Squirrels are funny creatures. Frantic and high strung, they’re constantly moving from place to place, going about their day. Like all animals, squirrels need a home, and easy entry points are appealing. Once this happens, you then have to deal with removing a squirrel—not a fun process.
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Not only is removing a squirrel a headache, nesting in these various entry spots presents unsanitary risks and dangerous safety hazards. Know where common entry points are ahead of time to better protect your home. Find out more below.
1. Roof Vents
The plastic and aluminum installed for ventilation is great for curious critters. Feeling the escape of warm air provides an opportunity for them as they attempt entry into this cozy resting place. With easy plastic to chew through and the invitation of warm air, squirrels will chew past the vent cover to get access.
2. Wall Vents
Similar to roof vents, wall vents are an attractive entry point. These exhausts found on the side of your house are another point of easy access: Great to get inside, but difficult for removal. Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry wall vents are the perfect cavity for squirrels to enter. The plastic covers do little to save you, and once these critters sneak inside, you’ll need experts to help get them out.
3. Gable Vents
Gables vents also circulate air throughout the home, specifically within the attic. These vents can be found at opposite ends of the home, and usually made of wood, plastic, aluminum, and other softer materials that are perfect for chewing. Their slats are an easy edge for squirrels to chew through to quickly gain access inside.
4. Fascia
Squirrels like to chew and the ease accompanied with wooden fascia makes these boards the perfect entry point. This is the edge where the rain and melted snow on rooftops ends up. This environment causes shingles to deteriorate much faster. The perfect chewing angle combined with the squirrel’s gnawing skills make it a perfect spot.
5. Roof-soffit intersections
This intersection is found on the underside of the roof, and the over-hang of the exterior of your home creates a transition point. The wall-to-soffit-to-roof intersection presents an opportune location for wildlife to access the home and cause damage. As it’s an area that doesn’t stay flush, as the shingles from the lower roof rarely fully seal with the soffit above. The resulting gap where the two roofs meet provides quick access into the attic, making removing a squirrel from here difficult.
6. Plumbing Mats
Plumbing mats are used to exhaust sewer gases. These cylindrical vents on the roof connect to your home’s plumbing system. The hole is cut bigger to make it easier to run plumbing through and to extend the pipe outside. Okay in theory, but not great in practice.
This enlargement provides squirrels a better opportunity to get inside, along with an easy-to-chew soft rubber mat. Squirrels can easily get, quickly and easily chewing through the rubber mat surrounding the pipe.
7. Chimneys
Uncapped chimneys are easy to get into, but not always easy to leave, making this entry point tricky for squirrels. Brick-lined ones are easy for them to move up and down, with the ability to get a good, strong grip.
Smooth steel, even clay-lined chimneys don’t include a gripping option, so while squirrels can get down, they won’t be able to get up. If one happens to get stuck, not only are you removing a squirrel, you’re most likely removing a dead one.
The best solution is to install a chimney cap, and do this quickly. This easy and effective solution eliminates the headache and chance of removing a squirrel.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!