Squirrels are wonderful creatures of nature that can be fun to observe while on a walk or from the comfort of your living room window. What many homeowners might not realize, though, is that squirrels can also be genuine pests that cause damage to telephone lines and electrical wires. If you find yourself experiencing a squirrel problem on your property, you might understandably ask, “Why do squirrels chew wires?” 

Understanding the reasons behind squirrel behavior is the first step in protecting your home from a wildlife problem. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we can help you understand why squirrels behave the way they do and use that knowledge to identify all chewed wires around your home.

Why Do Squirrels Chew Wires?

While many people find squirrels to be more appealing than rats or mice, they are ultimately rodents all the same. Rodents instinctively chew on certain materials to trim their teeth down and keep them from growing out of control. The question remains, though, as to why squirrels are drawn to electrical wires in particular.

Squirrels may find their way into your home during the colder months of the year. Once inside, they are drawn to the warmth generated by electrical wires. Some may even take a liking to the texture or taste of the insulation covering most wires. 

In some cases, a squirrel’s tendency to chew on wires might even stem from simple curiosity. Once inside your walls, the squirrel may choose to explore and chew on wires to clear the way as it goes. Not only are these habits inconvenient and bothersome to you as the homeowner, but they are also dangerous.

What Are the Dangers of Squirrels Chewing Wires?

When squirrels excessively chew on the wires in your house, it naturally leads to permanent damage to your home’s electrical systems. This might leave you without electrical power to heat your home during the harsh Wisconsin winter when squirrels are most likely to shelter inside your walls.

Chewing also wears down the insulation that covers electrical wires. This insulation serves to keep the wires from making direct contact with other surfaces that might conduct electricity. Many types of insulation even contain metal for support, which further explains why squirrels chew wires as the metal sharpens their teeth. Without the insulation, though, there is serious danger of electrical leakage or sparks that could lead to a house fire.

Aside from damage to electrical wires, there are other telltale signs that a squirrel is in your home such as noises in the walls, droppings, and foul odors. When you start to notice any of these signs, it is time to start considering the dangers that a squirrel could pose if it starts chewing on your wires.

Preventing Squirrels From Chewing Wires

The most direct way to prevent squirrels from chewing wires in and around your house is by making the wires unappealing to them by applying a coat of hot pepper repellent spray or protecting the wires with a layer of rodent tape. Alternatively, you can use direct-buried wires that are waterproof and inaccessible to rodents that are incapable of burrowing into the ground.

Knowing how to get rid of red squirrel families that make their way into your home is another way to protect vulnerable electrical wires. Using the appropriate live trapping equipment is a humane way to capture squirrels and relocate them away from your home. 

Contact Skedaddle When Squirrels Chew Through Your Wires

There are a number of reasons why squirrels chew wires, but we at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control understand that your priority is to protect your home by removing pests from the premises. We can investigate the evidence left behind by animals causing problems on your property and come up with a plan to deter or remove the pests in a way that is safe and humane. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for squirrel removal in Milwaukee.