Acorns, are dropping everywhere, but what causes it? “There is really not a valid understanding of the exact causes of these mass acorn drop events,” says a professor of wildlife biology from the University of Florida.

Oak production of acorns varies from year to year. However, there are certain years where the production goes into overdrive. That is when we see acorns in our driveways, on our sidewalks, popping under our tires and landing on our tin roofs with a pop-crack. This deluge of eating materials can draw unwanted pest animals to your property. If so, we can help you with removal of unwanted nuisance wildlife in Sarasota or surrounding areas. The acorn floods take place about every 4-7 years, even oaks located thousands of miles apart, produce and drop acorns en masse, or in unison. This is baffling because obviously, the weather conditions for trees so far apart, would not be precisely the same, as to cause the same species of tree to exhibit the same activity. There is a school of thought that states that oak tree masting is triggered by specific perfect winds, or droughts or even the impact of a hurricane. Scientists also think that mass acorn drops may be simply ingrained in the tree’s DNA which would help to ensure the survival of the species by pouring a huge amount of acorns all over the ground. Other more believable theories state, that in order to prevent the overpopulation of seed foragers, the cycles and intensity of acorn drops wax and wane so that certain species of animals do not become overpopulated. Then there is a massive drop in seed foragers, which allows for more propagation of the seeds and the tree species live on and continue.

Acorn Production Folklore

Since acorn production varies so much annually, it became a subject of winter weather folklore. The most common thought is an unusual abundance of acorns means the winter will be harsh, with cold conditions and above normal snowfall. As is often the case, this folklore may have once been helpful in predicting seasonal changes a few times, then the idea stuck. However, there’s little scientific proof to that acorn theory.

wildelife-removal-sarasota-acorns — Large basket of acorns sitting in a yard.

What does this event mean to you?

Whatever the reason, this year in Florida many are overwhelmed by a deluge of acorns!

At Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc., being wildlife professionals, we always consider what the implications are for homeowners and property managers in Florida. For your own safety and the safety of your property, please make sure your acorns are picked up on a regular basis. This is not only beneficial to humans but also to the environment. Sally a horticulture agent at Brevard County Extension office, suggest that “some homeowners may want to remove some of the acorns or mow them over to keep them from germinating.” She added, that the acorns would make “good organic matter.” They can be quite a challenge and will most definitely attract unwanted wildlife. In case you were wondering, raccoons, squirrels and wild hogs see this abundance as a food buffet! The mass acorn drops in Sarasota and surrounding areas, give wildlife a continual – easy food supply. With this food source, the conditions are ripe for the animals to thrive and breed. These effects may not be seen for a few months, and they could be detrimental to properties, yards and homes. After the acorn source is exhausted, all the animals will still need to have food and be searching for it any and everywhere. They will be eating your shrubs, flowers, lawn and raccoons will seek your garbage and trash. Of course, you do not want them to try to enter your home or other property in search of food and water, or even worse, to nest and breed.

To ensure that your home is safe and prevent very costly damage to your home, call us today for a free property inspection! Our company is fully licensed and insured. We also know restoration if anything should arise that requires it.

Call Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. today, to humanely solve your wildlife problems, and wildlife proof your home. 866-263-WILD or 941-729-2103.

Squirrel with cheeks full or acorns. — A squirrel with very fat cheeks full of food.

Why squirrels are cute but not good for health or property

Posted on August 23, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Squirrels often get a reputation for being cute and clever, especially when it comes to robbing bird feeders. Their antics can be endlessly entertaining, and there are many books written on the subject of foiling them.

However, it’s important to remember that a squirrel and a person are not a healthy mix, especially a squirrel in attic spaces. Squirrels are rodents. They carry parasites and diseases on and in their bodies that can be transmitted to humans and pets through their feces and bites. Their urine can transmit leptospirosis, their fleas carry the plague and their dead carcasses can transmit tularemia if not handled with proper protection.

In their relatively short life span of two to three years, squirrels can also do a tremendous amount of damage to property. One of the reasons for this is their need to constantly chew and gnaw. Squirrels love to munch on wire insulation in attics, and they will chew through floor boards, walls, eaves and roofs to get to it.

Squirrels are natural acrobats, and can tiptoe along power lines, climb brick walls and jump from trees to gain access to your attic. They can almost fly! A squirrel in attic or wall spaces will damage drywall, insulation and wiring, and spread bacteria.

There are a number of things you can do to solve a squirrel in attic problem once you’ve heard noises in attic areas and walls. Cutting back branches near your siding and roof is a good start. Removing tall hedges and shrubbery will also help. Baffles can be placed on power lines, and holes can be stopped up or covered with steel mesh to keep them from gaining entry.

Its also important to know what you should never do when you hear noises in attic spaces. Don’t try squirrel trapping yourself, because it increases your chances of getting bitten or getting sick. Please call a professional wildlife removal service instead.

Our professional services include safe and humane squirrel trapping. When you hear scratching and chattering in your attic and walls, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll come right out for a free consultation. Once you enlist our services, we’ll remove squirrels from your home and keep them from getting back in. They’ll soon move on to another place where the living is easier!

Squirrels in Attic Make Me Nuts

Posted on August 3, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Squirrels don’t care whether you own or rent. These pesky animals might be cute, but they are rodents and will invade attic spaces, ceilings and walls if you let them. if you’re wondering, “How can I get rid of squirrels in my ceiling,” the answer is easy. Call a professional wildlife removal service! Squirrel removal should always be handled by a professional. If done incorrectly, squirrels can be educated and become trap smart. This usually creates more issues making the squirrel removal process much more expensive.

That scratching noise in your ceiling isn’t your imagination. It’s probably a squirrel that is nesting, storing nuts and very possibly breeding in your home, and it isn’t a problem to handle by yourself. Squirrels may look adorable, but they can bite and scratch when cornered, and they carry parasites and diseases.

In this case, tenants reported squirrels in their attic to the management company. Soon, squirrels in their ceiling followed. They even saw them coming and going along the roof. Their management company quickly called us, and we went out to take a look.

We immediately saw that squirrels were gaining access through the open air conditioning chase and a few of the soffit lines. From there, they were able to infest the attic and ceiling.

For squirrels, attic space is a mansion with free heat and cozy quarters. Squirrels in celing areas will find all the cool air they need when the attic gets too hot. These are perfect nesting places. Once we identified how they were getting in, we proposed closing their points of entry in the soffits and chase, and trapping the squirrels that remained inside.

Squirrels in the ceiling and squirrels in the attic can drive you nuts, that’s for certain. Are you scratching your head and asking that age-old question, “how can I get rid of squirrels in my ceiling?” If you are, just do what this management company did. Give us a call, and we’ll solve the problem quickly and safely.