Keep Squirrels From Driving You Nuts

In the first 21 days of the month we have responded to almost as many squirrel calls. It seems as though our nutty little rodent neighbors have decided that they are sick of all the cold and rain we have had here in Cincinnati and would much rather call our attics, soffits, chiney, and even kitchens, their home.

That is right… kitchens!

We responded to a call late one evening last week to a client who had a squirrel on her kitchen counter when she came home. The little bugger even had the nerve to help himself to the muffins meant for breakfast.

Though they look cute and have an adorable frantic nature to them when you see them in the park, squirrels have an ability to gain access to your home that most burglars would covet. Below are five sure fire ways to prevent/deter squirrels from gaining access to your home:

Cover Your Chimney:

A wood burning fireplace in your home is a wonderful thing to have in the middle of the winter. The crackle of the logs, the dancing of the flames, the heat radiating from the box, these are all wonderful comforts on a cold winter’s night. Though with the high winds and storms we have had here in the Cincinnati area this winter, many a chimney cap has been bent, twisted, or even blown off never to be seen again. Remember the poor family who has a squirrel in their kitchen? The squirrel gained access through their chiney because the cap was damaged in the last storm. A quality chimney cap made from steel that prevents access from chewing is our recommendation to all of our clients. We at Huntsman Wildlife feel the “Forever Cap” is a great option. With its stainless steel construction and Lifetime warranty, this should be the last chimney cap you ever have to purchase. You can purchase them through our Amazon Affiliate Link at https://amzn.to/2G53jkX 

Move Your Bird Feeders:

Bird feeders are a fantastic way to help our feathered friends out during the cold months but they are also  huge magnet for squirrels and other rodents. Keep all bird feeders away from your home a minimum of 30 feet to deter the squirrels from having a bite to eat and then seeking  place to rest in your home.

Check the Screens in Your Attic Venting

The venting at the peaks of your home are important to keeping the proper air flow and circulation your attic needs, however, those vents can also provide easy access to not just squirrel, but birds, bats, raccoons, and other nuisance wildlife.  Ensuring that there is proper screening behind the vents will keep unwelcome guests from calling your attic home. Many attics I trap in had nothing more than window screening covering the vents, this is no deterrent to a motivated rodent wanting in your home. Half inch hardware cloth securely fastened with staples and a 1x2 strip of wood to frame out the hardware cloth are the perfect combination for securing your attic. We recommend using 16 gauge vinyl coated wire so it lasts longer and is resistant to corrosion. (amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/37eIi3l )

Cover Your Roof Vents

Along with making sure your attic vents are secure, keeping the exhaust vents on your roof from becoming squirrel access points needs to be a priority also. Many of the “builder spec” roof vents installed are cheap stamped aluminum and are easily chewed through or even ripped off by a determined squirrel. Covering your vents with wildlife resistant guards is one of the first things I recommend any new home buyer to do. With a tube of sealant, some screws, and the right size covers, an afternoon of installs can save tens of thousands of dollars in damage, clean up, trappings, and repairs if squirrels, raccoons, or bats start calling your attic home. Hy-C is a brand we use and trust and they have a wide variety of vent covers to fit your needs (amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/38ru932 )

Trim Back Trees and Bushes

The trick to keeping squirrels out of your home is doing your best not to give them access in the first place. Overhanging branches and ornamentals that reach your roof line are the number one way I have found in over a decade of doing this that nuisance wildlife gets onto the roof and then into your home. Keeping all branches 6 feet or more away from your roof line, and trimming back ornamentals will help keep the pests from gaining easy access.

Bonus Tip: Frequent Inspections

As ridiculously easy and uncomplicated as it may seem, frequent inspections to make sure none of the five above are in need of repair or adjustment is the best way to avoid paying hundreds of dollars in trapping charges and even more than that in repair and clean up costs. I usually recommend adding a reminder on your phone or your calendar on the 15th of March and on the 15th of August to inspect your home for any possible entry/exit point, unintentional food sources, pest activity, and other conducive conditions that might be present. Then either make the necessary modifications or repairs, or hire a professional such as Huntsman Wildlife to take care of the issue for you. Heck, we can even save you the time and do the twice a year inspection for only $85 a visit.

I hope this was helpful information to you on keeping squirrels from causing problems in your home. If you have any questions, or need to  schedule someone to come out and help address your squirrel or other wildlife issues, please click on the “ Schedule Service” tab and make an appointment to have us out.

Till next time… see ya folks.