Squirrels are cute animals, but unpleasant houseguests. They’re one of the harder forms of wildlife to detect within your home, as they don’t draw as much attention to themselves as some other animals do. However, there are definitive ways to determine if you have a squirrel problem. If you recognize any of these seven signs, it’s time to call squirrel removal experts.
1. You’re Hearing Strange Noises
Squirrels are relatively quiet creatures, but there are occasions when they make discernible noise that can alert you to their presence. This will most likely be in the form of scurrying and jumping noises coming from the attic, or scratching noises coming from the walls. If you hear scratching noises, it’s most likely because the squirrel has become stuck. You may also hear what sounds like chewing; squirrels chew through a variety of materials in order to maintain their teeth.
2. There Is a Strange Odour In Your Home
Squirrel droppings can have a distinct and pungent smell; if you catch a whiff of it, it’s time to contact professionals about squirrel removal. The smell could also be coming from a dead squirrel in your home. If you find a dead squirrel in your home, you should call for squirrel removal immediately; wild animals carry diseases that can be dangerous.
3. You’ve Found Squirrel Droppings
You can tell what kind of animal is living in your home by the droppings that you locate on your property. Squirrel droppings tend to be clustered together in one area of your home, and are softer in texture than the stool of other animals. They also have more of a barrel-shape and come in slightly bigger sizes of droppings than that left by mice or rats.
4. You Are Noticing Property Damage
Squirrels like to chew; they can chew through a huge host of materials, which is one of the reasons they can be so dangerous. While living in your home and chewing their way through your attic, they can seriously weaken the structural integrity of your home. Damage will be especially prevalent in materials that lead into your home, like wallboards and chimneys. If you find this sort of damage, call squirrel removal experts immediately.
5. You’ve Noticed Chewed or Ripped Shingles
Squirrels will chew on shingles and rip through them when necessary in order to create entry points into your home. If you’ve noticed any chewed or ripped shingles, it’s likely that the damage has been caused by wildlife and that squirrels are currently using the vulnerability in your roof to gain access to your home. If spotted, call for squirrel removal.
6. There Is Water Damage to Your Home
Squirrels are social creatures and tend to live in larger numbers. That means that it’s unlikely you only have one squirrel living in your home; instead you probably have numerous unwanted visitors. The accumulation of squirrel waste in your home can happen quickly and as a result, one of the sure signs of needing squirrel removal comes in the form of water damage appearing on the walls or ceilings of your home. If you’re noticing this, it means the problem is already quite far advanced and you need to act immediately!
7. Food Is Being Taken From Your Kitchen
Squirrels are scavengers for food. If they are living in your home, they will eventually find their way into your pantry in attempt to gain access to your food. They’re fairly quick and wily creatures; you may notice the missing food before you notice them.
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