Have you ever been woken up by the insistent scratch? Scratch? Scratch? of tiny feet above your head? If you live in Montreal, it’s a sound that may be all too familiar.
While we celebrate our region’s rich and diverse fauna, having squirrels set up shop in your abode is an unwelcome surprise for any homeowner. This is where the question starts to nag at you: “How to get rid of squirrels?” Before you pick up your DIY gloves, let’s dive into the complexities of this task.
- Understanding these agile creatures, their behaviour, and how their presence can impact your home.
- The hazards and implications of taking the DIY approach to squirrel removal.
- Recognizing signs of an infestation and the resultant harm caused to your dwelling.
- The importance of professional intervention and the value of enlisting the help of a certified wildlife technician.
- And more!
Note: It’s not just about driving on unwanted visitors; it’s about addressing the root issue and ensuring your house remains a haven for you, not for wildlife.
What are the Unique Behaviours of Squirrels That Make DIY Eviction Hazardous?
You might find it cute to watch squirrels scamper about in your yard, but dealing with them as they infiltrate your home can become a problem. The trouble often lies in their behaviour patterns, which are unique and can give rise to complications if you’re considering tackling their eviction on your own. Let’s examine why this task might be more difficult than you’d expect:
- Agility: Squirrels are nimble creatures. Their remarkable climbing abilities, paired with a penchant for tight spaces, make them challenging to capture or deter.
- Resourcefulness: Given a small opening, a squirrel can gnaw and expand it enough to get inside your home. Once inside, they can wreak havoc on your attic, wiring or insulation.
- Breeding: Squirrels breed twice a year. You could exponentially increase your problem if you don’t remove the whole family, or they aren’t properly excluded.
- Defence: Like most wildlife, squirrels can become aggressive when cornered or if they feel their young are threatened. This can present a safety concern for the untrained.
What are Some Ways Squirrels Meet their End?
Having an understanding of their mortality could furnish insights into why a DIY approach to squirrel removal can often pose more challenges. Below, we detail some ways these creatures can sadly meet their end:
- Disease: Squirrels are susceptible to a myriad of diseases, some of which can turn fatal if not treated.
- Predation: They often fall prey to larger wildlife, resulting in a premature end to their lives.
- Starvation: Lack of food during certain seasons can lead to starvation and eventually death.
- Exposure to harsh weather: Extreme weather conditions such as intense cold or heat can be lethal to these small beings.
What are the Signs of a Squirrel Infestation You Should Know?
Being attuned to the signs of squirrel activity can help you take swift action, potentially mitigating unwanted complications. Vigilance can prove critical in fending off these seemingly adorable but potentially harmful critters. The following signs can signal the need for immediate attention:
- Noises: One of the most obvious indicators you may encounter, particularly during dawn or dusk, is atmospheric chatter, scrapes or scratches, and scurrying noises within your walls or attic.
- Droppings: Discovering small, oblong excrements are an immediate red flag indicating their presence.
- Property Damage: Being naturally destructive, squirrels often chew on electric cables, wooden structures, and even your prized garden vegetation.
- Nests: Squirrel nests, also called ‘dreys,’ typically discovered in loft spaces or within trees near your property, call for vigilance.
- Unexplained Utility Issues: Persistent and unexplainable power failures could signal squirrel-induced damage to electrical wiring.
Should these signs appear familiar, it’s advisable to seek professional help. Dealing with the issue yourself might seem cost-effective, but it holds inherent risks that can escalate the problem rather than curbing it. Remember, safety stands paramount and is essential before any DIY strategy to ensure your place returns to its comforting, squirrel-free state.
What are the Possible Long-Term Damages to Your House Caused by Squirrels?
Squirrels, while charming in their natural habitat, can wreak havoc in your home if an infestation occurs. The furry creatures can cause both visible and hidden structural damage that may compromise the integrity of your dwelling. The associated damages that squirrels can cause include:
- Chewed Wires: Squirrels tend to gnaw on electrical wires, causing potential safety hazards which include electrical fires. They may also destroy internet and cable wires, causing disturbance in your telecommunication connections.
- Insulation Destruction: The warmth and soft texture of attic insulation make the ideal nesting material for squirrels. Over time, their activity can degrade your home’s thermal protection, increasing your heating and cooling expenses.
- Structural Damage: Squirrels can gnaw their way through wood, drywall, and even some types of metal. This results in structural damage that devalues your home and opens access points for other pests.
- Foul Odors and Stains: Accidents happen and when squirrels are involved, they can leave excrement, urine, and even carcasses in hard-to-reach places, contributing to foul odours and unsightly stains.
Managing a squirrel infestation requires expertise and the correct approach to minimize potential house damage. The upfront risk of DIY methods may appear minimal, but the hidden costs and potential damages make them an unwise choice. Hence, the best approach to dealing with a squirrel infestation is prompt intervention by a certified wildlife technician like us.
What are the Potential Risks and Complications of DIY Squirrel Removal?
Turning a squirrel eviction into a homegrown project may seem like a viable option, but the truth is, it comes with a plethora of complications and hazards to consider. These range from personal injuries to potential legal issues:
- Personal Harm: These agile creatures can be difficult to handle. They might bite or scratch leading to infections or diseases such as rabies.
- Improper Handling: Without the right knowledge and equipment, you could inadvertently harm the squirrel, leading to unnecessary suffering and possibly breaking wildlife protection laws.
- Negative Impact on Your Property: You could unwittingly cause more destruction to your dwelling in the course of attempting to chase them out.
- No Long-Term Solution: Trying to fix the issue yourself might not provide a lasting solution, and these critters could return to your home.
- Legal Complications: Uninformed activity can potentially breach wildlife conservation laws, which are taken seriously with severe penalties in many regions.
The aforementioned risks are a testament to the value of involving trained professionals like us in matters of wildlife management within your home. A brief scan through the potential pitfalls of do-it-yourself wildlife eviction solutions makes you realize the importance of involving the pros in such arduous tasks. Stay safe and let a knowledgeable professional oversee the squirrel eviction process.
How Do You Get Rid of Squirrels Step-by-Step with a Wildlife Technician?
Wildlife removal in Montreal is essential. You might be wondering how to evict these furry invaders responsibly and without causing damage. Our expert protocol follows a strict series of steps:
- Proper Evaluation: First, they assess the situation. Identifying the specific type of creature causing mischief in your abode is critical.
- Spotting Evidence: Next, the technician looks for signs of activity, such as gnaw marks or droppings. This information is crucial to implement an effective release plan.
- Determining Entry Points: The expert locates and seals potential entryways, barring future ingress.
- Removing Wildlife: One-way doors are placed over the entry points that allow the squirrels to leave without getting back inside. Any babies are removed by hand.
- Damage Repair: Finally, any visible destruction caused by the critter is repaired. This includes insulation replacement, fixture restoration, and remediation of fouled areas.
This procedure ensures that your pest problem is managed in the most humane and responsible manner. The key lies in proper knowledge and techniques — trying to tackle this task on your own could result in harm both to your property and to the animal. Utilizing professional services guarantees a resolution that respects all parties — homeowners, technicians, and wildlife alike.
What are the Advantages of Employing a Professional Wildlife Technician for Squirrel Eviction and Protection?
Rodent infiltration, particularly that of the nimble squirrel, presents both a complex and risky situation for homeowners who opt for DIY solutions. The damage these little creatures can wreak on the house and the inherent risks associated with their removal inspire the question: Why not engage an expert? So, without further ado, let’s look at the compelling reasons why soliciting the assistance of a professional wildlife technician for squirrel eviction and protection is a wise choice:
- Experience: Professional technicians have a thorough understanding of squirrel behavior and know the most efficient eviction techniques.
- Safety: They are trained to safely handle and remove squirrels, reducing the risk of personal injury and minimizing squirrel distress.
- Efficiency: With their expertise, they can quickly identify and rectify any infestation, saving vital time repairing house damage.
- Prevention: A core part of their service involves implementing preventative measures to keep squirrels from returning.
- Legal Compliance: They are well-versed in local wildlife laws and ensure the eviction process is within legal boundaries.
The benefits of entrusting your squirrel problem to professional technicians like us far outweigh the risks and complications of a DIY approach. Not only does it guarantee swift and humane squirrel removal, but it also ensures lasting protection for your house, granting you peace of mind.
Why Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is Your Ideal Solution for Squirrel Removal and Protection
The expert wildlife technicians in our team have unravelled the secret of how to get rid of squirrels without causing undue harm to the animal or your property. While it is possible to navigate squirrel removal on your own, the risks of DIY methods coupled with potential long-term damage to your house make it a less desirable course of action.
Beyond just removal, we ensure that prevention and exclusion tactics are applied to deter re-infestation, offering you an all-around solution. The benefits of working with our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Montreal are significant, ranging from humane and environmentally responsible practices to state-of-the-art equipment to guarantee an effective and permanent solution.
Ultimately, choosing our professional service gives you peace of mind, knowing that your home is free from pesky squirrels and safe from potential future infestations.
Ready to gain protection from squirrel damage to your house? Contact us to request a quote and learn more about our comprehensive wildlife control solutions.