A crucial part of pest control–and one that’s not often talked about–is understanding pest behavior. With proper pest control, it’s not enough to simply eliminate the pest by trapping or exterminating, we need to prevent future problems too!
This is extremely applicable in the case of squirrels. As fall cools down into winter, it’s vital to start taking preventative measures to keep these pests out of your home! Antworks offers some of the best pest control services in the the area, and we’d love to share 6 ways to squirrel-proof your home!
Do Squirrels Hibernate?
Unlike some other common animals, squirrels do not hibernate. What they do is look for a cozy, dry, warm spot, away from the cold of winter. This is why your house is so attractive to squirrels, and why they’ll do almost anything to get inside your home! As the temperature drops and the Pacific NW rain starts to fall, squirrels are on the lookout for safe and warm shelter.
How Do Squirrels Get Inside?
Squirrels, like all rodents, have incredibly strong teeth that never stop growing. They need to chew wood in order to wear down their teeth, and squirrels will continue this behavior over their entire lifespan. This has two implications for your home: squirrels are able to chew through almost anything to get inside, and they will never stop chewing the wooden structure of your house. Squirrels have been known to chew through plastic, rubber, drywall, and wood–they’ll even chew on metal because of its sharpening qualities, though they won’t be able to chew through it.
6 Ways to Prevent Squirrels
Squirrels want to get inside, and they can get inside. So how can you possibly prevent them from entering your home? Inspection and exclusion! By carefully inspecting the exterior of your home, you can find possible entry points, existing holes, and other evidence of squirrel activity. By blocking these entry points, you can prevent squirrels from finding a home in your home.
These steps will need to be repeated throughout the lifetime of your home. If done properly, you can avoid a major squirrel problem from ever occurring!
- Check your eaves
- Look for evidence of nesting, holes, chewed wood.
- Check your chimney
- Look for holes or other access points.
- Consider capping your chimney.
- Inspect your roof
- Look for holes or other access points.
- Seal holes
- Use vent covers for laundry venting, etc.
- Seal utility pipe entry holes.
- For larger holes: consider calling a contractor.
- Trim trees away from your roof and house
- Keep bird food away from your house
It’s important to note: if you see any evidence of squirrels, or you hear animal noises from within the roof or attic of your house, do not seal up the holes. If there are any squirrels inside your house, they need to be removed before proper exclusion is carried out!
Professional Help for Squirrel Prevention
The simplest and best way to make sure that your house is squirrel-proof is to have a professional pest control expert inspect your home. Here at Antworks, we conduct thorough assessments of your current pest situation, and we can recognize the signs of current squirrel activity. We can also evaluate your home for potential problems, pointing out entry points and possible structural elements that squirrels could chew through or nest in. If you’re concerned about how to prevent squirrels from getting inside your home, give Antworks a call today!
