DON’T LET SQUIRRELS RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY FUN

SIGNS YOU’VE GOT SQUIRRELS IN YOUR PANTS– OOPS, WE MEAN HOME. 

The holidays are meant to be an enjoyable time spent making memories with family and friends – Don’t let squirrels (or any other household invaders – like some of your favorite in-laws) come in and steal your joy. If you’ve ever watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you probably remember this famous scene, which means you know just how dangerous squirrels can be when it comes to keeping peace in your household. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of ways to protect your home from this common household squatter (sorry, we can’t really help with your in-laws). 

Yeah, they may be cute but man can they sure cause some serious damage. Whether they are hiding in your attic, your walls, or your newly acquired Christmas tree, determining where they reside is the first step to getting those critters out. Both flying squirrels and the non-flying types will find your home to be an oasis, especially this time of year when it starts getting cold outside. 

LISTEN CLOSELY

Odds are that before you ever see a squirrel in your home, you’ll hear them scurrying around in your attic – scratching, clawing and chewing their way through wires, wooden beams and the walls themself. They are more than likely up there chewing through any of your exposed insulation to build a nice little nest to have their babies, kind of like that Allstate commercial with the raccoons (we are, in fact, not sponsored by Allstate in any way/shape/form). 

CHECK FOR DROPPINGS/FECES

Another not-so-fun way to identify that you’ve got a squirrel problem is by checking your attic for feces. Now, flying squirrels are unique in the fact that if more than one squirrel is living in your home, they will all use the same spot to relieve themselves. As polite as this may seem to be to their fellow squirrel companions, this can lead to damage to your ceiling, walls, insulation, and even the wooden beams used to support your home. 

If you DO find droppings in your home please do not handle them without contacting an expert first. Wildlife feces can carry dangerous bacteria and diseases that can be lethal if not handled appropriately. 

LOOK FOR PHYSICAL SIGNS OF DAMAGE

Unlike Spongebob and Sandy’s relationship, these squirrels aren’t looking to become your new BFF. They woke up and chose chaos. Some classic signs of squirrels attempting to ruin your life would be: 

• Roofing damage – whether that be to your shingles or along the roofline itself
• Damage to/around your chimney or air vents
• Damage to your home’s outer panels, walls or wooden pillars
• Damage to bird feeders from squirrels coming in and stealing from your favorite visitors
• Chewed through electrical wires
• Ransacked gardens and/or decorative pumpkins you once had on your stoop 
• Wood chips scattered about
• “Water” damage on your ceiling – This could be a sign of feces built up
• Nests made in your insulation
• A squirrel jumps out of your Christmas tree during your family’s holiday get-together and wreaks havoc on your household

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND SQUIRRELS IN YOUR HOUSE

First and foremost, don’t go nuts (pun intended). The problem isn’t permanent; however, the squirrels aren’t paying rent so that means it is clearly time for them to hit the road. The best way to handle any kind of wildlife infestation is by calling a professional, whether that be us or somebody else. Here at Madsen Pest, we are trained to remove and relocate those squirrels from your property while working to prevent other squirrels from breaking in through our thorough exclusion techniques. Effective and efficient pest control is what Madsen Pest does best! Give us a call at (715) 791-4777.