Imagine having a relaxing evening in your cozy home when all of a sudden you hear the clear sounds of little feet running above. Your peace has been broken, and you think that there are unwanted guests in your attic. Most of the time, these unwanted guests look like squirrels who are looking for a safe place to raise their young or to get out of the weather. In their natural environment, squirrels are cute animals, but having them live in your attic can be a nightmare.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry—this guide has everything you need to know to get rid of rats in your attic. We can help you figure out why they’re there and get rid of them effectively.
So Why Do Squirrels Live in Your Attic?
When seen from a distance, squirrels’ bushy tails and endless energy may make them look cute, but having them in your attic can cause a lot of problems. For a number of reasons, these rats often choose attics:
- Shelter: Attics are a good place to stay warm, dry, and safe, especially when it’s time to breed.
- Nesting: Squirrel females look for safe places to have babies and raise them.
- Food: Squirrels may store their food in attics. Nuts and seeds are common foods they store there.
They can do a lot of damage, though, like chewing on wires and insulation and making holes for other pests like insects to get in.
Why squirrel infestations are bad
Having rats in your attic can cause a lot of issues for people. Most of the time, these problems happen:
- Noise: Squirrels are quick and make a lot of noise. Your attic may be full of noise from them running, scratching, or even squeaking, which can be very annoying.
- Problems: Squirrels like to chew things. They might chew on wires, insulation, wood, and other things in your attic. This is not only dangerous for fire, but it can also cost a lot to fix.
- Health Concerns: Having a lot of squirrels in your home can be bad for your health because they can spread diseases like leptospirosis and salmonellosis. Their droppings can make the air in your attic dirty.
- The Complete Guide for Homeowners on How to Get Rid of Squirrels
The “why” is now clear, so let’s talk about the “how” of killing squirrels. If you find these unwanted animals living in your home, here are some things you can do:
- Find the Entry Points: The first thing you need to do is find the places where rats are getting into your attic. This is very important for cleanup to work.
- Seal Entry Points: Once you know where the access points are, you need to safely close them up. Watch out for holes or gaps in the roof, soffits, vents, or any other spaces.
- Put up one-way exclusion devices: These devices let squirrels leave your attic but not come back. Put these things at the entrances and exits.
- Do Not Use Poison: It is cruel to use poison to get rid of squirrels, and the dead animals could end up in your attic, causing bad smells.
- Watch for Activity: For a few days, keep an eye on your attic to make sure all the squirrels have gone. Once you’re sure the attic is empty, close it up fully.
To stop future infestations, cut back any tree branches that give pests access to your roof, fix any holes they could use to get in and think about putting a chimney cap on your chimney to keep them out.
Remember that getting rid of squirrels in your attic can be hard, and do-it-yourself methods don’t always work. It is best to hire professional pest control services to get rid of the problem safely and effectively.
In conclusion, squirrels are interesting animals, but having them in your attic can cause a lot of problems. To get peace back in your home, you need to know why they’re there and follow the steps for safely getting rid of them.