How Do Squirrels Get into Houses?

Squirrels are incredibly capable little creatures! With a long tail for balance and strong claws to help them grip, squirrels can scale any large building to access its warm and cozy attic space. During the winter months as they hide from cold temperatures, or throughout spring and summer when they are birthing and raising their babies, squirrels are drawn to our homes that offer safety and shelter. Once they have made it to your roof, there are a variety of places a squirrel can choose from to make their way inside.
While regularly inspecting your home for weak points and repairing damage helps to reduce the likelihood of squirrels gaining access to your roof, these clever little guys can make a large hole out of a tiny gap unidentifiable in front of the ground. With over 30 years in the humane wildlife removal business, we have seen squirrels make their way inside both new and old homes with ease. An experienced wildlife control technician knows that squirrels are capable of entering homes through dozens of potential entry points. Below are some of the more common points of entry:

ROOF VENTS

The plastic and aluminum vents on your roof are installed to allow for proper attic ventilation. Unfortunately, curious squirrels are able to feel the warm air escaping the attic and know that they can find a cozy place to nest by chewing past the vent cover.

ROOF EDGE

The edge is where all the rain and melted snow that on your roof eventually ends up. Ice dams, clogged gutters and vegetation all serve to keep this area more wet for longer periods than any other point along the roof. As a result, shingles and roof boards in this area tend to deteriorate more quickly, allowing squirrels the opportunity to create openings.

The way a squirrel’s mouth is designed makes it difficult for them to gnaw holes through the top of your roof. The roof edge provides an angle for them to work and chew at until they can create a space large enough for them to enter.

ROOF-SOFFIT INTERSECTIONS

Roof-Soffit Intersections are most often found where two parts of the roof meet. At these points, shingles from the lower roof meet with the soffit from the upper section. When soffits are installed they often fail to meet flush with the shingle below. The resulting gap allows squirrels to run straight into your attic.

GABLE VENTS

Like roof vents, gable vents are designed to help circulate air through the attic. They are usually installed in pairs at opposite ends of the home. Constructed from wood, plastic or aluminum, the slats provide an edge that can be easily chewed by squirrels.

WALL VENTS

The exhausts for kitchen, bathroom and dryer fans are often positioned on the exterior walls of homes. The plastic covers installed over top of the openings do little to stop squirrels from moving in. The vent pipe inside your home resembles a tree cavity and is a perfect place for squirrels to nest but can also create unsanitary conditions and fire hazards.

PLUMBING MATS

The cylindrical vents on your roof connect to your plumbing system and are used to exhaust sewer gases. When installing a plumbing vent, a hole is cut through the roof to extend the pipe outside. To make it easier to run the plumbing, the hole in the roof is usually cut much larger than necessary for the pipe. The open space at the base of the roof is then covered with a rubber matting. Squirrels will chew at the soft rubber mat to nest in the attic space below.

CHIMNEYS

Uncapped chimneys are an open invitation for squirrels. Depending on the materials used to line the chimney, squirrels may or may not be able to come and go. Squirrels will often fall and become stuck at the bottom of chimneys. This is often the case with smooth steel and clay-lined flues. When it comes to chimneys lined with brick, squirrels are able to ascend and descend with ease, allowing them to nest on top of the fireplace.

Skedaddle begins every job by performing a thorough inspection of your home. Our technicians are trained in roof and ladder safety to access even the most hard reach places. Call Skedaddle to find out exactly how squirrels have got into your home.

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR HOME

Skedaddle technicians come to each property prepared with the proper equipment to safely reach the highest points. Once a thorough inspection of all the areas listed above and the entire exterior of the home is completed, our technicians will walk you through their findings and install high quality galvanized steel screens over each entry point. We have preventive methods that fit on any vent, soffit or chimney style and can be customized to your home’s architectural layout. Once these screens are in place, your home will be protected from any wildlife species in the future.

Identifying all the places these clever creatures can get inside is almost impossible without the help of professionals. If you have squirrels on your property, or living inside your home, you can trust Skedaddle to take care of all the stress and make your home safe and clean again. Call Skedaddle to find out exactly how squirrels have got into your home 1.888.592.0387.