Michigan Squirrel Removal | Getting Rid of Squirrels
Squirrel Pest Control- Squirrel Trappers
Squirrel Exterminator- Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic
Squirrels in Michigan
There are different types of squirrels in Michigan. Red squirrel, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, black squirrel, chipmunk, and flying squirrel. Most squirrels are diurnal but the flying squirrel is nocturnal. They fly through the trees at night so they can avoid hawks, eagles, and other flying predators. Squirrels feast on pine cones, birdseed, egg corn, walnuts, and during Halloween pumpkins. They like to gnaw on treated wood because of the salt in the wood. They live primarily in trees and underground. They make nesting material out of leaves and sticks.
Squirrels will live in soffits and attics. They bring hazardous materials into your attic. Worst of all they chew on power lines and electrical wires in your attic. They are often heard in the attic running around, jumping from truss to truss, and dropping nuts and pine cones. Squirrels have many babies who will stay in the nest and remain living there. We have found up to 15 squirrels living in one attic.
Squirrel Problem Solvers:
Trapping and relocating is the one measure, but live exclusion or multi-catch traps are also very effective. We sometimes have to set multiple traps to remove the whole nest of squirrels. Red squirrels are the most common squirrel removed from the attic. If you find squirrels or chipmunks chewing on wood or weather strips on garage doors, some pepper spray on those areas works wonders. To keep squirrels off bird feeders we use metal flashing around the poles so they can't grip on. For more information on getting rid of squirrels out of the attic and removal techniques visit our squirrels in the attic page.
Find Out Why We're One of the Most-Trusted Squirrel Removal Companies in Michigan
Michigan Squirrels Nesting in the Attic- Squirrel in Attic Removal
So you wake up in the morning hearing scratching and scurrying through your attic ceiling and walls. Sounds like you have squirrels in the attic. In general, you often hear squirrels in the attic the most, first thing in the morning. During sunrise squirrels become most active as they head outside to look for food and nesting materials. Squirrels are busy nut gathers and do this most of the time throughout the day. However, not all squirrels in Michigan are diurnal, flying squirrels are most active at night. Flying squirrels are very small and need the nighttime to disguise themselves from predators.
Signs of Squirrels in Your Attic
Most obvious are the noises you hear. understanding the noises you will hear will allow you to identify your attic pest. Noises squirrels make in the attic are digging, scratching, rolling nuts, and squeaking noises. As mentioned above these noises generally take place first thing in the morning or at nightfall. Squirrels often run and jump through your attic as well. Squirrels will not sound as loud as raccoons in the attic but will be much louder than bats or mice in the attic.
Damages Caused by Squirrels in the Attic
Just like most wildlife animals in the attic are a nuisance and destructive. Different than other wildlife, but much like birds squirrels bring materials from the outside to inside your attic. Things like leaves, sticks, pine cones, and walnuts are brought into your attic to store for nest or food. Like raccoons, squirrels can also damage the insulation with nesting, droppings, and urine. A common disease found in squirrel or rodent droppings is the Hantavirus. Disease-causing respiratory problems. The biggest problem squirrels cause in your attic is the chewing of wires. 25-30 percent of all house fires are caused by rodents chewing on the wires inside your attic and walls.
Getting Rid of Squirrels
Squirrels are generally trapped in a live trap during the day or in some cases at night. Once the squirrels are trapped and relocated we can make all the necessary repairs to prevent the return of squirrels. Another method we have used in the past is the exclusion method. For flying squirrels, this works great. They are small enough to escape through our exclusion tubes, but can not figure how to get back into them. It's also very important to repair the hole with strong hardware cloth or aluminum flashing to prevent the squirrels from chewing back in.
DO NOT poison or use any other toxins to get rid of squirrels in the attic. This will not work! It will kill the squirrels, but then you will end up with dead decaying rodents in your walls and buried beneath your insulation. Dead animals will get you nothing but maggots, flies, and a foul odor. Not to mention it's very cruel to the animal. They a die slow painful death.
Importance of Squirrel Removal From the Attic
Squirrels breed twice a year and have two sets of litters. The longer you let your squirrel problem go the more and more squirrels you will be dealing with. Squirrels are notorious for chewing on wires and causing house fires. Squirrel droppings can cause the hantavirus, like other rodents living in your attic. Squirrels chew several holes in your home because of the salt granules in the treated wood. Saying all of that, squirrels are just flat-out annoying living in your attic. They will keep you up all night and frustrate you throughout the day.
Squirrel Elimination
There are some things you may do to try to keep squirrels out of the attic however like all rodents squirrels are constantly chewing on things to wear down their teeth. Hardware cloth over vents and flashing in the eaves are some things you may try to keep squirrels out. If squirrels have a nest inside they may try to chew their way back into the attic.
Common Squirrel Control Questions in Michigan
The short answer is no. They may seem to be working at first, but then the squirrel will return. The only way to get rid of squirrels is by trapping and exclusion. You must remove the nest and seal all entry points.
Squirrels can be hard to get rid of. Even by sealing off all of their entry points, they can still get in. Squirrels are chewers. They will chew their way back into your home or attic. You must trap them and remove them. Snap traps, live traps, and repeater traps are the best methods to get rid of squirrels from your home.
yes, squirrels will leave on their own. Typically during the warmer parts of the day. Squirrels will forage for food during the day, but will always return to their nesting site.
There are several scents that are known to repel squirrels and other rodents, including:
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Peppermint oil: The strong scent of peppermint oil is known to be effective at repelling squirrels. You can soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in your attic to deter squirrels.
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Eucalyptus oil: The strong smell of eucalyptus oil can also repel squirrels. Place cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus oil in your attic to keep squirrels away.
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Cayenne pepper: Squirrels do not like the smell or taste of cayenne pepper. Sprinkle cayenne pepper powder around the areas of your attic where squirrels are present.
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Mothballs: The strong smell of mothballs can be effective at repelling squirrels. Place mothballs in your attic, but be aware that they can be toxic if ingested by pets or children.
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Ammonia: The strong smell of ammonia can also repel squirrels. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in your attic.
It's important to note that these scents may only provide a temporary solution and may not be effective in completely removing squirrels from your attic. It's important to identify and seal any entry points that squirrels are using to enter your attic, and to seek professional help to safely and humanely remove them. Contact a wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in removing squirrels from your attic.
Getting rid of squirrels in the attic can be a challenging task, especially if the squirrels have been nesting there for a while. Squirrels are agile and can squeeze through small openings, making it difficult to find and seal all potential entry points. Additionally, squirrels can cause damage to your attic by chewing on electrical wires, insulation, and other materials.
Here are some steps to take when trying to get rid of squirrels in your attic:
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Identify entry points: Inspect your attic to identify all potential entry points that squirrels may be used to enter. These may include gaps in the roof, vents, pipes, and other openings.
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Seal entry points: Once you have identified entry points, seal them off with sturdy materials such as steel mesh, hardware cloth, or metal flashing. Make sure to seal all potential entry points to prevent squirrels from getting back in.
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Remove squirrels: Once you have sealed all entry points, the squirrels that are already in your attic need to be removed. This should be done safely and humanely, using live traps or one-way exclusion devices that allow squirrels to exit but not re-enter.
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Clean up and repair: After the squirrels have been removed, it's important to clean up any droppings or debris left behind and to repair any damage caused by the squirrels.
It's important to note that attempting to remove squirrels from your attic on your own can be dangerous, especially if you are not experienced in handling wildlife. It's best to contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in removing squirrels from your attic. They have the proper equipment, training, and experience to safely and humanely remove squirrels from your attic and prevent them from coming back.
The number of squirrels that may be living in an attic can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the attic, the availability of food and water, and the number of entry points. In general, a single squirrel may use an attic as a nest or den, while larger groups of squirrels may form a colony in the attic.
Squirrels are social animals and they may live in colonies that range from a few individuals to as many as a dozen or more. In some cases, a mother squirrel may have a litter of young squirrels in the attic, which can increase the number of squirrels in the space.
It's important to note that even a small number of squirrels in the attic can cause damage to the structure and pose a risk to the health and safety of humans and pets. Squirrels are known to chew on electrical wires, insulation, and other materials in the attic, which can lead to costly repairs and even pose a fire hazard. Additionally, squirrels can carry diseases such as rabies and their droppings can contain harmful bacteria.
If you suspect that there are squirrels in your attic, it's important to take action to remove them as soon as possible. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in removing squirrels from your attic. They can assess the situation and provide a safe and humane solution to remove the squirrels and prevent them from returning.
Mothballs are sometimes used as a deterrent to keep squirrels and other rodents out of the attic, but they may not be effective in getting rid of squirrels that are already present. The strong smell of mothballs may temporarily discourage squirrels from entering the attic, but they may not be a long-term solution for squirrel control.
Moreover, mothballs contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to humans and pets if ingested or inhaled. Mothballs can release harmful fumes and may be a fire hazard if not used properly. Therefore, it's not recommended to use mothballs as a primary method to control squirrel infestations in the attic.
Instead, it's best to identify and seal all entry points that squirrels are using to enter the attic, and to use humane and effective methods to remove them. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in safely and humanely removing squirrels from your attic. They have the proper training and equipment to safely remove squirrels and prevent them from returning.
No, it is not recommended to poison squirrels in your attic. Using poisons to control squirrel infestations can be dangerous and can pose a risk to human and pet health. Squirrels that ingest poison may die in the attic, which can cause foul odors and attract other pests such as flies, maggots, and beetles. Poisoning squirrels may also cause them to die in inaccessible areas of the attic, making it difficult to remove the carcasses.
Furthermore, using poisons to control squirrels can be inhumane and may cause suffering. Poisoning squirrels is not a recommended method of wildlife control, and it may not effectively solve the problem in the long run.
Instead of using poisons, it's best to identify and seal all entry points that squirrels are using to enter the attic, and to use humane and effective methods to remove them. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in safely and humanely removing squirrels from your attic. They have the proper training and equipment to safely remove squirrels and prevent them from returning.
The amount of time it takes for squirrels to leave an attic can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of the colony, the availability of food and water, and the season of the year. In general, it may take several days or weeks for squirrels to leave an attic after their entry points have been sealed.
Once the entry points have been sealed, the squirrels will try to find another way out of the attic. This process can take time as the squirrels may need to explore different areas of the attic and find the new exit. Additionally, if there are young squirrels in the attic, it may take longer for them to leave as they are not yet able to travel and may need to be taken out by hand.
It's important to note that simply sealing the entry points may not be enough to solve the problem of a squirrel infestation. The squirrels may still be in the attic, and they may continue to cause damage and pose a risk to human and pet health. Therefore, it's recommended to contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency to assist with removing squirrels from the attic in a safe and humane manner. They can also provide advice on preventing future infestations.
Yes, squirrels in the attic can be active at night. While squirrels are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, they can also be active at night. In fact, nocturnal activity may increase in situations where there is limited access to food or water during the day or if they are disturbed during their daytime activities.
Squirrels are also known to be active in the early morning and late afternoon. It's common to hear them running around and making noises in the attic during these times. Additionally, during the mating season, which typically occurs in the late winter or early spring, male squirrels may be particularly active at night as they search for a mate.
If you suspect that you have squirrels in your attic, it's important to take action as soon as possible to prevent damage to your home and potential health risks associated with squirrel infestations. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in safely and humanely removing squirrels from your attic. They have the proper training and equipment to safely remove squirrels and prevent them from returning.
Yes, squirrels in the attic can potentially cause fires. Squirrels have a tendency to chew on objects, including electrical wires, which can lead to damage and a potential fire hazard. Squirrels may also build nests using flammable materials such as leaves, twigs, and other debris, which can increase the risk of a fire.
In addition to the risk of fire, squirrels in the attic can also cause other types of damage to your home, such as chewing on wood, insulation, and pipes, which can result in costly repairs.
Therefore, it's important to take action as soon as possible if you suspect that you have squirrels in your attic. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in safely and humanely removing squirrels from your attic. They have the proper training and equipment to safely remove squirrels and prevent them from causing damage to your home.
Squirrels can enter your attic through small openings and gaps in your home's exterior, such as gaps in the eaves or roofline, damaged vents, or holes in the siding. They can also climb up trees and jump onto your roof, and if there are overhanging tree branches close to your home, squirrels can use them as a bridge to access your attic.
Squirrels are able to squeeze through small openings, so it's important to thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home to identify all potential entry points. Some common entry points for squirrels include:
- Gaps around utility lines, vents, or chimneys
- Holes or gaps in roof or wall construction
- Open or unsecured windows or doors
- Damaged or missing fascia or soffits
- Tree limbs or branches in close proximity to the roof or walls
Once you have identified potential entry points, it's important to seal them to prevent squirrels from entering your attic. This can be done using materials such as wire mesh, caulk, or expanding foam, depending on the size and location of the gap or opening.
It's also important to trim any tree branches that are close to your home to prevent squirrels from using them as a bridge to your attic. By sealing all entry points and removing potential access points, you can help prevent squirrels from entering your attic and causing damage to your home.
If you have squirrels in your attic, you may hear a variety of sounds coming from above. Some common sounds that squirrels make in the attic include:
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Scratching or rustling: Squirrels are active animals and may move around a lot as they search for food, build nests, and explore their surroundings. You may hear scratching or rustling sounds as they move around in the attic.
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Running or scampering: Squirrels are fast and agile, and you may hear them running or scampering around the attic as they play or search for food.
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Chewing or gnawing: Squirrels have teeth that never stop growing, so they need to constantly chew on objects to keep them from getting too long. You may hear them chewing or gnawing on wood, wires, or other objects in the attic.
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Vocalizations: Squirrels are also known to make a variety of vocalizations, including chirping, chattering, and barking. You may hear these sounds coming from the attic, especially if there are multiple squirrels living in the space.
If you hear any of these sounds coming from your attic, it's a good indication that you may have squirrels or other wildlife living in your home. Contact a professional wildlife removal service or local animal control agency for assistance in safely and humanely removing squirrels from your attic. To hear what a squirrel sounds like in the attic, click here.
Squirrel Removal Cost
Squirrel trapping or exclusion are the best methods to get rid of squirrels. Exclusions we may charge to install the one-way squirrel door and provide an estimate to proof the entire home. Because there are typically large families of squirrels we set multiple traps at once and charge for the visit, not for each captured squirrel. A typical squirrel trapping or exclusion may cost around $350 or more. At an added cost once the squirrels are trapped and removed we can also screen vents, cap chimneys, and fix canned vents, eaves, etc. to keep them from returning. This is also part of our exclusion process. For a free detailed quote click on the free price quote button. button.
Squirrel Removal Pricing Guide- How We Do It
Get The Good
Just Get Squirrels Out
$400-$800 /Exclusion
- 1 Year Warranty
- Roof-Vent Sealing
- Clear Sealant/ Black Foam
- Squirrel Trapping
Better Warranty
Keep Squirrels Out
$800-$1,200 / Exclusion
- 3 Year Warranty
- Roof-Vent Screen
- Color Match Caulk
- Squirrel Trapping
Get the Best
Keep Squirrels Out For Good
$1,200+ / Exclusion
- 5 Year Warranty
- Premium Vent-Guard Covers
- Full Home Exclusion
- Squirrel Trapping
- Attic Clean-out
Find Out What Sets us Apart
We service over 14 counties in Michigan for squirrel removal projects. See our service area to see if we are in your area. Looking for a professional wildlife control expert specializing in the squirrel removal process, but not sure who to hire? Click here for information on hiring a wildlife control expert.
If you have a squirrel problem and you live in Michigan we service you. Common areas we serve throughout our service area are: Bay City, Dewitt, Eagle, Elsie, Fowler, Maple Rapids, Ovid, St. Johns, Westphalia, Bellevue, Charlotte, Dimondale, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Mulliken, Olivet, Potterville, Sunfield, Vermontville, Waverly, Burton, Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flint, Flushing, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Linden, Montrose, Mount Morris, Otisville, Swartz Creek, Dansville, East Lansing, Lansing, Leslie, Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, Webberville, Williamston, Jackson, Grass Lake, Almont, Attica, Clifford, Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Metamora, North Branch, Otter Lake, Argentine, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton, Eastpointe, Memphis, Mount Clemons, New Baltimore, New Haven, Romeo, Saint Claire Shores, Shelby, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren, Midland, Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Luna Pier, Maybee, Monroe, Petersburg, South Rockwood, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Holly, Lake Orion, Madison Heights, Milford, Novi, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Walled lake, Wixom, West Bloomfield, Wolverine Lake, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Merrill, Oakley, Saginaw, St. Charles, Zilwaukee, Bancroft, Byron, Corunna, Durand, Lainsburg, Lennon, Morrice, New Lothrop, Owosso, Perry, Vernon, Akron, Caro, Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Millingston, Reese, Unionville, Vassar, Ann Arbor, Barton Hills, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Canton, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Wayne, Westland. For more areas we service visit our locations page.