Not all squirrels are innocent woodland creatures. Some squirrels can be total pests and cause serious problems for businesses and homeowners. Squirrel nests on your property can result in major damage. But since squirrels are invaluable members of our ecosystem, Carolina Pest Management pledges to deal with a squirrel problem humanely. Because squirrels make their homes high up in trees, pest control can be a challenge and should only be handled by professionals.
Don’t attack a squirrel problem on your own. Carolina Pest Management has acted as a trusted provider within the pest control industry for over 80 years. If you live in the Carolinas, give us a call today at 704-283-1527 for more information on our pest control services near Charlotte.
Damage Squirrels Can Cause
Although squirrels mostly stick to their own habitat, they can invade your yard and home and cause damage in various ways, such as:
- Chewed Wiring – As with all rodents, squirrels are always on the lookout for items that they can use to build nests. Electrical wires are sometimes the perfect option, although squirrels may shock themselves by accident.
- Damaged Wood – If squirrels want to get into your home, they’ll chew through wood to get inside. Once there, they’ll continue to chew and destroy items for nest-building.
- Disheveled Gardens – These rodents are always looking for food, so they might dig up your garden to get whatever is growing there.
Where Squirrels Invade Your Home
Squirrels can enter your home in a few places, including existing holes (e.g. vents, gaps in siding), openings created by squirrels or other wildlife, or through chimneys. By climbing on wires and cables near your home, squirrels can jump on your roof and enter your home.
One of the problems of identifying a squirrel infestation is that the warning signs are very similar to rats. You’ll notice various indicators, including:
- Chewed walls
- Chewed food containers
- Odd smells and noises
- Nests
- Increased squirrel activity around your home
Whether squirrels or rats are the culprits, you’ll want to hire professional services like Carolina Pest Control to remove the invaders.
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How to Identify a Squirrel Problem
A squirrel problem doesn’t typically happen overnight. Over time, you may have noticed structural damage on your property. This isn’t limited to wood and insulation interior damage. Squirrels may also wreck gardens and bird feeders as they search for food. You may notice holes on your lawn from incessant digging by squirrels.
- Unexplained noises within your home: You may hear scurrying sounds in your attic or crawl spaces. Squirrels are also able to enter homes through chimneys.
- Visual clues: You could see them running across utility wires or find them chewing on the bark of ornamental trees.
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Our Charlotte Squirrel Inspection Process
After meeting with the homeowner, we inspect the property for all signs of squirrel infestations. Types of squirrels that can become pests include ground, tree, and flying species. Our professionals are familiar with the varieties and will know how to identify which type is causing the problem. For instance, fox squirrels typically make their habitats in oak and pine trees.
Inspectors will also check indoors for signs of squirrels within your home. There may be droppings or evidence of gnawing. Squirrels can become dangerous if they begin chewing on electrical wires and cause shorts. Our team will search typical nesting areas for squirrels both inside and outside of the home. We check for entry points as a way to make a plan to keep squirrels out of your home for good.
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Charlotte Green Squirrel Treatment
The goal of squirrel pest control is to make conditions unfavorable to the wildlife. Without access to food and shelter, the squirrels are very likely to move on and find a new place to take up residence. Our recommendations may include using certain tools to prevent squirrels from entering your home or garage. For instance, tree limbs may need trimming to prevent squirrels from jumping from trees onto your roof. Fences may need to be installed around gardens to keep the pests out.
Food sources should also be removed. Take down birdfeeders or fill them with seed squirrels will not digest, such as safflower. There are also specialty feeders designed to prevent squirrel usage.
Squirrel traps are another form of wildlife pest control in Charlotte. Once the squirrels are trapped, the animals can then be relocated into a safe area within the wild. The intent is never to harm the animals during the trapping process.
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Squirrel Maintenance in the Charlotte area
Once you have removed the squirrels from your property, you want to keep them away, right? Carolina Pest Management will put together a proactive plan to stop squirrels from coming back. Options will depend largely on your property type and what attractants are found nearby your home. For instance, if you have recently planted trees, you may need to put tree collars up to stop squirrels from gnawing on the new bark. Any broken windows or attic holes will need to be repaired to stop future entry.
Repellents are another form of pest maintenance. Liquid and granular repellents are applied in certain areas to prevent entry into your yard. Repellents are non-toxic and are intended to irritate the squirrels to encourage them to go elsewhere. Another type of repellent used to cover small areas is an electronically activated squirrel repellent. A sudden burst of water emits from the device to scare off critters. Since squirrels are resilient, multiple repellent types may need to be applied.
Frequently Asked Questions about Squirrel Pest Treatment
What are some notable differences between tree and ground squirrels?
Ground squirrels are burrowers and are more likely responsible for the many holes in your yard. They are commonly found in fields and areas with small bushes. Ground squirrels have a different appearance than tree squirrels too. Tree squirrels have longer, furrier tails than ground squirrels.
Can I use poison to get rid of squirrels?
Don’t use poison to kill local squirrels. The use of poison poses a significant risk to human and wildlife health. Also, there are certain animal welfare laws in place to ensure squirrels are treated humanely. Carolina Pest Management follows all regulations when removing pests from your property.
Are flying squirrels a problem for homeowners?
If you have squirrels in the attic, there’s a good chance you have a flying squirrel pest problem. Flying squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels and can fit through tinier cracks and crevices. They leap across great distances with records surpassing 200 feet. You’re more likely to hear flying squirrels in the evening since they’re nocturnal creatures.
Are there DIY methods to trapping a squirrel?
Homeowners should not attempt to trap squirrels on their own. If squirrels feel threatened, they will bite. To keep family members and your pets safe, a squirrel nest inside your home should be dealt with immediately by a pest control professional.
Do Squirrels Carry Diseases?
Yes, squirrels carry some diseases, but not all squirrel diseases can spread to humans or pets. The most commonly transmissible varieties include rabies, leptospirosis, lyme disease, and salmonellosis.
Are Squirrels Likely to Invade My Home All Year Round?
No, squirrels are most likely to invade during the winter as they look for warm shelter for their nests.
Where Do Squirrels Go in the Winter?
All season long, Charlotte residents have the opportunity to watch squirrels running and hopping in the process of feeding and storing food. Oftentimes, they dig shallow holes for stashing food and cover the hole back over. It is a hoarding cycle that goes on year after year. The squirrels use the cached food resources during scarce […]
Read More »Charlotte Squirrel Control Technicians
Squirrels might be cute, but they can cause a lot of damage to one’s property. Animal welfare laws prevent an exterminator from using poisons or lethal traps to kill wildlife squirrels. A professional squirrel removal technician from Carolina Pest Management has the experience needed to safely ward off problematic squirrels from your property. By using exclusion methods and non-lethal traps, we will resolve your squirrel problem without harming any wildlife. With our professional removal service and maintenance plans, you can control squirrels on your property and significantly reduce the risk of them invading your home again.
