How to Stop Squirrels from Invading Your Home and Yard
Squirrels might look cute from a distance, but don’t be fooled. When they move into your attic, chew through wiring, or raid your bird feeders… you might have a different opinion.
Squirrel Removal
Expert Wildlife Solutions You Can Trust
Squirrels might look cute from a distance, but don’t be fooled. When they move into your attic, chew through wiring, or raid your bird feeders… you might have a different opinion.
It’s important to remember that squirrels are rodents, and while they’re fine out in the woods, they can cause thousands of dollars worth in property damage to your home. (They’re also very persistent once they figure out you have something they want, like food or shelter.)
We’re going to show you how to prevent squirrel infestations, how to identify infestations in case you have one, and how to safely and humanely get rid of squirrels from your Northern Virginia property.
ARTICLE CONTENTS:
- Why Squirrels are a Big Problem for Homeowners
- Electrical Fires
- Insulation Destruction
- Attic Infestations
- Garden and Property Damage
- Signs of a Squirrel Infestation
- 5 Effective Squirrel Prevention Strategies
- Northern Virginia Squirrel Removal
- Our Squirrel Removal Process
- Areas We Services for Squirrel Control
- FAQ About Squirrel Infestations
Why are Squirrels a Problem?
Why Squirrels are a Big Problem for Homeowners
They look cute, we know, but then squirrels get into your attic and quickly show their true colors as a destructive, hyperactive rodent. They can quickly become a very expensive nuisance.
In Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, squirrels are one of the most common wildlife complaints from homeowners.
Here are just a few reasons why:
1. Electrical Fires
Squirrels, like many rodents, have strong incisor teeth (front teeth) that grow at a rate of about six-inches per year. That means they love to chew. Normally, they gnaw on nuts, seeds, and other hard things, which is perfectly fine.
What’s destructive is if they start chewing through electrical wiring in your attic or walls. This has been known to trigger attic fires.
If you hear scratching, chewing sounds in your ceiling or walls, don’t ignore it. You could have a fire hazard quickly developing, requiring immediate attention.
2. Insulation Destruction
Squirrels will tear up attic insulation if they get the chance. They like to use it to make nests for their young. This causes a couple of problems.
Not only does it negatively impact your home’s energy efficiency, but the nesting materials will get soaked with squirrel waste. This leads to some really nasty odors and health hazards for your family.
3. Attic Infestations
Your attic is a safe, dry, warm space for squirrels, especially compared to the unpredictable outdoors. If a squirrel finds a way in, it rarely stays there alone.
It’s common for mating pairs to build their nests, multiply, and then create a full-blown infestation if you don’t get on top of it fast. And if a squirrel happens to die in your attic or walls? The smell is overwhelmingly bad.
4. Garden and Property Damage
Squirrels are diggers. They like to dig up gardens and yards to store their food. As mentioned before, they also like to chew things, so they aren’t opposed to chewing up your outdoor furniture if it interests them.
They also destroy bird feeders, devour all your bird seed, and scare away the birds you actually want to attract. They can cause other property damage, like tearing apart roofing shingles and fascia boards while trying to get into your attic.
If they get too confident, they’re more than happy to take over your entire space.
Identifying Squirrel Behavior
Signs of a Squirrel Infestation
Ignoring a squirrel issue is the quickest and easiest way to make it much worse. It’s always better to prevent an infestation and deal with a squirrel problem early before it becomes bad (and expensive).
Here are common signs that you might have a squirrel infestation brewing (if not a fully developed issue):
- Scratching, running, and gnawing sounds coming from your walls and ceilings
- Chewed wires or chewed, scratched marks around rooflines and soffits
- Animal droppings in your attic or along insulation in your home
- Signs of nesting materials, like shredded leaves or fabric
- Holes or damage to your home’s exterior
- Foul odors, either from squirrel waste or decaying rodents
- Increased squirrel activity around your home
If you see one or more of these signs, immediately take action and get your home investigated for more damaging squirrel activity.
Safe Squirrel Prevention
5 Effective Squirrel Prevention Strategies
Prevention is the best solution when it comes to squirrel control, especially if you want long-term solutions. Here’s what we recommend for Northern Virginia homeowners:
1. Seal All Entry Points: Inspect your home’s roofline, attic vents, windows, and chimney. Even if you see a 2-inch gap, that’s enough for a squirrel to “squirrel” its way inside. If you see any holes, patch them immediately. Don’t leave any gaps.
2. Trim Back Tree Limbs: If you have trees growing close to your home, trim the branches back a bit, ideally, at least 10 feet from your home. Squirrels are able to jump horizontally 8-10 feet (even up to 20 in some cases). If they’re climbing in that tree and get interested in your home, they’ll hop right over.
3. Secure Bird Feeders and Trash: Exposed food attracts animals of all kinds. While bird feeders are a great way to get more birds into your yard, they’re also an invitation to squirrels (and other pests). If you find you have a squirrel problem, invest in squirrel-proof bird feeders or remove the feeders altogether.
You also want to check your outdoor trash bins and make sure they’re secured. If the squirrels get in, they’ll invite their friends next time.
4. Use Squirrel Deterrents: If the squirrels persist, you can try implementing deterrents like predatory decoys or motion-activated sprinklers to make your home and yard less attractive to them. Having an outdoor dog is also a great squirrel deterrent.
5. Call a Professional: If the squirrel infestation is already bad (meaning, they’ve gotten into your attic, or they’re becoming a little too bold or aggressive in your yard), DIY removal methods might make the problem worse.
It can also be dangerous to you and your family to attempt to resolve the issue on your own.
Let a professional wildlife control expert remove them humanely and seal off re-entry points permanently to prevent the issue from happening again.
Our Squirrel Removal Process
Squirrel Removal in Northern Virginia
At Hunt Country Wildlife Control, we provide safe, effective, and humane squirrel removal services for homeowners and commercial properties in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties.
Squirrels are quick, clever, and destructive. If you’ve seen them on your roof, heard them in your walls, or smelled something strange in your attic—don’t wait. We’ll remove them safely, clean up the damage, and make sure they don’t come back.
1. Detailed Property Assessment
Our squirrel removal process begins with a thorough inspection of your home, including your roofline, to locate all entry points, nests, and potential damage.
2. Custom Squirrel Eviction Plan
We create a tailored plan based on the behavior of your squirrels, which may include placing one-way exit doors or humane traps if necessary.
3. Humane Squirrel Removal
We use humane techniques that allow squirrels to exit your home, and make sure they never re-enter. If there are babies present, we follow all legal and ethical relocation practices.
4. Exclusion and Repairs
We professionally seal all entry points to keep the squirrels out and prevent reinfestation.
5. Cleanup and Decontamination
We clean and sanitize contaminated insulation, remove nesting materials, and apply treatments to eliminate lingering odors and pathogens.
6. Follow-Up and Monitoring
Our team will return for follow-up visits to guarantee that your squirrel problem is fully resolved and you don’t have any recurring issues.
Areas Served
Areas We Service for Squirrel Removal
Hunt Country Wildlife Control offers comprehensive squirrel removal services throughout Loudoun County, VA. Our dedicated team is experienced in handling squirrel issues common to both rural and suburban environments in the region. We proudly service the following areas:
- Purcellville
- Round Hill
- Leesburg
- Hamilton
- South Riding
- Ashburn
- Sterling
- Middleburg
Additionally, our squirrel removal services are available to homeowners and commercial properties in select parts of Fairfax County, including:
- McLean
- Arlington
- Alexandria
If you need squirrel removal in any of these locations, reach out to Hunt Country Wildlife Control for a professional and effective solution that will keep your home safe from wildlife intrusions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
About Squirrel Removal
How do you get squirrels out of your attic?
While it’s tempting to do it yourself, the safest, most effective, and most humane way to get rid of squirrels is to bring in a licensed wildlife control expert.
Hunt Country Wildlife Control is trained to handle the issue quickly and effectively. We use humane humane trapping methods and always seal off access points to prevent reinfestation.
What scares squirrels away?
This depends on how brave your squirrels are. In some cases, loud noises, motion-sensor sprinklers, predatory decoys, or your pet dog are enough to scare away squirrels. In other situations, the squirrels have gotten too comfortable and need to be humanely removed.
Can squirrels cause house fires?
Yes. This is one of the most dangerous hazards of ignoring a squirrel problem. Squirrels are known to chew electrical wiring, which can result in short circuits and serious attic fires.
That’s why we always recommend being proactive and removing squirrels immediately. That way you’ll never have to worry about a fire.
What attracts squirrels to your house?
Food is a big one (bird seed, fruit trees, easy-to-access trash cans, etc.). Squirrels are also attracted to good shelter (attics, crawl spaces, etc.) and they love easy roof access (low branches).
Call now for expert wildlife removal and exclusion you can trust.
Don’t wait until a small problem becomes a big one. Call now and get the peace of mind you deserve.