One of the most troublesome wild animals is the squirrel. There are over 22 different species in Canada and a number of them have moved closer to the city and suburban areas.
At first glance, they may appear to be adorable, but when they make their way into your attic, they can cause a lot of damage. We recommend calling us for squirrel removal services in Milton as soon as you suspect squirrels in your attic.
Due to their strong teeth, squirrels can easily chew on wood, wiring, insulation, and other important structural material in your attic.
Besides the damage to your property, squirrels also hardly sit still. They’re constantly on the move, meaning that a quiet and peaceful home will almost be impossible to achieve.
How Do They Enter Your Attic?
There are quite a number of ways that a squirrel can enter your attic. Knowing these entrance points and making sure that you seal them as soon as you can will help to keep them away.
1. Your Roof Vents
Your roof has plastic and aluminum vents. These cause warm air to be emitted from the roof. When squirrels feel the warm air, they use their strong teeth to easily chew through the plastic and aluminum and enter.
2. Gable Vents
Gable vents provide a similar function to your roof vents – they help with the air circulation in the attic. They are made from plastic, wood, or aluminum, all materials that are easily chewed through by squirrels.
3. Wall Vents
Your bathroom, kitchen, and dryer fan’s installation is usually paired with an exhaust, which is positioned outside the house. Unfortunately, these exhaust pipes tend to resemble tree cavities and give the impression that it’s the ideal safe spot to a nesting squirrel. These vents are covered with plastic, which squirrels can easily remove before accessing the vent.
4. Roof Edges
Roof edges are easy entry points for squirrels. This is where all the melted snow and rain end up on your roof. A build up of clogged gutters, ice dams, and vegetation naturally occurs and this causes the roof boards and shingles to deteriorate at a faster rate than other parts of the roof.
As they deteriorate, the roof’s edges provide a great entry point for squirrels to chew through.
5. Roof-Soffit Intersections
Roof-Soffit intersections are where two different parts of the roof often meet. Unfortunately, when they are installed, a small gap often results, as it is difficult to get the soffits to flush. This little gap is more than enough space for a squirrel to make its way into your attic space.
6. Chimneys
When your chimney is uncapped, this provides an easy entry and exit point for squirrels. Chimneys lined with bricks allow the squirrels to enter and exit as they please, while chimneys lined with smooth steel and clay lines are a little more difficult for squirrels to maneuver, as they often result in them getting stuck or falling.
From the above-listed, it is clear that there are multiple points that a squirrel can use to enter your home and attic. It is, therefore, important to seal up all the entrance points, to prevent them from entering. Your best option is to seal these points with steel material because the squirrel can’t chew through that.
Squirrels are at times very determined and manage to enter, despite your best efforts. In this case, you’ll want to contact your nearest wildlife removal company to ensure that they are safely trapped and removed from your property.