Are Squirrels Dangerous?

Squirrels scurrying across fences and along tree branches are a very common sight for homeowners in Westchester County. Squirrels can be spotted running across rooftops and getting close to porches and decks. While squirrels may look cute, the damage they do to your home and the diseases they can spread are anything but.

Squirrels can tear out your attic insulation and chew through wires, creating a fire risk. Squirrels can also spread diseases like tularemia, as well as parasites like ticks and fleas. If you need squirrels trapped and removed from your attic in Westchester, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife today to get started at (800) 273-6673!

Why Squirrels Invade Homes

Squirrels are looking for the same thing that all living creatures need to survive: food, water, and shelter. Your attic space provides a perfect place for squirrels to nest, as it is safe, warm, secluded, and protected against predators and the elements. Trees or bird feeders may provide a source of food to hungry squirrels, and your wall voids can provide a spot for squirrels to stash their food for retrieval during the winter months.

When getting inside your house, squirrels will exploit any cracks, gaps, or weak spots they can find, usually on damaged soffits, ridge vents, or weakened/missing roof shingles. Squirrels can even enter through your chimney. Once the squirrels have gotten inside, they will begin wreaking havoc on your home.

How Much Damage Can A Squirrel Do To A House?

Squirrels are small, but they have sharp teeth and claws that enable them to do more damage than you might expect.

Chewing and Gnawing: squirrels have teeth that never stop growing, which means they need to constantly be gnawing on wooden beams, soffits, and rubber wire coverings to file down their teeth and keep the length manageable.
Electrical hazards: when squirrels chew on the rubber covering surrounding wires, they can expose the bare wiring to the insulation, which can pose a fire hazard.
Structural damage: over time, squirrels can weaken attic beams by chewing through them, creating structural instability.
Insulation problems: squirrels will rip out your insulation to make their nests, and they will also soil it with their urine and droppings

Are Squirrels Dangerous to Humans?

Squirrels are rarely aggressive and prefer to stay out of the way of humans, but if they are cornered or trapped, they may lash out with their claws and teeth. That’s why it’s always best to leave squirrel removal to the professionals. Wildlife professionals will have the tools and equipment to safely remove squirrels without harm to either party.

Squirrels can also spread various diseases, including tularemia, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and more. Squirrels also carry parasites like ticks and fleas, which can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Signs of a Squirrel Infestation

Recognizing the signs of a squirrel infestation can help you get the situation under control faster. Some things to look out for include:

Scratching or scampering noises coming from inside the attic, typically during the day as squirrels sleep at night
Chewed and shredded insulation in the attic, or gnaw marks on wooden beams
Holes in your soffit, missing shingles, bent roof vents
Smell of droppings or urine coming from the attic
Squirrels on your roof

What to Do If You Have A Squirrel Problem

If you have a squirrel problem on your property in Westchester, don’t attempt to remove them yourself. Squirrels are unpredictable wild animals, and can become aggressive if threatened, especially when their babies are nearby. Squirrels are also adept at hiding their babies within attic insulation, and you might accidentally leave one behind when evicting a squirrel family. Wildlife removal professionals have the proper tools, training, and equipment to safely and carefully remove squirrels from your home in Westchester.

Animal control typically will not come out to deal with a squirrel infestation in your attic, as they deal with animals on public property like roads and parks, or animals that pose direct threats to people like a rabid raccoon. The best way to solve your squirrel problem is to contact a private wildlife removal service like Westchester Wildlife.

Best Squirrel Removal Service in Westchester

Westchester Wildlife offers the best squirrel removal service in Westchester County. Squirrels are a very destructive nuisance critter that can cause severe damage to your property when they nest inside your attic space. Westchester Wildlife can help, our team will safely remove squirrels, using humane live-traps and exclusion techniques. Our technicians will ensure all baby squirrels are removed with their parents and none are left behind. After the squirrel family is gone, our team can clean up their nesting material and seal off all current and potential entry points, preventing the squirrels from getting back inside in the future. Contact us today to get started with squirrel removal at (800) 273-6673!

800.273.6673

914.760.5713

845.279.6220