Squirrels usually nest in trees. Squirrels damage trees in your yard by building their nests and gnawing on and eating the bark.
Squirrels typically enter enter people's homes searching for a more secure place to raise their baby squirrels.
People typically hear the chewing, scratching and clawing.
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Common Types of Squirrel Damage
Squirrels can cause a great deal of damage to both the interior and exterior of your home. Squirrels damage usually comes from their chewing and gnawing.
Squirrels can squeeze through a hole the size of a golf ball. Squirrels chew through soffits, fascia boards, siding, wood, metal, and shingles to gain access to your attic. Once inside your home, squirrels damage attics by chewing wires, ripping up insulation, and defecating in the attic.
What Does Squirrel Damage Look Like?
Squirrels can easily chew through cedar shingles and other natural materials.
Squirrel chewed hole into attic.
Squirrel gained access to chimney.
Squirrel chewing is not limited to natural materials. They will chew on alumnimum.
Here are squirrel chew marks on a metal gutter.
Squirrel chew marks are on aluminum siding.
Welding lead was used in an attempted exclusion. They squirrels surprised everyone by chewing through welding lead and gaining access to the attic again.
Just because a squirrel only needs a one and half inch size hole, that won't stop them from creating huge entry points.
Squirrels chew on electrical wires creating a fire hazard.
Squirrel gnawing on PVC Pipe.
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Not only will squirrels bring debris like nuts and seeds to eat, but also they will drag in materials to build a nest.
Damage from Squirrel's Nest
A squirrel problem goes beyond chewing. A squirrel's nest can weaken the structure of your home.
A squirrel typically builds its nest with leaves, grass, moss, and shreds of bark. But once they're in the attic, they'll use materials like insulation.
A large squirrel nest build with straw and torn up materials found in the attic.
Squirrel Droppings and Your Health
Squirrel droppings can also harm your health. Mold and fungus can grow in their droppings. Diseases like leptosriosis and Salmonellosis are spread via animal waste. Finally, ectoparasites like fleas, ticks, bed bugs, and chiggers introduced by a wild animal can spread diseases to you and your family.
What Can You Do About Squirrel Damage to Your Property?
You need to repair all the damage done. Entry points leave you vulnerable to future wildlife infestations. Chew pipes and wires are hazards. Soil insultation are breeding grounds for diseases.
But before you can repair the damage, you must evict the squirrel. Generally squirrel repellents like capsaicin are ineffective long term solutions. The most effective means of squirrel control is to remove and exclude the squirrel.
In order to prevent squirrel damage to your home and yard, call the professionals at Critter Control! Our experienced specialists know how to safely and humanely remove squirrels from your attic. We will then seal the squirrels' entry points, ensuring that squirrels will not be able to enter into your house again and cause squirrel damage.
Frequently Asked Question
Is squirrel damage covered by homeowners insurance companies?
Generally a homeowner's insurance policy will not cover the damage done by small mammals.