Dangers of Squirrels in the Attic

Squirrels may look cute and cuddly from a distance, but if your home or business has become overrun with these creatures, the cute factor will quickly fade away. Squirrels and other rodents can actually pose a significant threat to your home or business, and represent a problem that should be taken care of as soon as possible.

In today’s blog, we’ll be going over signs of squirrels in your attic, the dangers they can cause, and what to do if you’ve fallen victim to this common problem.

Signs of Squirrels in the Attic

If your home has become overrun with squirrels or other rodents, the problem is sometimes extremely obvious — perhaps you’ve been hearing strange scurrying noises, noticed droppings, or even seen the creatures with your own eyes. Other times, however, the presence of rodents may not be immediately noticed by a homeowner until it’s progressed to a major problem.

It’s a good idea to occasionally check for signs of damage in your attic to catch evidence of a rodent problem before they do further damage. Signs of squirrels having infiltrated your attic include teeth marks in wood, wires, or other materials, nests in your insulation, and/or wood chips scattered about. You may also notice damage to the exterior of your roof that is allowing for a squirrel highway to form — holes in shingles, damage to your roof, or rodent damage to your property. A vigilant eye can prevent a squirrel problem from spiraling out of control in your attic!

Why is it so important to avoid this problem if possible?

Squirrels Can Cause Safety Concerns

Squirrels can chew on anything in their path in your attic, whether it be an old couch, old photo albums, or anything else you’re keeping in your storage space. While this is certainly annoying, it’s not the only problem they can cause. Rodents also frequently chew through electrical wires, which is a common source of house fires. It’s estimated that up to 20% of all house fires in the United States are caused by rodents chewing through electrical wiring, meaning you don’t want to take the risk of allowing rodents to run free in your structure.

Squirrels Can Damage Your Home’s Appearance

You’ve probably put a lot of work into improving your home’s appearance over the years. Even if you haven’t completed a great deal of home improvement projects, you still don’t want pests actively damaging the look and feel of your home. Unfortunately, this is just what squirrels can do — chipping away at paint, chewing on wood and other parts of the structure, damaging the roof, and more.

Squirrels Can Spread Disease

One of the most serious reasons to ensure your home is rodent-free is that squirrels and other rodents spread sickness and disease. It’s relatively rare but not impossible for squirrels to spread disease through bites or other forms of contact, but more common for squirrels to spread disease through parasites they carry. This could result in exposure to Lyme disease, encephalitis, and other sicknesses you certainly don’t want to catch!

A Dead Rodent is Unpleasant for Everyone

Squirrels and other rodents not only cause problems when they’re living in your attic, they also cause problems if they die in your attic. Rodents will frequently hide in difficult to reach places or get inside your walls, and the resulting smell of a rotting dead animal can be nauseating. It can be extremely difficult to locate the dead animal, and cleaning up after the smell could require cutting into your walls or hiring professional cleaning.

Trust the Professionals to Handle a Rodent Invasion

Perhaps you’re an experienced DIYer who loves taking on problems around the house, and you’re ready to take on your squirrel problem yourself. However, when it comes to rodent problems and other serious pest control problems, it’s almost always a better option to trust a pest control professional to handle the problem.

Many inexperienced property owners are unequipped to handle pest invasions themselves, leaving open the possibility of not fully eliminating the problem and risking injury in the process. Rather than risk sickness, further damage, or a repeating problem, contact a professional pest control team to ensure the problem is properly and safely handled.

Contact Complete Pest Solutions for Complete Squirrel Removal Service

Squirrels are common throughout neighborhoods in the United States, and generally don’t pose a serious problem — as long as they stay outside. It’s a very different story if squirrels or other rodents have taken up residence in your property, and can be a source of many problems for the homeowner.

If you’re experiencing a rodent infestation, the team at Complete Pest Solutions is here to help! We’ve been providing trusted local extermination and wildlife removal services for more than 20 years.

Contact us today to schedule an inspection, and our team can provide safe, professional squirrel removal in Youngstown and all throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.