How Do Squirrels Get In and How to Prevent It?

What are the most common ways squirrels gain access to your home?

While most squirrels species might look meek and harmless, they can gnaw through anything with their razor-sharp teeth. This might include electrical wires in your house, and exposed electrical connections can be very dangerous. So just exactly how are squirrels able to penetrate the home? This can be baffling for many homeowners, so here we will explore methods on how to repel squirrels from your home and its surrounding.

Here are common entry points and tips on how to deter tree squirrels from your house:

  • Trees around the attic

Keeping squirrels out of your attic can be troublesome. These inquisitive rodents are frustratingly skillful in their acrobatics making them impossible to catch. They can do long leaps in the blink of an eye. You can tie a metal sheet around the tree trunk or fasten wires around the tree’s trunk together with springs. You should also trim the trees so that the nearest perch is no less than eight feet from the ground. If you have trees that produce nuts or acorns, rake them up regularly.

  • The roof

The roof provides a couple of avenues for access. They can chew off the vent cover on your roof, and they can also get in through the roof edge where all the rain, sediment, and melted snow end up. Shingles and roof boards often deteriorate quickly allowing squirrels to create tiny openings, small enough to get into. You can start by checking around your house to ensure that there are no holes that the rodents can use, then be sure to add concrete to places that look weak. You can also help to deter squirrels from your roof by making sure tree branches don’t touch your roof and are trimmed back far enough that they cannot leap between.

Gable vents are another area squirrels can get in through. Gable vents are made so that air can circulate throughout the attic, but because they are constructed from wood, aluminum or plastic, the slats on the vents provide an edge that squirrels can chew through.

  • The yard

Spraying your yard with proven repellants is also a method you can consider. If you prefer not to purchase repellent, you can make one yourself by combining hot sauce, chopped yellow onions, and cayenne pepper. Boil the mixture for 30 minutes and spray it around your yard. Once they get a sniff of that wonderful spicy aroma, they will be gone, but you’ll have to do this on a regular basis to repel the squirrels. Another preventable measure is to install a motion activated sprinklers. The sprinkler will not harm the squirrels but it may scare them off. If you have bird feeders, place them on a pole but not near a tree. Otherwise, they will go nuts trying to get at it and cause havoc trying to reach the feeder. If squirrels are digging up your plants and bulbs, you can mulch around the bulbs. Squirrels don’t like mulch, finally something in our favor!

How do squirrels get in and how to prevent it?

  • Chimneys

Squirrels typically are clever when it comes to spotting openings on your house and the chimney is one of their favorite entry points. Sometimes a squirrel family will fall or become stuck at the bottom of chimneys. In addition, chimneys that are lined with bricks allow squirrels to go up and down easily; offering a place to nest on top of the fireplace. It is advisable that you install caps on your chimneys as soon as possible. Be sure to follow the installation directions very thoroughly to prevent future breaches by these pests.

What to do if your preventative efforts don’t work.

When you need help with squirrel damage, we have solutions. When you suspect squirrels maybe rummaging around your attic, there is no time to waste! Summit are experts on discovering how squirrels penetrate your home and we know all those secret spots they love. We will make sure we thoroughly examine your attic, chimney, and other areas of your house in order to find the access point the squirrels have been using. From there, we will develop a plan of action to humanely remove your squirrel residents or nesting sites and return them to their natural habitat.

Call us today at 703-520-5868 for a free appointment and estimate if you’re worried that you have these pesky little creatures taking up residence in your home wreaking havoc. We’ll make sure that we leave you with the peace of mind that squirrels are gone for good!

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