Squirrels

Squirrels can be a joy to see in their natural habitat, scampering up trees and gathering acorns. Sometimes, though, squirrel populations can suddenly be too prevalent around your home and the small critters can even get inside. Squirrels are generally considered a pest animal and can be trapped, removed and relocated—but we don't encourage homeowners to do this work. Call Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth at 817.857.4803 today to address any and all squirrel removal needs in your Fort Worth home!

Common Squirrel Complaints

One of the most common complaints we receive when it comes to squirrels is the damage they can cause inside your home — attics and inside walls are common nesting areas for squirrels. Outside your home, squirrels can cause major annoyance by stealing your bird seed, pestering your pets, and messing with your garden. Inside your home, however, squirrels can be extremely destructive and threaten its structural integrity. Squirrels enter your home by chewing through from the outside looking for shelter to give birth to their young.

Insulation and Electrical Concerns

If squirrels get into your attic, they will surely begin to chew through your insulation and electrical wiring, the former of which can lower your home's heating efficiency. Exposed wires are a major fire hazard, making it extremely important to stay on top of any possible squirrel infestations. Exposed wires are also capable of electrocuting anyone who encounters them, so contact Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth to remove the squirrels and repair any structural damage safely and effectively.

Health and Safety

Squirrel droppings and urine can cause wood rot and mold, and over time even seep through the attic floor and potentially spread diseases that are transmittable to humans such as salmonellosis and tularemia.

Structural Issues

The wood rot created by squirrel droppings and urine can significantly weaken the structural integrity of your attic space. Also, besides creating numerous entry point for themselves throughout your attic, which tends to let water and weather exposure thrive, squirrel’s teeth are continuously growing, and wood beams in your attic act as perfect areas to file their teeth.

If your home is struggling with any of these complaints, call us today for our squirrel removal services.

Why & How to Get Rid of Squirrels

Squirrels are a nuisance—it seems like they are always around and causing trouble. In order to fully get rid of squirrels, there are a few steps you can take as a homeowner, but you should leave most of the work to the professionals at Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth. Before you call Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth at 817.857.4803, you can take steps like making access to birdfeeders less easy and applying squirrel repellents to the area. 

Squirrel Removal Process

Squirrels commonly enter an attic or the walls of a home from holes on the roof. Homeowners may not realize their roof has a small hole under a tile or in a hard-to-see spot, and that can be dangerous. However, the squirrel removal team at Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth can find, trap, and remove/relocate these animals for you. Read below to learn more about our squirrel removal process:

Starting Squirrel Removal

First, we determine the entry points that squirrels are using to enter a home. These entry points are commonly found on the roof. A chimney is another possible entry point if it does not have a chimney cap, as squirrels can freely enter it without a cap.

Next, we set traps and create one-way doors at these entry points. These methods are the only ways to remove squirrels from a home effectively. Although they are only temporary solutions, permanent solutions will come later in the process.

 

Traps

Traps place squirrels in a metal cage. The squirrels cannot return to the attic or exit a trap's door. We keep the batch of squirrels in the cage before releasing them back into their natural habitat.

One-Way Squirrel Doors

We also install one-way doors at entry points. Squirrels can exit the door to leave your house, but they cannot enter the door to reenter your home. This method is an effective way to prevent squirrels from returning. It is also a safe and humane method of wildlife removal.

Squirrel Damage Repairs

Squirrels can do major damage to your home, such as biting wires in your walls.  Remnants they leave, such as trash and urine, can attract other wildlife to your home.  To prevent this, we seal holes or entry points to prevent squirrels from re-entering your house. We also repair or replace torn wires, mend pipes to stop leaks, and clean up any trash (such as food) left behind by the critters.

Decontamination

Feces and urine from squirrels contaminate the interior of your home. These substances are a health hazard, as they can emit vapors with nasty diseases. You will need the professionals at Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth to decontaminate your house to avoid illness.  We will use disinfectants to eliminate any viruses from the nest, as well as replace floorboards and ventilation if they are damaged beyond repair. If you happen to have dead wildlife such as a dead squirrel in your home, we will properly take care of that as well.

Prevention

Finally, we implement prevention measures in your home to prevent squirrels or other animals from causing problems in the future. You will want to limit a squirrel's accessibility to your home. We will do that by sealing squirrel entry points and adding a chimney cap if your home has a chimney. Chimney caps have vents to allow smoke to exit your home while preventing any wildlife from entering through its opening.

Call us today at 817.857.4803 to get rid of squirrels from your home!

Squirrels in the Attic? You Might Hear These Noises

If squirrels have made their way into your attic, you will likely hear scratching or scurrying sounds that tend to be quite loud due to their size. You may also hear a rolling sound as squirrels bring nuts and acorns into their nesting sites.

Signs of Squirrel Infestation

• Noise in the Attic: Squirrels are highly active creatures, and if you hear scratching, scampering, or nesting sounds in your attic or walls, it may indicate a squirrel infestation. Due to squirrels' size, these noises tend to be quite loud. You may also hear a rolling sound as squirrels bring nuts and acorns into their nesting sites.
• Droppings: The presence of small, cylindrical droppings near nesting sites or feeding areas is a clear sign of squirrels. These droppings, often concentrated in specific areas, can accumulate and serve as an indication of the extent of the infestation.
• Damaged Wiring and Structures: Squirrels often gnaw on objects to maintain their teeth. Look for damaged wiring, chewed insulation, and gnawed structures as these creatures can cause significant damage to a property's infrastructure. Recognizing these signs early is crucial for prompt intervention.
• Nesting Materials: Squirrels construct nests using leaves, twigs, and other materials. Discovering nests in your attic, chimney, or other enclosed spaces suggests a squirrel infestation. The presence of nesting materials can help identify the specific species and guide appropriate removal methods.
• Visible Entry Points: Check for chewed or damaged entry points such as holes in vents, soffits, or fascia boards through which squirrels may enter homes.

 

Squirrel Damage in Your Fort Worth Home

Squirrels are cute-looking animals as they graciously roam about in the wild. However, once they invade your attic or home, they become less desirable because of the disturbances and damages they cause. As you probably know, electrical disruptions caused by squirrels are common and widespread. Some experts even believe that squirrels pose a greater risk to your health and property than natural disasters. That’s how destructive they can be!

But from a Fort Worth homeowner’s perspective, what damage can squirrels cause in your home? Let’s find out.

• Serious Damage to The Attic: Attics are usually the perfect spot for squirrels because of the warmth and safety it provides. Loose soffit and fascia make ideal entry points. If a hole is about an inch wide, they’ll wiggle their way through it. If it’s smaller than that, they’ll chew the edges until it is wide enough to contain them. Once a squirrel gains access, the next step is to build its nest. It may start by bringing in external materials like branches, leaves, soil, and more. All this pollutes the attic space. Thereafter, it chews on soft materials like cloth, insulation, blankets, and paper. They do this to make their nest as comfortable as possible.
• Persistent Chewing: Unfortunately, squirrels aren’t going to stop gnawing on materials after they’re done building their nest. Like all rodents, the incisors of squirrels grow throughout their lives. In an attempt to keep it sharp and keep the length in check, they continuously chew on soft materials, increasing damage. When the insulation material is destroyed, it reduces the heating and cooling efficiency of a home and that leads to increased energy bills. If they chew on wood, they may compromise the structural integrity of the building. 
• Chewed Wiring: Squirrels will also chew on electrical wiring. Exposed wires can result in partial contact which can damage electrical appliances or result in outages. Moreover, there’s a risk of electrocution if someone touches it. Because of the inflammable nesting materials that squirrels use, a simple spark from an exposed wire can start a fire.
• Damaged PVC Piping: Squirrels will also gnaw through PVC piping. Since most water lines are made of PVC, several leaks may result.
• Dug Up Garden: If you have a garden on your property, squirrels may eat the fruits and vegetables before you get a chance to do so. Moreover, they love to dig up the soil, especially in the lawn. If you observe that your fruits and vegetables are partially eaten or there are dug-up areas, then a squirrel is the likely culprit, and it may be residing in your house or a nearby tree. Experts at Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth can help you deal with your squirrel problem.
• Feces and Urine: Squirrels will surely poop and urinate in your house. With time, they leave behind large numbers of droppings and urine spots which can pollute insulation material, serve as a breeding spot for bacteria, and even give off an appalling odor. You may need a professional wildlife company like Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth to help decontaminate the infected space.
• Health Risks: Although incidents of transmission are rare, squirrels are known to carry ticks, fleas, mites, rabies, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and tularemia. Many of these diseases can have a devastating impact on both humans and pets if left untreated.

Trying to get rid of Squirrels? Here’s What to Do and What Not to Do

Squirrels are cute little creatures that many people love to see in their backyards, but for others, they can be a nuisance. They can dig up gardens, chew through wires, and steal birdseed. If you're one of those people who are trying to get rid of squirrels, here’s what to do and what not to do:

First, let's start with what not to do. You should never harm squirrels, as they are important members of our ecosystem. They help with seed dispersal and pollination, and they also provide food for other animals like owls and hawks. Additionally, it is illegal to harm or kill squirrels in most areas.

Here are some things you should avoid doing if you're trying to get rid of squirrels:

• Poisoning them: This is not only inhumane, but it can also harm other animals that might consume the poisoned bait.
• Trapping them and releasing them far away: While it might seem like a good idea, it's actually quite harmful to the squirrels. They won't be able to find their way back home, and they might not be able to find food or shelter in their new location.
• Using ultrasonic devices: While some people swear by these devices, there's little evidence that they work. Plus, they can be quite annoying for humans as well.

Now, let's move on to what you should do if you're trying to get rid of squirrels:

• Block their entry points: Squirrels can easily find their way into your home or attic through small holes. Make sure to seal any gaps or holes in your roof or walls to prevent them from getting inside.
• Use repellents: There are many natural squirrel repellents that you can use to keep them away from your property. Some popular options include pepper spray, predator urine, and mothballs.
• Install squirrel-proof bird feeders: If you're tired of squirrels stealing your birdseed, invest in a squirrel-proof bird feeder. These feeders are designed to keep squirrels out while still allowing birds to eat.
• Trim your trees: Squirrels are excellent climbers, so make sure to trim any branches that are close to your home. This will make it harder for them to jump onto your roof or get inside your attic.
• Keep your yard clean: Squirrels are attracted to food and shelter, so make sure to keep your yard clean and free of debris. This will make it less appealing for them to hang around.

What to Do if You Have Squirrel Problems

As with all wildlife infestation problems, the key to solving the problem is to act quickly. The good news is that Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth can help you remove the squirrels in your house, seal off all potential entry holes, decontaminate the infected spaces, and perform all necessary repairs. Call Wildlife X Team® Fort Worth today!