Squirrels on Roofs
Squirrels navigate their way through treetops seamlessly, so the pests have no problem climbing onto roofs or into soffits. Residents may also see the pests climbing downspouts, running along telephone wires, or jumping from nearby trees to gain access to roofs. From there, damaged soffits, loose shingles, and structural gaps provide an easy way for the animals to move into homes.
Squirrel Damage on Roof
Squirrels on your roof can damage it sometimes requiring expensive roof repair. Squirrels running across your roof can damage roof shingles. Gutters provide nesting materials which can lead to drainage problems. Once they have access to your roof, squirrels can find a way inside via vents, soffits, and eaves.
After moving into an attic, the pests gnaw on electrical wiring and damage insulation or lead pipes. Over time, their waste stains ceilings and spreads unpleasant odors. A squirrel infestation also exposes residents to diseases and creates scurrying and squeaking noises.
Typical Squirrel Entry Points on Roof
Squirrels only need a gap of 1.5 inches to gain entry through the roof. We find squirrel entry holes along fascia boards, on soffits, and through roof vents. When squirrels enter homes through the roof, sometimes they can get trapped or build nests in eaves. Once inside, squirrels can cause damage by chewing holes.
They can also chew on insulation and electrical wires. Some squirrels will take insulation and make nests out of it. After a time, the baby squirrels will leave the nest, leading to the perfect opportunity to repair any damage to the homes and patch the entry holes in the eaves.
Squirrels in Eaves
The eaves are part of the roof that extends past the wall and are one of the more vulnerable places on your roof. Roof eaves have access points like fascia boards, soffits, and soffit vents. The roof return is where the exterior wall meets the roof under the eaves. It is one of the most accessible places for squirrels. They can easily climb onto the roof to find loose soffits.
Fascia Boards and Squirrels
Fascia boards are thin longboards that run along the lower outer edge of a roof, covering the entire roofline to help keep water out. In certain parts of the country, homes have construction gaps above the fascia for ventilation. Squirrels use gutters to access these gaps to squeeze into your attic. If the gap isn’t big enough, they can gnaw a big enough hole.
Squirrel Entering Soffits
What is the best way to keep squirrels from nesting in soffits? Plug the holes! Squirrels will chew holes in soffits and make their way inside for nesting. Before you can plug the holes, however, it is important to make sure all of the squirrels are out of the soffit. It is most effective to trap squirrels nesting in soffits using a baiting method. Critter Control professionals are expertly trained in getting squirrels out of soffits to keep them out of your home for good.
Squirrel Access Points in Roof Vents
Roof vents allow proper ventilation to address excess heat and moisture. Not only do they extend the life of your roof and reduce energy costs, but also they provide an access point for squirrels. Two of the most common squirrel entry points are ridge vents and gable vents.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels on Roof
To reduce the chance of problems with squirrels on roofs, homeowners can modify their houses and yards to keep these pests away. You will need to prevent squirrels from climbing onto your roof and then deny access points to your attic.
Supplies and equipment to get rid of squirrels
| Supplies |
Tools & Equipment |
| Galvanized hardware cloth, 1/8 or 1/4-inch mesh |
Power-lever pole pruner |
| Galvanized roofing nails |
Aviation shears or tin snips |
| Drip edge flashing |
Extension ladder |
| Metal collars |
Flashlight |
| Plastic pipe |
Tape measure |
| Box vent cover |
Hammer |
| Chimney cap |
Flashlight |
Install metal collars on trees
Trim tree branches away from buildings
Seal fascia board with harware cloth or a drip edge under your first row of shingles and hangs over your fascia’s edge.
Install a sturdy chimney guard
Buttress gable vents with hardware wire
Cover ridge vents
Enclose box vents
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Prevention methods are not always a surefire way to guard against the pests. Hiring local control experts, like the team at Critter Control, is always the safest way to remove squirrels in the soffits or on the roof.
Learn more about squirrel removal.
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Customer Reviews
It has been very effective at reducing the number of mice, lizard, and snake sightings. During one visit Edgar removed a rattlesnake he came across. We may see a snake maybe two to three times during the spring and summer months, but it has been far less than before.
Serivces:
Wildlife & Rodent Control in San Diego
Full service. Excellent job of extracting raccoon, cleaning all animal waste, sanitizing, and spraying anti-parasitic substance. They closed all potential ports of entry, though the work did not match the vinyl, and it looks kind of tacky. They added blown insulation, which added a lot to the cost. They provide a one year warranty against animal intrusion, with an option to extend the warranty at the end of each one- year period. They were willing to work with me one the price. I will probably extend my warranty, and will definitely use them it the future.
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Chattanooga
I was really impressed by these guys. Got a call within a few hours of making an inquiry. Had a rep out to inspect the situation by the end of the week, and when they laid out the timeline they kept if not exceeded listed times.
Rob, Travis, and Jim were all professional, polite, and courteous and after months of hearing squirrels in my ceiling they are gone and the repair to my flashing looks excellent. Can't recommend these guys enough.
Jeff was incredibly professional and helpful. I'll use them again and would recommend them to anyone.
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Detroit, MI
Critter Control did a great job of evaluating our house for sites of entry after we found bats and a squirrel in our attic. They completed their work promptly and professionally.
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Seattle, WA
We heard some noise from the corner of our house. Concerned that it could be inside we called for an inspection. Jessy arrived as scheduled and conducted a complete inspection of our home. Based on a recording we made he determined we had a tree frog on our roof. I was pleased that we didn’t have any rodent in our house. And his inspection could a few spots I can tighten up around my house. I am very happy with the outcome.
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New Hampshire
We have a vacation home in
Western Mass and haven’t been there much during the pandemic as we live and work in Atlanta, GA. On our most recent visit we noticed that we had some rodent intrusion as well as some un-welcomed wildlife who decided to make our vacation home their home.
We contacted Critter Control and Mr. Cahoon was quick to set up an appointment as we wouldn’t be in town very long. He came out and assessed our issues. He informed us of our options to both eradicate and control future intrusions. Keeping in mind that wildlife is wildlife! He quickly got to work eradicating the rodents and wildlife from our home and addressing the intrusion issues. We feel much better leaving our vacation home for periods at a time knowing that Mr. Cahoon and Critter Control did their job and did it right! Thanks again!
We bought an old cabin last spring , it was used for years as a summer vacation cabin, therefore maintenance wasn’t a priority. After our project to remodel started, we found evidence of
mice droppings.
We immediately called Critter Control and they came and gave us a reasonable estimate to remove all remnants and insulation. They sanitized and replaced with new insulation and sealing up points of entry .
Seeing their professional work made us feel confident and secure that the problem was solved ! Everyone we worked with continued to show professional and respectful work. Highly recommend this company! We continue to use critter control monthly to be sure we are mice and bug free!
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