You’re stress-free in your lounge when out of the blue, you hear scratching and scurrying sounds from above. If you happen to reside in Atlanta, chances are high these noises are coming from squirrels.
Whereas these animals might sound innocent, the injury they will do to your property is something however minor. From chewing on wires to nesting in attics, squirrels can rework your own home into their private playground.
Understanding the kinds of squirrels in Atlanta and the way squirrels influence your property is vital to actually greedy the challenges they carry.
At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Management in Atlanta, we’ve seen firsthand the frustration squirrels may cause for householders. Addressing squirrel issues shortly and successfully is important to defending your own home and retaining your loved ones protected.
However earlier than we cowl how we will help, let’s take a better take a look at the kinds of squirrels in Atlanta and the problems they create.
Varieties of Squirrels in Atlanta
Atlanta is dwelling to 4 frequent kinds of squirrels, every with distinctive behaviors and preferences relating to their dwelling preparations.
Jap Grey Squirrel
Scientific Identify: Sciurus carolinensis
Common Size (Together with Tail): 16.6–21.6 inches
Weight: 14–21 oz
Jap Grey Squirrels are the most typical squirrels in Atlanta. These agile climbers usually sneak into rooftops or attics in quest of shelter. Their grey fur and bushy tails make them simple to identify outside, particularly close to chook feeders.
These squirrels love storing nuts like acorns and walnuts, however their chewing habits can destroy wires and wooden inside your own home. They regulate properly to metropolis life, thriving in parks, neighborhoods, and open areas. Some even have uncommon black fur, however whether or not grey or black, they will shortly flip playful antics into expensive injury.
American Pink Squirrel
Scientific Identify: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Common Size (Together with Tail): 11–14 inches
Weight: 7.1–8.8 oz
American Pink Squirrels are a lot smaller than Jap Grays, with reddish fur and white bellies. Don’t be fooled by their dimension, although; these squirrels are robust and gained’t hesitate to defend their house. They usually retailer nuts and seeds contained in the properties they invade, which may appeal to pests and result in messy conditions.
These squirrels want evergreen forests however can even settle in city areas. Their loud chattering is difficult to disregard as soon as they’ve made their presence recognized. In the event that they get inside your own home, these tiny creatures may cause massive complications.
Fox Squirrel
Scientific Identify: Sciurus niger
Common Size (Together with Tail): 17.7–27.6 inches
Weight: 1.1–2.2 kilos
Fox Squirrels are the biggest squirrel species in Atlanta. Their mixture of orange, black, and grey fur makes them stand out. These squirrels spend loads of time on the bottom, gathering acorns and nuts, however they nonetheless climb timber and constructions with ease.
What makes Fox Squirrels distinctive is their means to leap as much as 15 ft. This athletic trait helps them get onto roofs, chook feeders, and attic areas. Their dimension and power imply they will do critical injury in the event that they chew on wooden or tear into siding.
Flying Squirrel
Scientific Identify: Glaucomys volans
Common Size (Together with Tail): 8.3–10.2 inches
Weight: 2–3 oz
Flying Squirrels use their particular gliding means to maneuver between timber. A flap of pores and skin known as the patagium stretches from their wrists to their ankles, serving to them glide via the air. Southern Flying Squirrels, present in Atlanta, are nocturnal and exhausting to identify throughout the day.
At evening, these social squirrels could be heard nesting in attics, scratching at insulation, or raiding chook feeders. Whereas they’re small, they nonetheless trigger injury, like chewing on electrical wires or spreading pests via their nesting areas.
How Squirrels Affect Your Property
It’s simple to underestimate the hassle squirrels may cause, however beneath their curious nature lies a protracted listing of issues that may be damaging and expensive. Right here’s how squirrels influence your property:
- Chewing on Wires: Squirrels have tooth that by no means cease rising, which implies they’re at all times chewing. Sadly, they usually goal electrical wires in properties. Not solely can this injury your wiring system, but it surely additionally will increase the danger of home fires. Chewing via web or cable strains can result in different inconveniences, chopping off important providers.
- Damaging Insulation: As soon as squirrels discover their means into your attic, they’ll usually tear aside insulation for his or her nests. This creates holes and uneven areas in your attic insulation, decreasing its effectiveness. Poor insulation permits heat or cool air to flee, driving up your vitality payments.
- Nesting in Attics: Attics are a favourite spot for squirrels to nest as a result of they provide security and shelter. Over time, squirrels can herald massive quantities of particles to construct nests, which makes cleansing up much more tough. Their droppings in these nesting areas can even introduce micro organism and unsightly odors into your own home.
- Structural Injury: Squirrels can gnaw via absolutely anything, together with picket beams, shutters, and even elements of your roof. Over time, this destruction weakens your own home’s construction, creating entry factors for rain or different animals.
- Attracting Different Animals: When squirrels hoard meals inside your own home, it attracts different pests like bugs and rodents. This may spiral into a fair bigger infestation downside.
- Spreading Illness: Whereas squirrels hardly ever transmit illnesses to people, their droppings and nesting supplies can carry dangerous micro organism. Being uncovered to those supplies throughout a cleanup could be hazardous to your well being.
Why Squirrel Issues Ought to Be Fastened Professionally
As soon as squirrels get cozy in your house, they gained’t go away on their very own. Some could attempt to block obvious entry factors or use traps, however these strategies are hardly ever profitable. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Management, we imagine in a wiser, extra humane strategy.
We use one-way doorways that enable squirrels to go away your own home, however not come again in. These doorways information them out safely whereas making certain they don’t return to trigger extra chaos. Afterward, we’ll examine and seal any potential entry factors to stop the issue from taking place once more. This technique is protected, dependable, and prevents pointless hurt to animals.
Tricks to Shield Your Property
Whereas skilled providers are the perfect resolution as soon as squirrels invade, there are steps you’ll be able to take to cut back the possibilities of them getting in:
- Trim Bushes: Make certain no tree branches are near your roof. Squirrels use timber to entry attics.
- Examine Your House: Verify for any cracks or holes the place squirrels would possibly enter. Cowl vents and gaps in your roofline with sturdy supplies.
- Safe Meals Sources: Forestall squirrels from being drawn to your property by retaining pet meals and birdseed indoors.
- Maintain Attics Uninviting: Take away simple nesting supplies like cardboard, paper, or previous materials out of your attic.
Whereas these steps assist decrease dangers, as soon as squirrels are inside, you’ll want professionals to deal with the scenario successfully.
Say Goodbye to Squirrel Issues with Skedaddle
Your house is not any place for squirrels. If these Atlanta squirrel species have turned your attic or partitions into their nesting spot, attain out to us for professional assist. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Management in Atlanta, we have now years of expertise coping with how squirrels influence your property. With our one-way doorways and prevention strategies, we’ll make your own home squirrel-free for good.
Request an estimate right this moment to reclaim your own home and defend it from additional injury. We’re right here that can assist you benefit from the peace of thoughts you deserve!
