When spring finally arrives, so does the mating season of a variety of wildlife in urban areas. You may notice birds chirping and squirrels running to and fro. Specifically, the eastern gray squirrel common in urban areas begins its first mating season in early February. As these amorous seasons of life come to pass each year, learn more about when squirrels have babies so you can pay closer attention to the signs of rodent home invasion and find out who to call if you need humane squirrel removal in Ajax. 

Love Is in the Air Twice 

Squirrels typically have two mating seasons throughout the year. Many people expect the spring mating season but are unaware that squirrels can have a second mating season in midsummer. While you may not feel compelled to mark your calendars for these events, it is good to have them in mind so you can pay attention to the sounds and signs of nesting in your home. Squirrel mothers will often leave their regular nests after mating season in favour of safer nesting with future babies. The safer nesting option just may be your attic. 

Signs of Nesting in Your Home

Nesting signs can sometimes be hard to spot because it is just one mother squirrel. After the squirrel mating Ajax, the father plays no part in helping the mother or rearing the young. Thus, the mother is on her own to find secure lodging and build a nest to her liking for the future babies. Keep an eye out for the following signs a squirrel may be nesting in your home:

• Strange noises 
• Smells 
• Droppings 
• Nesting materials 
• Acorns or nuts 
• Repeat prints 
• Insulation on ground
• Shorts in electricity 

Bring on the Babies 

Once the mother has secured her nest in your walls, insulation, attic, or vents, she is ready for the gestation period. As she waits for her babies to arrive, she will continue foraging and building the nest bigger. The mother squirrel will likely also build up her food reserves as she may or may not venture out in the few days leading up to and following birth due to inclement weather or injury. 

At the end of spring and summer, respectively, the babies will arrive. When the squirrels are born, each litter can have up to six babies or as few as just one. Squirrel babies are called kittens and are born hairless and unable to see, so a secured nest is integral for survival. For the weeks after birth, the kittens are reliant on the mother squirrel for everything. 

Things Can Get Serious 

If you did not notice the signs of nesting thanks to a particularly stealth mother squirrel or simple unawareness, the babies will certainly let you know they have arrived. Even one little kitten can make a lot of racket as it comes into its own. Noise, however, isn’t the only problem. Baby squirrels are most often born in litters of three to four, with one or six being the end of the spectrum. So, three to four squirrel kittens will be loose in your attic or walls, growing into juveniles in not too long. The damage can be very costly. 

There are also dangers in trying to remove the squirrels yourself. Because the nest will be in a hard-to-reach location and squirrels often scatter when humans approach, you can never be sure that you have gathered the entire litter. 

Calling in professional services is the best approach to avoid injury to yourself or the squirrels and their mother. Mother squirrels can often become frantic if they sense their kittens are in danger, causing a potentially chaotic scene that could be avoided. 

For professional squirrel removal services in Ajax, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today.