Do you love to watch squirrels race around your yard on a summer day? Do you enjoy it when they sit on their hind legs and go to town on a nut they found under a tree? Do you watch with joy as a squirrel attempts daring acrobatic feats to get into your bird feeders? Squirrels are fun. There is no doubt about it. Unfortunately, it isn't all fun and games when it comes to squirrels. Here are a few things you should consider before you start thinking that it is a cool idea to put some peanuts out to attract more squirrels to your yard—hopefully, we're not too late.
Torn Screens
Are you aware that squirrels commonly damage window and door screens. These holes are unsightly, and they can cost you some of your hard-earned money to repair.
Chewed Wood
Squirrels are rodents. Just like all rodents, they have incisors that keep on growing and growing. They must chew on things to file their teeth down. And like all rodents, they have a habit of chewing on wood. This can be far more costly to repair than screens.
Damaged Shingles
You are aware that, at some point, you're going to have to replace your roof. Maine winters can be hard on your roof. It is only a matter of time before serious repairs or a full replacement will be in order. Squirrels can cause this big repair to come a lot sooner than you'd probably like. They tear up shingles on roofs.
Damage Roof
When squirrels get onto your roof, your shingles won't be the only thing that gets damaged. They chew on your eaves, soffits, and roofline. This can create large, baseball-sized holes to appear.
Damage Seals
If your home is like most, you have several roof penetrations, such as an exhaust pipe, a chimney stack, skylights, and more. Squirrels can scratch and chew on the seals around these and get into your attic spaces.
Water Damage
Damaged shingles, seals, eaves, soffits, and roofline can allow rainwater or melting snow to leak into your home. This can cause mold, fungi, wood rot and more. Over time, this can lead to expensive repairs.
Infestation
If your home is damaged by water, it can lead to a carpenter ant or subterranean termite infestation. These wood-destroying pests are attracted to soft, decaying wood, and they can tunnel through the wood of your Southern Maine home for years without being detected.
Other Pests
When squirrels find a way into your attic spaces, they don't come into your home alone. A single squirrel can have hundreds of ticks or fleas on it. This can lead to what we call a secondary infestation. And as you are likely aware, ticks and fleas can transmit a long and scary list of diseases.
Trouble In Your Attic
Where do we begin? When squirrels get into your attic, there are so many ways they can impact your life.
-
They soak your insulation and stored items with their urine.
-
They spread feces everywhere.
-
They tear up insulation.
-
They knock things over.
-
They make unwanted noises and unwanted smells.
-
They chew into stored boxes and stored furniture to make nests.
-
They chew on wiring. This is perhaps the worst of all because it can lead to a house fire.
Do You Still Want To Invite Squirrels To Come Near Your Home?
We hope not. Squirrels may be fun to watch in your yard, but they are no fun when they start to damage your home and cause other problems. Take steps to reduce attractants that encourage squirrels to come in close to your home.
A few squirrel prevention tips:
-
Put bird feeders at least twenty feet from your exterior.
-
Trim tree branches 6 to 8 feet away from your roofline.
-
Install wire screens over vents or chimney openings.
-
Seal any potential entry points that squirrels can squeeze into or make larger.
How To Address A Squirrel Infestation
If you have a squirrel infestation inside your Southern Maine home, it is best to have a wildlife management professional handle the extraction of the animal(s). Keep in mind that Big Blue Bug Solutions isn't just the best solution for bugs. We also handle wildlife control issues and assist with keeping these animals from continuing to infest. Reach out to us anytime with questions. We can help.
