Greater Baltimore Area is home to four species of tree squirrels. While they may be entertaining to watch around bird feeders, they can cause devastating damage to your home. Squirrels seek warmth during the colder winter months and security during breeding season. Your attic satisfies both of these needs. They can cause considerable damage to your roof and vents in an attempt to enter your home, but once inside the real damage starts.

Did you know that squirrels are the cause of thousands of house fires every year? Their habit of chewing wires in attics put many homes at risk. As with all rodents, they must gnaw continuously to keep their ever-growing incisors from growing too large. In addition to wiring, they also chew on attic joists and sheetrock. They have a habit of tearing up insulation for nesting material causing heating bills to spike. If you suspect activity, call us before the damage gets worse.

Our team at Maryland Wildlife Solutions specializes in capture of problem squirrels and exclusion programs. Due to the capabilities of these creatures, controlling squirrel problems can be tough and require an extensive scope of work. All vents need to be wildlife proofed in such a way that the vent continues to exhaust while preventing squirrel intrusion. They are strong and can chew through most substrates. Additionally, they also have amazing climbing capabilities and can access virtually every vent on your home. When we are certain that we have removed all the squirrels, we will be sure to wildlife-proof your home in such a way that you will never have to worry about squirrels again.

Signs of them in your home include noises in your ceiling and wall. Listen out for scampering, vocalizations, and the clacking of acorns against sheetrock. Noises are normally the loudest early morning and late evening, but may depend on the time of year, species, and location of activity. Many people are alerted of activity only once electric fixtures or appliances have ceased to work due to squirrel damage. If your house is showing any of these symptoms, please reach out to schedule an estimate at 410-994-8881.

Squirrels in the Attic

It is common to find squirrels in the attic in Greater Baltimore Area. They love to make your attic their home. They will do most anything to get into your attic. This includes tearing up the roof, siding, vents. They are looking for a dry location; especially during the breeding season.

Once in the attic they will tear up insulation and drywall to build a nest for their young. Because the attic is usually quiet place, they are free to raise their family undisturbed. If you are seeing them on your roof, they may be using your attic as their nest. Call us to exclude them from your attic.

If you are hearing noises in your attic or in your walls, you may have a nest. Once we do an inspection of the attic we will place traps in the best possible location to catch them. As we look to remove the this pest from your attic we will also seal up the entry points that they created.

Squirrel Damage Repair

After the squirrels have been removed from your attic you may find that you are left with a need for damage repair to your Greater Baltimore Area home. They will tear up the insulation as they look to build nests for their young. They will chew through electrical wiring which has the potential for greater damage. This can lead to a potential fire.

Often we will find dead bodies in the attic. This can lead to insects and other animals in your house. These are animals that carry diseases; so let us make sure that your attic is clean and safe.

Our professionals understand their habbits. We will trap and remove them from your home. Our team is also trained to fix any damage that they have caused.

DIY Solutions To Squirrel Problems

Many products are advertised to ward off squirrels but buyer beware. Ultrasonic deterrents, liquid and granular repellents, and a slew of other remedies have been proven ineffective. Trapping squirrels as a homeowner requires special permits to be obtained, and attempted exclusion often leads to more damage. If you have an active squirrel problem, best call a professional. If you are looking to take preventative action, trim all tree branches 10’ away from your home. Move bird feeders as far away as you can. Store your trash away from the squirrels or use metal trash cans. We always recommend to conduct as much preventative exclusion as possible as the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can’t I just let the squirrels live in my attic?

Not exactly. While squirrels may reside in certain homes for years without causing any discernible problems, squirrels have a nasty habit of chewing on wires. This can cause a serious fire hazard. If there are any signs of squirrel activity, you should have this remedied immediately.

Can I try to trap squirrels myself?

If you are attempting to trap squirrels, be aware that you may need to acquire a permit depending on your location and the time of season. Trapping animals can be tricky and if you are not experienced, then you may even make the situation worse. Best to leave it to the professionals.

Can I use rat poison to kill the squirrel in my attic?

PLEASE DON’T DO THIS! Rodenticides are an important control measure for certain scenarios but can be detrimental if misused. It is illegal to kill a squirrel with rodenticides. It is also very inhumane as the dose is designed to kill mice and rats and is far too small for a squirrel. Lastly this can lead to the squirrels dying in inaccessible areas causing foul smells or worse, lead to secondary poisoning to pets and wildlife.

WHAT DIY methods work to get squirrels out of my house?

If they’re already in there, not much. We have seen moth balls, loud music, strobe lights, ultrasonic devices, and a variety of other store bought and make-shift devices fail over and over. But if they have not yet gotten into your home, there are several preventative measures you can take including trimming trees around your house, keeping bird feeders far away from the structure, and installing chimney caps.

What are signs that I have squirrels in my attic?

You may witness them coming and going from entry points they created. In winter months you may even see their tracks in the snow, giving away their location. Most likely you will hear them leaping around your attic and chewing on your sheetrock ceiling. They are most active during early morning and late evening hours. Hearing these noises in the middle of the night? You may have mice or flying squirrels