Getting squirrels out of your attic can be a frustrating and challenging task. These bushy-tailed rodents can cause considerable damage by gnawing on electrical wires, insulation, and stored items. Left unchecked, a squirrel infestation in your attic can become a serious problem. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to evict these unwanted guests and prevent them from returning.
Inspecting Your Attic for Signs of Squirrels
The first step is to thoroughly inspect your attic to confirm that squirrels have gained access and taken up residence. Look for these common signs of an attic squirrel infestation:
- Noises – Squirrels are active during the day and you may hear scampering, scratching, or thumping sounds coming from your attic. These noises are especially noticeable in the early morning and at dusk when squirrels are most active.
- Gnaw marks – Look for teeth marks and gnaw damage on attic insulation, wires, wood beams, and stored items. Squirrels need to constantly gnaw to wear down their continuously growing teeth.
- Droppings – Look for small, pellet-like droppings scattered around your attic space. Be careful not to confuse them with rat droppings, which are larger.
- Nests – Squirrels will build nests out of insulation, leaves, twigs, and other materials they find in your attic. The nests are usually 8 to 10 inches in diameter.
- Rub marks – Check for greasy rub marks along beams and rafters from the squirrel’s fur rubbing against the wood. These brownish-black streaks are left behind from frequent travel paths.
- Odors – An accumulation of droppings, urine, and nesting materials may create an unpleasant musky odor in your attic.
If you find evidence of one or more signs of squirrel activity, it’s likely they have taken up residence in your attic. Don’t delay in taking action to evict them.
Finding the Squirrel Entry Points
Once you have confirmed squirrels are in your attic, the next step is finding how they are getting in. Conduct an exterior inspection of your home to locate potential entry points. Common squirrel access points include:
- Loose, damaged, or missing roof shingles. Squirrels can easily pry up shingles and squeeze through small gaps. Pay close attention near the roof peak.
- Fascia boards that have separated or pulled away from the house. The gaps allow easy entry into the attic.
- Rafter tails with damaged wood or gaps at corners and joints. The overhangs are vulnerable spots.
- Vents for gable end walls and soffits that do not have screens or have damaged screens.
- Chimneys with cracked or missing mortar around the flashing.
- Ridge vents with bent or missing covers.
- Holes around cables, wires, pipes, and vents that enter the attic.
- Openings around the attic fan, turbine vents, or whole house fans.
- Gaps around the roof and sidewall junctions, often hidden by trees.
Once you locate the entry points, you can seal them up to prevent re-entry after removing the squirrels.
Trapping Squirrels in Your Attic
Trapping is the most effective method to remove squirrels from your attic and prevent re-entry. Follow these steps:
1. Choose the Right Traps
Live cage traps are the best option for attic squirrels. They allow you to humanely catch and relocate the squirrels. Avoid lethal snap traps since dead squirrels in your attic can attract other pests. Some good live cage traps include:
- Box-style traps (Havahart 1025) – affordable and suitable for attics
- Collapsible traps (Tomahawk 201) – ideal for access through attic opening
- Repeating squirrel trap – catches one squirrel at a time
Make sure to get a trap designed specifically for squirrels that is higher than 9” H x 4” W x 12” L.
2. Place Traps Strategically
Position the traps along the squirrels’ main travel routes in the attic based on sightings of droppings, rub marks, and nests. Place traps near the entry holes but not too close. Also set traps near the highest concentration of nuts or food stash. Bait the trap to improve your odds of quick capture.
3. Bait the Trap
You want a bait that is irresistible to squirrels. Good choices include:
- Pecans, walnuts or almonds still in the shell
- Peanut butter smeared on bread, crackers or the trap itself
- Bird seed
- Bacon bits
- Jam or preserves
Attach the bait to the trip plate inside the trap using string or wire. The squirrel trying to take the bait will trigger the trap door to close. Check local regulations regarding type of bait permitted.
4. Check Traps Frequently
Check the traps at least twice a day – morning and evening when squirrels are most active. Once trapped, cover the cage with a dark cloth to calm the animal while transporting.
- Release at least 5-10 miles from your home in a rural wooded area.
- Never relocate the squirrel to another person’s property without permission.
- Always get permission before releasing on public land.
Continue trapping until no more squirrels are caught. This ensures you have removed all squirrels from your attic.
Repairing Entry Points to Prevent Re-entry
Sealing up all the exterior entry points is crucial to keep new squirrels from getting back into your attic. Here’s how to fix the common problem areas:
Holes in shingles or roof sheathing – Repair holes in your roof by replacing damaged shingles and sealing gaps in roof sheathing. Use galvanized metal to reinforce weak areas and cover larger holes.
Damaged fascia or soffits – Inspect all exterior overhangs for gaps or decayed wood. Repair fascia boards by adding new boards, filler pieces, metal flashing, sealants, or wire mesh.
Rafter holes or gaps – Seal gaps around rafter tails with caulk, expandable foam, or metal flashing. Stuff steel wool into the openings before sealing to deter chewing.
Unscreened vents – Add galvanized steel mesh screening with a 1⁄4” grid to all attic and soffit vents. This blocks entry while still allowing airflow.
Chimney openings – Seal any gaps around masonry chimneys with steel wool and caulk. Inspect the flashing and repair as needed.
Damaged ridge vents – Replace any damaged sections of ridge vent. Add ridge vent caps if missing. Check that vent material has not come loose.
Pipe/wire/cable holes – Seal openings around wires, cables and pipes with caulk, expandable foam, cement, hardware cloth, or steel wool.
Gaps in exterior walls – Check where the roofline meets sidewalls for hidden gaps. Seal any openings with weather-resistant sealant and use metal flashing, cement, or mesh.
Cleaning the Attic After Removal
Once all squirrels have been removed and entry points sealed, do a thorough attic cleanup. This includes:
- Remove all nesting debris – Vacuum or dispose of any leaves, twigs, insulation, and other nest materials. Dismantle the nests down to the rafters.
- Clean droppings/urine – Use gloves, mask and coveralls when handling and disinfecting contaminated areas. Soak up urine stains with paper towels.
- Remove odors – Sprinkle baking soda over affected areas in the attic to absorb odors before vacuuming. Odor neutralizers like enzyme cleaners can also help eliminate lingering smells.
- Sanitize surfaces – Wipe down wood beams, walls, floors, and rafters with disinfectant to prevent disease. Bleach solutions work well but test a small area first.
- Replace contaminated insulation – Discard and replace any insulation that is urine-soaked or damaged. This eliminates odors and potential pathogens.
- Install lights/fans – Improve ventilation and add lighting to make your attic less attractive to future squirrels.
Thorough sanitation and eliminating nesting sites helps prevent squirrels from recolonizing your newly critter-free attic.
Preventing Future Squirrel Infestations
To avoid recurring squirrel problems, make your attic less inviting and repair entry flaws. Here are some prevention tips:
- Install weather stripping around doors, windows and openings to deter entry from the inside.
- Trim overhanging tree branches that give squirrels easy roof access.
- Keep gutters clean and flush with the fascia board to eliminate footholds.
- Attach chimney caps and vent covers to block access.
- Use metal mesh or hardware cloth to protect vulnerable eaves, vents, and holes.
- Ensure flashing is tight around the roof and sides of chimneys.
- Caulk and seal openings wider than 1⁄4 inch to keep out squirrels.
- Apply roof sealant around potential entry points and damaged areas.
- Construct soffits using materials squirrels can’t easily penetrate.
- Monitor your attic periodically for any new signs of squirrel activity.
- Contact a professional exterminator if you cannot solve a recurring squirrel problem.
With diligence and persistence, you can effectively remove attic squirrels and prevent future infestations using these methods. Don’t resign yourself to sharing your attic with these furry pests. Take action to reclaim your space and protect your home from squirrel damage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Attic Squirrels
How much does it cost to get squirrels out of the attic?
The cost to remove attic squirrels ranges from $200-$500 on average depending on the number of squirrels, severity of the infestation, and repair work needed. DIY removal using traps and sealing materials costs less, around $100-$250. Professional removal services typically charge $300-$500. Major repairs like replacing damaged insulation or structural work can increase costs further.
What smells keep squirrels away in the attic?
Strong natural scents like peppermint oil, fox urine, cayenne pepper, and ammonia make attics less welcoming to squirrels. Place open containers of these repellents in the attic to drive squirrels out. Reapply weekly. Avoid moth balls – they are ineffective and toxic. Never use human urine which can transmit disease.
What damage can squirrels do in the attic?
Squirrels can cause costly damage by chewing on electrical wiring, support beams, and insulation. Their gnawing puts your home at risk of electrical shorts or fires. Squirrels also damage stored items and contaminate attic spaces with droppings and urine. Their constant activity and noise are disruptive. The longer you let them stay, the worse the damage.
How do you keep squirrels out of the attic permanently?
To permanently keep attic squirrels away, seal and repair all possible interior and exterior entry points after removing the current infestation. Secure vents, fill gaps, install chimney caps, trim trees, and use metal mesh to reinforce vulnerable areas. Monitoring and maintaining these deterrents is key to permanent prevention. An exclusion service can custom-seal the exterior.
Will bright lights keep squirrels out of the attic?
Bright lights alone will not effectively keep attic squirrels away long-term. Squirrels quickly get used to lights. For best results, install bright, motion-activated lights on the exterior of your home near entry points. This will startle squirrels trying to gain roof access at night and deter repeated attempts. But sealing exterior holes is still the permanent solution.
Conclusion
Squirrels in your attic can be noisy, destructive pests but they can be successfully evicted and kept from returning. The key is finding all their entry points, safely trapping and removing all squirrels, sealing up holes and gaps in your home’s exterior, and proofing vulnerabilities. With diligence and the right exclusion techniques, you can reclaim your attic and protect your home from problematic squirrels. Don’t resign yourself to sharing your space with these pesky rodents – take decisive action to get squirrels out of your attic for good.