Squirrels Head Indoors

Few things make homeowners crazier than discovering they have squirrels in the attic or chimney of their homes. At this time of year when the weather turns chilly, squirrels will frequently seek shelter in or near a home. This is true of all rodents, so homeowners and those with business and other structures need to take special care to have them inspected and to take steps to have them removed.

As many homeowners have learned, getting rid of squirrels requires pest control professionals. It does not lend itself to do-it-yourself efforts. People who are in the process of selling their home must certify that these and other common pests, such as woodworm, are not currently infesting them.

Squirrels will burrow into homes, sheds, porches, decks, crawl spaces, and woodpiles in order to create a nest. They do not give birth during the winter months, but if they remain undetected and removed by springtime, the problem will multiply. They like human habitat because it provides better protection from predators.

Like rats, squirrels can get into any opening through which they can squeeze their head. Equipped with large, gnawing teeth that constantly grow, they will do a considerable amount of damage to a home or other structure as they tunnel through insulation and gnaw on wires and pipes.

The holes that squirrels create also can attract bats, other rodents, some species of bees, and other insects. Since they can store many pounds of nuts to tide them over the coldest days of winter, it can cause damage to ceilings.

If squirrels didn't have bushy tails, they would be regarded the same way rats are, but many people take pleasure in feeding them either directly or by proxy when they raid bird feeders. This is a mistake.

Pet owners in particular have to be especially concerned to avoid having squirrels invade. They bring a host of parasites with them because they commonly are a host to ticks and fleas. Even if the squirrel abandons its nest or is removed, pest control professionals know that there is always a strong possibility that the home has also been infested by these insect pests.

Fleas, ticks and mites are all known carriers of a variety of diseases that can afflict humans, so a squirrel problem involves much more than just structural damage.

The two indicators of a squirrel infestation are the noises squirrels make and the odor from their droppings. The other indicator is the odour that occurs if a squirrel dies somewhere in the attic or other parts of the structure.

Especially in the present economy, investing in an inspection to ensure that your home or other structures are free of squirrels, mice, woodworm, ants, and other rodent and insect species is worth it, if only to avoid the additional costs involved should it occur.

Article provided by Dynamic Pest Control