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Squirrel Problems in Cambridge

Cambridge’s abundant green spaces and tree-lined neighbourhoods make it an ideal habitat for squirrels. With large parks like Riverside Park, Churchill Park, and Dumfries Conservation Area scattered throughout the city, it’s no surprise that these agile rodents are a common sight. While they may seem cute and harmless, squirrels can quickly turn into a serious problem when they choose to nest inside your home or business.

Squirrels often gain access to attics, walls, chimneys, and crawl spaces in search of a safe place to build their nests and raise their young. Once inside, they can cause extensive property damage, increase health risks, and disrupt your daily life with their constant scratching and chewing.

This guide explores the squirrel-related challenges faced by Cambridge residents, how urban development is changing squirrel behaviour, and how Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control offers humane and permanent solutions to keep your home protected.

How Squirrels Enter Homes in Cambridge

Squirrels are natural climbers and can access rooftops with ease by running along branches, fences, utility lines, and even the sides of buildings. Once they’re on your roof, they’ll look for weak spots like loose soffits, roof vents, gaps under eaves, or deteriorating fascia boards. Their powerful teeth can chew through wood, plastic, aluminum, and even thin metal flashing to create an entry point.

Cambridge’s mix of older and newer neighbourhoods influences where and how squirrels get into homes. In heritage areas like Galt, where mature trees and older architecture are prevalent, squirrels often nest in attics and crawl spaces connected to dense tree cover. In newer neighbourhoods like East Galt or West Hespeler, where trees are still growing and homes may back onto farmland or green corridors, squirrels are finding creative ways to adapt—using sheds, garages, and even under solar panels to shelter from the elements.

As squirrels continue to adapt to changing landscapes and human presence, it’s becoming more important than ever to secure your home against these persistent invaders.

Urban Expansion and Its Impact on Squirrels in Cambridge

Like many cities in Ontario, Cambridge is experiencing rapid development. From new housing projects in the southern end of the city to commercial growth along Maple Grove Road and the expansion of infrastructure like Highway 401 interchanges, these changes have a direct effect on wildlife—including squirrels.

As construction clears natural habitats and disrupts the urban tree canopy, squirrels are forced to leave traditional nesting areas. They seek out new shelter in residential neighbourhoods and industrial zones, including attics, wall cavities, sheds, and soffits. Areas near growing subdivisions like the River Mill community or the Boxwood Business Campus often see increased squirrel activity as development pushes wildlife toward homes.

This shift in habitat highlights the need for long-term, humane wildlife solutions. As Cambridge grows, so does the importance of protecting both wildlife and the structures we live and work in.

How Green Spaces and Tree Canopies Attract Squirrels in Cambridge

Cambridge’s many green spaces and extensive tree canopies create an ideal environment for squirrels to thrive. Large parks like Riverside Park and Churchill Park, along with conservation areas such as Dumfries Conservation Area, provide abundant food sources and natural shelter. Additionally, many residential neighbourhoods in Cambridge feature mature trees with wide canopies, offering squirrels convenient travel routes and safe nesting spots close to homes.

These tree canopies act as natural highways for squirrels, allowing them to move easily between feeding areas and nesting sites without touching the ground, which helps them avoid predators. For residents living near wooded streets or homes with large, mature trees, it’s common to see squirrels actively foraging, nesting, and using these trees as entry points to attics or roofs.

While these green spaces and trees add beauty and wildlife value to Cambridge, they also increase the likelihood of squirrel encounters, making it important to take preventative measures to protect your property.

How to Prevent Squirrel Infestations in Cambridge

While squirrels may seem harmless, they can become a significant nuisance when they gain access to your home or business. Taking a few proactive measures can make all the difference in keeping them out — especially in neighbourhoods prone to activity, like Preston and Blair.

1. Trim Overhanging Branches
Branches that hang over your roof provide convenient access for squirrels. Keep trees pruned back at least six feet from your home to help limit entry points.

2. Seal Vulnerable Entry Points
Inspect your roofline, soffits, and attic vents for any gaps, damage, or weaknesses. Installing chew-proof mesh over vents and chimneys, and promptly addressing any repairs, can make it much more difficult for squirrels to get in.

3. Manage Food Sources
Secure your garbage and compost bins, avoid leaving pet food outside, and promptly clean up fallen bird seed, nuts, or fruit in your yard. Removing these food sources helps reduce the appeal of your property to foraging squirrels.
These simple yet effective measures can go a long way toward keeping squirrels out — protecting both your home and your peace of mind.

Problems Caused by Squirrels

Once squirrels gain access to your home or business, the damage can add up quickly. Here are some of the most common issues we see in Cambridge properties:

Property Damage

• Chewed Wires: Squirrels frequently gnaw on electrical wiring, removing the protective insulation and creating a serious fire hazard, as well as a potential for power outages.
• Structural Damage: To reach sheltered spaces, squirrels may tear away roof vents, soffits, and siding. This not only weakens your home’s structure but also allows moisture to seep in, increasing the risk of mold and rot.
• Insulation Destruction: Squirrels often destroy attic insulation while nesting, reducing energy efficiency and adding to your heating and cooling costs.

Health Hazards

• Disease Transmission: Squirrels can carry and transmit diseases, including leptospirosis and salmonella, through their droppings and urine — especially in confined spaces like attics.
• Parasites: Squirrels may bring in additional pests, such as fleas, ticks, and mites, which can infest your home and pets.

If you’re hearing scratching noises in your ceiling or walls, noticing chew marks, or discovering disrupted or missing insulation, there’s a strong chance squirrels have made their way into your home.

Skedaddle's Humane Squirrel Removal Process in Cambridge

When squirrels have already made themselves at home, professional intervention is the safest and most effective solution. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we provide squirrel removal services tailored to Cambridge’s unique homes and environment.

1. Property Inspection
We start by thoroughly inspecting your home to identify all squirrel entry points, nesting areas, and vulnerabilities. We examine the roofline, vents, soffits, chimneys, and attics.

2. Humane Eviction
Using one-way doors, we safely remove adult squirrels and ensure they cannot re-enter. If baby squirrels are present, our technicians gently remove them by hand and reunite them with their mothers outside in specially placed reunion boxes.

3. Cleanup and Restoration
We remove contaminated insulation and nesting materials, sanitize affected areas, and deodorize the space to eliminate health risks and lingering odors.

4. Long-Term Prevention
Once removal is complete, we secure every potential entry point using durable, chew-proof materials and provide you with customized prevention tips to ensure the squirrels don’t come back.

Skedaddle's Humane Squirrel Removal Process in Cambridge

With over three decades of experience in humane wildlife removal, Skedaddle is trusted across Ontario for our ethical and effective approach. We understand the behaviour of local squirrel populations and how Cambridge’s unique mix of urban, suburban, and natural areas can influence infestations.

Our team provides end-to-end service—from the initial inspection and humane removal to full exclusion and restoration. Whether you’re in the historic core of Galt or a growing subdivision near Townline Road, we’re ready to protect your home with expert squirrel control.

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