Pest Squirrels

Eastern Fox Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

Western Grey Squirrel

Habitat

Tree squirrels often seen scampering from branch to branch. Ground squirrels live in burrows or tunnel systems and often hibernate during the winter. Seen in all kinds of environments (parks, neighborhoods, wooded areas). Use keen sense of smell to locate nuts and tend to dig up large holes in doing so.

Food

Nuts, buds of trees, seeds, conifer cones, fruites, fungi, green vegetation. 

Biology

Tendency to chew on edible and non-edible objects. Teeth grow continuously, and their constant gnawing helps maintain sharp teeth and prevent overgrowth. Expert climbers, but still thrive in urban environments.

Threat

They can enter buildings and attics where there is the risk of them chewing through different parts of your home, including wires and pipes. They can also crawl into your vehicle’s motor or undercarriage and chew on wires there as well. Squirrels, like any wild animal, are subject to a wide variety of parasites and diseases. Some of these, such as squirrel pox, affect the pests’ appearance by causing tumors or hair loss but cannot be spread to humans. However, others may infect people who have contact with squirrels, their carcasses, or the pests’ waste, fur, and nesting materials. Squirrel diseases that humans can catch include; Salmonellosis, Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, Tularemia,Leptospirosis, and Rabies.

Detection

While it isn’t feasible to completely remove squirrels from the outdoor areas of your property, there are ways to prevent them from getting into your home. Scratching, scampering, and other noises could indicate the need for indoor squirrel removal. Check sheltered spaces including attics and basements.

Prevention

Trim branches that are growing along your home to minimize a preferred pest pathway onto the exterior of your home. Seal up any entry points and make sure your chimney has a cap on it.