Protect Your Home Against a Squirrel Invasion
During autumn, squirrels assess the territory in which they live for potential shelter in which they can spend the winter. If your house has points at which they can chew their way in, they might choose your attic as their winter home. After all, it’s filled with cozy insulation; it’s warm; and there are no predators.
Although squirrels seem so adorable as you see them scamper through the tree branches, they can actually cause quite a bit of damage to your yard and your home, according to pest control experts. Furthermore, squirrels carry a wide variety of diseases, according to a paper published by Florida Health. To protect your property and family, you need to evict these unwanted guests. Here are some tips from pest control professionals:
Evict Squirrels From Your Home
The only way to keep squirrels out of your home for good is to have a pest control professional remove the pests and seal off any possible entry points. Otherwise, squirrels will gnaw through wood and other materials to create a passageway into your home, causing damage at their entry points and exposing your family to diseases they carry.
Evict Squirrels From Your Yard
Even the trees in your yard can fall victim to squirrel damage. Since squirrels eat tree bark, they can strip entire branches of their protective covering, causing the affected branches to die and drop off your trees. A University of Florida report has more information about how to protect your trees from this kind of squirrel-caused damage.
Squirrels, who feed on plant matter, may wreak havoc in your garden. Not only will they eat your produce, but they may also dig up your plant bulbs for food. If you create a protective wire mesh cover for your garden, squirrels are less likely to gain access. Make sure that the weave of the mesh is ¼ inch or less and covers the top as well. Squirrels can squeeze into larger openings, according to a study published by Wildlife Damage Control.
To discourage squirrels from meandering into your yard in the first place, remove uneaten pet food or feed your pets inside. Clear out any yard debris that could provide shelter for squirrels or other pests. Check your bird feeders to make sure that they are not overfilled, broken, or spilling food.
Enlist the Help of Pest Control Professionals
Because state laws protect squirrels from removal by amateurs, it’s important for you to call in professional help when squirrels invade your home. These highly-trained experts will not only remove the squirrels from your property safely, but they will also clean up and seal your home after they remove the squirrels. When you know that the squirrels are gone for good, the peace of mind you’ll have is well worth the price of professional removal.
Most pest control services provide free assessments of your property to determine your risk for squirrel or other wildlife infestations. If you think you may have a squirrel problem, call your local pest control service today.