So, you are sitting on the couch watching TV or asleep in your bed when all of a sudden you start to hear some odd noises from your attic. It sounds like scratching noises or like something is scurrying around above you. If these are the kinds of noises you are hearing, you may have a squirrel in your attic.
A Squirrel? But How?
While you may have never heard this before, the truth is that squirrels would find your home to be the ideal place for them to live as well. By finding a loose or cracked board, placing your siding that is rotted, or a gap, they can easily work themselves into your attic area.
From there, you simply can’t imagine the amount of damage they can do. Left in the attic for an extensive period of time, they will tear apart your insulation to build themselves a nest. If you have clothing, newspaper articles, furniture, or any other type of object in there, they are fair game to these animals. These animals will use anything available, meaning your stored items are fair game.
So, How Do I Know for Sure?
If you are hearing sounds that you simply can’t explain, that is the first indicator that you may have a problem with squirrels. At the very least, you have a problem with some kind of animal in your attic. This could be a mouse, rat, maybe even a raccoon or birds. Odd scratching sounds, squealing, fluttering, or any other similar type of sound is a good indicator.
If you are hearing these types of sounds, then your next step is to actually check. What this means is that you will need to open up your attic and go into it to check. Before doing so, you should make sure you cover all exposed skin. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. You should wear boots and gloves, a surgical mask, and goggles. Let no area of your body be exposed to these animals.
Look around for signs of a nest. This is one of the most common pieces of evidence. A place where there is a buildup of insulation, where clothing is torn up, or maybe where your furniture shows gnaw marks.
What Do I Do Now?
If you have discovered that a squirrel is likely inside your home, there are several things you can do to get this animal out. The best place to start is with the use of an exclusion funnel. This allows the animal to get out of your home but not to get back in. There are other types of traps, and you could even hire a professional to do the job for you. However, the exclusion funnel should do the job.
Once you have rid your home of the squirrel, you will need to do a thorough inspection of the outside of your house. You need to find the location where the squirrel is getting in, then seal it so that it is unable to get back into your house.