Squirrel Removal & Exclusion

Our Humane Squirrel Removal Process

1. Full inspection. Effective squirrel control starts with a close look at the whole building. We check the roofline, ridge and gable vents, soffit returns, fascia seams, gutters, dryer and bathroom vents, and the chimney. We identify the species, since gray squirrels and flying squirrels each call for a different plan. We consult the timing window for baby season, and make plans that take into consideration the welfare of the families that may be present.

2. Eviction. Eviction is always our first choice for solving squirrel problems. Squirrels have the highest chance of survival when they remain in the same territory. However, it is imperative that eviction not be utilized during baby season.

Once we have confirmed no babies are present, we begin by closing any holes that are not currently being used by the squirrels. This is so that they cannot immediately re-enter through these other areas once they are kicked out of their current entry points. After that, one-way exit devices are installed over the holes that they're using. Once we are confident they have all exited, these remaining holes are sealed as well.

It is important to not evict flying squirrels during the winter, since they are poorly adapted to the cold, and also store a significant amount of their food in the home. Gray squirrels can be evicted during the winter, outside of periods of harsh weather, since the majority of their food is stored outside and they are well adapted to the cold. However, it is always recommended to install a squirrel box to ensure they have a source of shelter.

3. Humane trapping and relocation. On some occasions relocation is determined to be a necessary course of action. When this is the case, squirrels are caught in live cage traps that are placed on their travel routes and checked daily. Captured squirrels are fed in the traps and relocated to areas carefully chosen to ensure ample food and shelter is available to increase their survival chances.

Every trapped squirrel is examined for signs of nursing or pregnancy. If a female is pregnant, or has babies in the building, we release her on site and delay trapping until the babies are fully grown.

We never relocate any type of squirrel during the winter. By winter, both gray squirrels and flying squirrels have stored their food for the season, and relocating is most often a death sentence since the food they survive on is no longer available for gathering.

4. Permanent sealing and exclusion. Every entry point that we seal gets rebuilt with materials designed to last. Some examples of the materials we use are fitted metal flashing, painted hardware cloth, copper mesh, trim screws, flexible sealants, and new wood where chewing has destroyed the original. The repairs are finished to match the house to the extent that is practical. Since flying squirrels can get into significantly smaller openings, more sealing work is typically required to effectively solve a flying squirrel problem.

5. Preventive Bolstering. In addition to the areas that are currently open, we offer additional bolstering services to preventively protect any other areas that are vulnerable to future squirrel chewing, even if they are not open at this time.

Middle Tennessee Squirrel Species

The eastern gray squirrel is the most common squirrel in homes in Middle Tennessee. They are diurnal, active at first light and settling in to sleep as the sun is going down. They are smart and active animals, with teeth that never stop growing. They are persistent, effective chewers. The siding of most homes will not prevent them from entering. They will grind their teeth down by chewing on hard nuts and wood.

They produce two litters per year, one in the spring and one in the summer/early fall. Gray squirrels can show up in attics year round, whether it is a pregnant female seeking a place to give birth and raise her young, or a pack of squirrels seeking shelter from a harsh winter. Because they have two baby seasons per year, and because timing can vary according to weather, it is important to always assume babies might be present anytime near baby season.

The southern flying squirrel is nocturnal, and barely bigger than a mouse. They are very social colony animals. A single attic can hold a dozen or more, entering through gaps the size of a quarter. They're common in wooded Middle Tennessee neighborhoods, and homeowners regularly mistake them for mice. Scratching and scurrying that you mostly hear after dark is a common sign of their presence. You may also hear faint bird-like chirping sounds coming from the wall at night. Flying squirrels will typically have a communal bathroom (latrine) area, so their droppings and urine tend to congregate in one section of a home.

Like the gray squirrel, they also produce two litters per year, one in the spring and one in the summer/early fall. They are most common in homes during the colder months. There is typically a fall influx, as the colonies move in seeking shelter. Solitary flying squirrels that appear in late winter/early spring, or mid-summer, can often be females that left the colony in search of an isolated space to give birth.

The fox squirrel is larger and features rusty-orange, yellowish, or reddish-brown fur mixed with black on their backs and bright rusty underparts. It is common across Middle Tennessee, especially on wooded lots and along fencerows toward the county edges. It keeps the same daytime habits as gray squirrels, but is rarely found inside homes.

Are Squirrels in Your Attic Dangerous? Fire, Insulation & Parasites

Chewed wiring. A squirrel's front teeth grow continuously, so it chews constantly, and attic wiring is a common target. Stripped copper resting against dry insulation can start an attic fire. Some electricians prefer not to work on attic wiring until the squirrels are confirmed gone, and we're happy to coordinate the wiring check with the exclusion work.

Damaged insulation. Nesting squirrels tunnel through, flatten, and contaminate insulation with urine and droppings, cutting its performance and leaving an odor that can linger after the squirrels are gone. Droppings can also carry salmonella and leptospirosis, which is why some severe infestations benefit from an attic cleaning after removal is complete. That work is covered on our Attic & Crawl Space Cleaning page.

Parasites. Fleas, ticks, and mites can ride in with squirrels. When the host animals are removed, the parasites look for new hosts, so in those cases a cleaning may also be recommended.

Removal Is Only Half the Job

Removing the squirrels you can hear is only part of the job. The openings they used still need to be dealt with. Every job we do ends with those openings repaired with chew-proof materials, and where the wood itself is destroyed beyond sealing, we replace the section rather than covering over the damage. If new animals test your house every season, our full house Wildlife Exclusion service protects the whole structure instead of sealing a few holes at a time.