Are you hearing scratching sounds coming from inside your walls? The good news is, it might not be mice, just squirrels. The bad news is, squirrels can do just as much damage! Squirrel intrusions are very common in Northern Virginia, especially during the fall and winter. These critters can chew through wires and drywall, and leave their waste behind causing foul odors. Don’t worry, Summit Environmental Solutions can help. Our team offers safe, humane squirrel trapping, removal, and exclusion services for homeowners in the Northern Virginia areas of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and more.
Signs You Might Have A Squirrel in Your Walls
Hearing scratching and scampering sounds coming from inside your walls is the most common sign that you might have squirrels trapped in there. If your pets are reacting strongly to seemingly minor sounds coming from the walls, this could be a sign that they are recognizing the squirrels before you are. A strong foul odor or ammonia scent coming from inside the walls is another indicator that squirrels are inside. Squirrels need to gnaw to keep the length of their teeth down, so you might spot gnawed holes in the wall, sometimes with chewed insulation and wires sticking out of it.
Dangers of Squirrels Living in Walls
- Fire hazards: squirrels often chew through the rubber covering around wires, which can expose the bare wiring and create a potential fire hazard. Squirrels will also bring in outside nesting material like dead leaves and straw, which can also create a potential fire hazard.
- Structural damage: squirrels will rip out your insulation to make their nests, chew through your drywall, and chew through support beams and framing inside the walls.
- Health risks: squirrels can leave behind waste and droppings which can spread diseases, and squirrels can also spread parasites like ticks and fleas.
- Population growth: a few squirrels living in your walls can quickly turn into a family of squirrels, all chewing on insulation and depositing waste.
Why DIY Removal Can Go Wrong
DIY squirrel removal is never recommended, as squirrels are unpredictable wild animals that can bite or scratch when cornered or threatened. Additionally, trying to get inside the walls and trap squirrels can lead to accidental structure damage. If you trap a squirrel without properly sealing their entry points, the squirrels might return and do more damage. Conversely, if you seal off the entry points without properly removing all the squirrels, they can die inside your walls. Leaving squirrel removal to the professionals like Summit Environmental Solutions ensures that your squirrel problem is taken care of properly, and your home is protected.
How Professionals (Like Summit) Safely Remove Squirrels
The best way to deal with squirrels inside your walls is to call a licensed wildlife removal company like Summit Environmental Solutions. Our technicians start out by inspecting your home and wall voids to confirm the presence of the squirrels. Next, we begin trapping and removing the squirrels, or using one-way entry doors that allow the squirrel to leave the attic, but not get back inside. Finally, our team will assess the damage done, and provide you with a quote for clean-up and nest removal, as well as insulation replacement if needed. Our team can also repair squirrel damage done to drywall.
How to Prevent Future Squirrel Intrusions
Most squirrels enter your wall voids through your attic space, so the key to preventing squirrels in your wall is to keep your attic space sealed. Summit Environmental Solutions offers attic inspections and seal-outs, focused around high-traffic areas like soffits and gable vents. Even the smallest gaps can let in a squirrel, so it’s important to make sure your home has professional-grade work done. Exclusion barriers and screens on windows and vents will ensure that squirrels stay out of your home.
Best Squirrel Removal in Northern Virginia
If you hear scratching and scampering sounds coming from inside your walls, don’t hesitate to call Summit Environmental Solutions for safe, humane squirrel trapping and removal services. Squirrels can rip apart your insulation, create fire hazards by chewing through walls, damage drywall and support beams, and spread diseases and parasites through their waste. Get in touch with our team today to get started with a FREE estimate at 703-520-5868!
FAQs About Squirrels in Walls
Q: Will squirrels leave on their own?
A: While they may move on from your house, they most likely will stick around as long as they can. Your home provides them a safe, warm space with no natural predators, so they are in no hurry to leave.
Q: How much does squirrel removal cost in Virginia?
A: The cost of squirrel removal is variable, based on several different factors including the type of squirrel, the severity of the infestation, the location of the squirrels, and more. That’s why we offer FREE estimates, so one of our techs can come out and inspect before providing you with an estimate.
Q: Can squirrels really cause fires?
A: Yes! Squirrels are known to chew through wires, exposing the bare wiring to the insulation and any dry, dead nesting material that the squirrels brought in (think dead leaves and twigs). This creates a serious fire risk.
Q: How long can squirrels survive in walls?
A: As long as the squirrels have an exit point so they can leave to get food and water, squirrels can survive indefinitely inside your walls.
