Wildlife encounters can be delightful until they start happening in your own backyard. Squirrels, with their fluffy tails and playful behaviour, often charm homeowners. However, having these creatures around also means finding a way to balance nature with suburban life. While feeding them might seem like a harmless activity, wildlife removal experts in Oakville recommend caution. Foods high in sugar and fats, like peanuts or table scraps, aren’t suitable for squirrels and can cause health problems or make them dependent on human food.

If you attract squirrels to your property, they might end up seeing your home as a potential shelter. Before you know it, you could be inspecting your attic for signs of a squirrel nest. Handling an intrusion can be quite a challenge, especially when trying to figure out how they got in. That’s where professional services come in—they understand the behaviour of these animals and can help maintain a peaceful coexistence without causing harm.

At Skedaddle, we’re dedicated to helping homeowners like you grasp the consequences of feeding squirrels and guiding you on what steps to take instead. We believe in promoting harmony between nature and suburban living while ensuring both your home and the wildlife remain safe and healthy.

How Do Squirrels Get in Your House?

Squirrels may seem like creatures of habit, surveying the same land and paths every day, but when they’ve set their sights on a cozy entry point to your home, they can be quite inventive. Common entry points include vents, chimneys, damaged roofing, and even tiny cracks in building foundations. Their persistent chewing and acrobatics can result in not only your home’s structural damage, but also potential fire hazards from exposed wiring and insulation.

Health Risks and Property Damage

When these bushy-tailed creatures gain access to your property, they’re not just making friends — they’re causing damage and potentially posing risks to your well-being. Squirrels harbour various pathogens and parasites, which can be transmitted to humans and pets. Their habits of gnawing on wood, wires, and rubber materials can lead to costly property damage, and even home fires due to exposed electrical wiring.

The Myth of the Friendly Squirrel

Why Feeding Them is A Risk

Squirrels might entertain with their acrobatics, athleticism, and sometimes unfathomable bravado, but dishing out snacks poses a multifaceted threat. Altering their behaviour can lead to dependency, aggression, and a decrease in their foraging instincts. This dependency can interfere with a squirrel’s ability to find natural food, contributing to malnutrition and a weakened immune system.

Healthy Human-Wildlife Boundaries

It’s not just for their sake; it’s for yours, too. Keeping squirrels on their natural diet reduces the likelihood of interaction with humans, minimizing the risk of bites or scratches. In a built-up area like Oakville, increased reliance on human-provided food can lead squirrels to become quite forward and even aggressive in their search for sustenance.

Proper Squirrel Nutrition Starts with Nature

An adult squirrel’s diet consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, and the occasional insect, bird egg, or small animal. Their natural diet is quite balanced and provides all the necessary nutrients for a healthy life. To mimic this, the best thing you can offer a squirrel is a judgment-free space to keep their diet natural.

For those who truly enjoy the presence of wildlife, creating a dedicated space in your yard for squirrels is an excellent option. Planting squirrel-friendly vegetation like oak or other nut-bearing trees, sunflowers, or berry bushes encourages squirrels to stay and forage, leading to a natural and satisfying cohabitation experience.

Prevention is Key

There are proactive steps every homeowner can take to prevent squirrel entry. Regularly inspecting your home’s exterior for any signs of damage, trimming tree branches to reduce access, and keeping your yard free of potential squirrel treats are all part of an effective prevention strategy.

Invest in squirrel-proofing solutions like chimney caps and wire mesh for vulnerable areas. It’s important to note that when it comes to wildlife, we interact with them in their terms, not ours. These tools and the strategies to deploy them effectively are key to maintaining a squirrel-free home.

Understanding the Law and Ethics of Wildlife Control

In Oakville, there are laws about how wildlife can be handled and removed from residential areas. Skedaddle operates within the legal framework with respect to the role wildlife plays in our ecosystem. Our knowledgeable staff ensures that our practices are both legal and ethical.

If you suspect a squirrel problem, don’t panic or take matters into your own hands. Instead, reach out to a professional wildlife control service. By doing so, you’re not only safeguarding your home and family, but also contributing to a harmonious relationship between humans and wildlife in our beautiful Oakville community.

Skedaddle’s Approach to Squirrel Control

Removing squirrels from a home takes more than patience and a handful of peanuts. Skedaddle’s experience in humane wildlife removal and exclusion techniques ensures that once squirrels are out, they stay out. Our methods are effective, ensuring the safety of both your home’s occupants and the squirrels themselves.

Squirrel removal is about understanding their behaviour and preventing future break-ins. Our technicians are highly trained in safe, non-lethal methods of squirrel removal, exclusion, and remediation, safeguarding your property from damage and your family from health risks.

A Partnership for the Future

At Skedaddle, we understand that achieving lasting results in wildlife control goes beyond the immediate removal of squirrels from your property. It involves educating homeowners about the behaviours of squirrels and the importance of coexisting with our wildlife neighbours in a way that respects their habitats and natural instincts. Our commitment to the community and the environment drives us to not only solve your current wildlife challenges but to also prevent future occurrences. We work closely with homeowners to implement long-term solutions that protect both the structural integrity of your home and the well-being of local wildlife populations. Through collaboration and education, we strive to foster a community where humans and wildlife can thrive together, minimizing conflict and promoting a healthier ecosystem for all.

The Skedaddle Difference

Our commitment to humane, effective, and responsible wildlife control sets us apart. Skedaddle is a coalition of passionate technicians who understand the demands and distresses of urban wildlife and are committed to gentle, sustainable solutions.

With Skedaddle, you’re not just getting a service; you’re joining a network of like-minded homeowners and wildlife enthusiasts dedicated to peaceful coexistence with nature’s creatures.

Choose Skedaddle for Wildlife Removal in Oakville

Feeding those loveable squirrels may seem like a small act of kindness, but the consequences can quickly spiral out of control. If you suspect that the local squirrel population might be taking too much interest in your property, take action. Call Skedaddle, and our wildlife control experts will help you ensure that your home remains a sanctuary—not for squirrels, but for you.