Squirrels are some of the most common critters in the U.S. Whether in the woods, a public park, or in your neighborhood, these bushy-tailed rodents are a vital part of many natural ecosystems. They are not, however, part of your ecosystem. When squirrels get into your property, they can wreak havoc. Here’s what homeowners need to know about squirrel control in Hartford County.
About Squirrels
There are over 200 known species of squirrel in the world, living on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They are woodland animals that have evolved to be expert tree climbers. For shelter, they create nests from sticks, grass, and other found materials high in the treetops. Acorns, seeds, and tree nuts are a favorite of the squirrel diet, but they will eat vegetation, fruit, and occasionally small insects. While they aren’t as likely to raid your pantry as their cousins like house mice and rats, squirrels still pose a threat to your property.
Dangers Of Squirrels On Your Property
If a squirrel enters your home, the good news is, you’ll probably know it. Squirrels are noisy and will make a racket by scurrying, climbing, squeaking, or chewing around your property. They often inhabit attics and lofts in the cold winter months, finding shelter in your warm home.
While squirrels are more closely related to chipmunks and prairie dogs, they are still rodents that need to gnaw in order to survive. Their teeth grow continuously, and so squirrels must file them down by biting whatever they can. Once inside your property, squirrels will chew up wooden structures, storage boxes, drywall, and even electrical wiring. Rodents like squirrels pose a risk of starting electrical fires as a result of gnawing through wires.
Squirrel droppings on your property can also spread disease like salmonellosis. And parasites carried by squirrels are dangerous as well. Lyme disease can come from ticks carried by squirrels and fleas can transmit typhus or even bubonic plague.
But it's not just your home or apartment that suffers from squirrels. Even your yard can be damaged by the presence of these rodents. Squirrels can destroy plants and flowers in your garden, dig unsightly holes in your lawn to hide their food, and can even damage your outdoor furniture through gnawing. Not to mention, they can terrorize birds away from flocking to your bird feeder.
How To Prevent Squirrels
You might be making your home attractive to squirrels without even realizing it. A few repairs and some simple clean-up can go a long way in preventing squirrels from invading your property:
- Clean up any nuts or seeds on your lawn. If you have excessive acorns or other tree nuts on your property, rake them up and dispose of them. Sadly, you might also want to consider getting rid of that bird feeder.
- Clear away branches. Make sure there are no tree branches in close proximity to your house. Squirrels can easily hop from branches onto your roof and find their way indoors.
- Repair damage. Inspect your property for any holes or cracks and seal them. Use caulk to fill any crevices or steel wool to fill holes.
- Tightly cover your trash. While squirrels are a little more rugged than mice and rats, they aren’t above snacking on human food. Make sure your trash is covered securely and all compost is either buried or properly covered.
Squirrels can be a headache to have on your property. If you need advice or assistance dealing with squirrels, get the support you need from American Pest Solutions. We will safely and humanely remove problem squirrels from your property and prevent more squirrels from getting in.
For help with all your pest problems in Hartford County, get in touch with us today.