Flying squirrels might seem cute at first, but once they invade your home, they become unwelcome guests. These nocturnal creatures can cause significant damage to your property, chewing through wires, insulation, and even structural beams. If you’ve noticed scratching sounds in your attic or droppings around your home, it’s time to take action.
Understanding how to get rid of flying squirrels effectively requires a combination of prevention, humane removal, and exclusion techniques. You’ll need to identify their entry points, use the right traps, and ensure they can’t return. Let’s jump into the steps you need to reclaim your space from these pesky invaders.
Key Takeaways
- Identify Entry Points: Start by inspecting your home to find where flying squirrels are getting in, and seal up these access points using materials like steel mesh or caulk.
- Use Humane Trapping and Relocation: Employ live traps with appropriate bait to capture and relocate the squirrels at least 5-10 miles away, ensuring they don’t return.
- Eliminate Food Sources: Remove potential food sources both indoors and outdoors, such as pet food, pantry items, garbage, and bird feeders, to discourage squirrels from entering your home.
- Deploy Deterrents: Install ultrasonic devices and use natural repellents like peppermint oil to keep flying squirrels at bay, and set up physical barriers like mesh screens over vents and chimneys.
- Professional Help: When dealing with persistent infestations or significant damage, enlist professional pest control services for a thorough and effective solution.
- Regular Maintenance: After removing the squirrels, regularly inspect and repair any damage, maintain barriers, and continue using deterrents to prevent future infestations.
Understanding Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels are intriguing yet challenging pests. Knowing these rodents’ habits and characteristics helps you manage them effectively.
Identifying Flying Squirrels
To identify flying squirrels, observe their physical characteristics and behavior. These small rodents have notable features.
- Size: Generally 8-10 inches long, including their tails.
- Color: Soft fur ranging from gray to brown on top, with a white underside.
- Eyes: Large and black, adapted for nocturnal vision.
- Membrane: Patagium, a gliding membrane extending from wrist to ankle.
Flying squirrels often leave clues indicating their presence:
- Nocturnal Noises: Scratching sounds at night, as they’re active after dusk.
- Droppings: Small droppings scattered in attics or storage areas.
- Chew Marks: Damage to wires, insulation, and wood.
These identifiers help in distinguishing flying squirrels from other pests.
Flying Squirrel Behavior and Habitat
Understanding their behavior and habitat assists in effective management.
- Nocturnal Activity: Primarily active at night to forage for food.
- Diet: Omnivorous, eating fruits, nuts, insects, and bird eggs.
- Gliding: Use their patagium to glide between trees, covering distances up to 150 feet.
- Social Structure: Tend to live in small family groups, especially in colder months for warmth.
Flying squirrels prefer wooded areas but enter homes seeking shelter.
- Preferred Habitat: Dense forests with ample tree cover.
- Nesting Sites: Typically nest in tree cavities or build leaf nests.
- Home Invasion: Enter attics, walls, and crawl spaces through small cracks and gaps.
Understanding these rodents’ behavior offers insights into effective prevention and removal techniques. Addressing these points aids in reclaiming your space from flying squirrel intrusions.
Preventing Flying Squirrel Infestations
Preventing flying squirrel infestations requires proactive measures to enhance your home’s defenses. Focusing on sealing entry points and removing food sources effectively deters these nocturnal creatures.
Sealing Entry Points
Protecting your home starts with blocking access points that flying squirrels use to enter.
Common Entry Points:
- Attic Vents: Install screens to obstruct access.
- Roof Eaves: Seal gaps with caulk or metal flashing.
- Chimneys: Use chimney caps to prevent entry.
- Gaps in Siding: Fill cracks and crevices with appropriate sealants.
Sealing Steps:
- Inspect: Thoroughly check your home, especially around the roofline and attic.
- Block: Cover potential entry points using durable materials like steel mesh or hardware cloth.
- Verify: Ensure that no squirrels are inside before sealing. Use temporary barriers if unsure.
Removing Food Sources
Eliminating food sources discourages flying squirrels from settling in your home.
Indoor Sources:
- Pet Food: Store in airtight containers.
- Pantry Items: Use sealed containers for grains and nuts.
- Garbage: Maintain tight lids on trash cans.
- Bird Feeders: Place away from the house or use squirrel-proof feeders.
- Compost Piles: Secure with lids or enclosures.
- Fruit Trees: Collect fallen fruits promptly.
By addressing these areas, you significantly reduce the chance of flying squirrel infestations, keeping your living space undisturbed.
Safe and Humane Removal Methods
Utilizing safe, humane methods to remove flying squirrels from your home is crucial for both the animals’ well-being and the integrity of your property. Explore the following approaches to effectively address and mitigate flying squirrel infestations.
Trapping and Relocation
Proper trapping and relocation help remove flying squirrels without causing harm. Follow these steps to conduct this method humanely:
- Select Appropriate Traps
- Live Traps: Choose one-way, cage-style traps specifically designed to capture flying squirrels without injury.
- Approval: Ensure traps meet local wildlife regulations to avoid legal issues.
- Identify High-Activity Areas
- Placement: Position traps near common entry points, nesting sites, or areas with abundant droppings to increase capture success.
- Use Effective Bait
- Bait Options: Use nuts, peanut butter, or fruit to attract flying squirrels.
- Strategy: Place bait securely within traps to ensure squirrels enter fully.
- Monitor Traps Regularly
- Check Frequency: Inspect traps at least twice daily to minimize stress on captured squirrels and release them quickly.
- Relocation Process
- Distance: Relocate squirrels at least 5-10 miles away to a suitable habitat to prevent return.
- Release: Gently release squirrels into a forested area with ample shelter and food resources.
Using Deterrents
Using deterrents helps prevent flying squirrels from returning to your home. Carry out these methods effectively:
- Ultrasonic Devices
- Function: Emit high-frequency sounds that repel flying squirrels and other rodents.
- Installation: Place devices in attics, basements, or other infested areas.
- Natural Repellents
- Peppermint Oil: Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in entry points, attics, or nesting areas.
- Hot Pepper Spray: Apply sprays with capsaicin around potential entry points to deter squirrels.
- Physical Barriers
- Mesh Screens: Install mesh screens over vents, chimneys, and other open areas to block access.
- Sealant: Use caulk or expandable foam to close small gaps and holes in siding or eaves.
By combining trapping, relocation, and deterrent methods, you can effectively rid your home of flying squirrels while ensuring their humane treatment. Regular monitoring and maintenance of your property will help keep these persistent creatures at bay.
Professional Pest Control
Professional pest control services offer specialists equipped to handle flying squirrel infestations effectively. If you’ve tried prevention and humane removal but still deal with persistent squirrels, enlisting professional help can ensure a thorough and lasting solution.
When to Call a Professional
Consider calling a professional under these conditions:
- Persistent Infestations: If flying squirrels keep returning even after your repeated efforts to remove them.
- Extensive Damage: When damage becomes significant, with chewed wires or insulation that pose fire hazards or structural concerns.
- Health Concerns: Flying squirrels can carry diseases and parasites. Professional intervention reduces health risks for your household.
- Access Challenges: If you identify entry points in hard-to-reach places like high attics or narrow vents, pest control experts have the necessary tools to address these areas safely.
What to Expect from a Pest Control Service
A professional pest control service employs a multi-step approach to tackle flying squirrel issues effectively. You can expect the following steps:
- Inspection:
- Detailed assessment to identify infestation extent and entry points.
- Exclusion:
- Sealing entry points using durable materials.
- Trapping:
- Setting humane traps in key areas and monitoring them regularly.
- Relocation:
- Relocating trapped squirrels according to wildlife regulations, typically 5-10 miles away.
- Sanitation and Repairs:
- Cleaning and repairing affected areas, removing any nests or droppings to prevent attractants for future infestations.
- Follow-Up:
- Scheduled follow-ups to ensure the exclusion remains effective and to readdress any recurring issues.
Utilizing professional pest control services not only ensures effective removal but also provides peace of mind, knowing that your home is protected from future flying squirrel invasions. Maintaining regular inspections and addressing potential entry points can sustain a squirrel-free environment long-term.
Post-Removal Actions
Taking steps after the removal of flying squirrels is crucial. These actions ensure they don’t return and minimize the chances of future infestations. Follow up on removal efforts with repairs and continuous monitoring.
Repairing Damage
Inspect your home for damage caused by the flying squirrels. Key areas to check include:
- Wiring: Flying squirrels often chew on wires. Examine electrical wiring for signs of gnawing and get a qualified electrician if necessary.
- Insulation: Squirrels might damage insulation materials. Check attic insulation and replace any that’s been compromised.
- Woodwork: They may chew on wooden beams or furniture. Inspect wooden structures and repair or replace damaged sections.
- Entry Points: Seal previously used entry points using durable materials like steel mesh or sheet metal to prevent re-entry.
Regular Maintenance and Monitoring
Routine maintenance prevents future infestations. Focus on these areas:
- Monthly Inspections: Regularly inspect your home, paying attention to previously identified entry points. Early detection helps prevent large infestations.
- Eliminate Food Sources: Ensure indoor and outdoor food sources are removed. Keep pet food in sealed containers and clean up fallen fruits and bird seed from your yard.
- Maintain Barriers: Regularly check and maintain physical barriers like mesh screens and sealants. Repair any signs of wear or damage immediately.
- Install Deterrents: Use ultrasonic devices or natural repellents like peppermint oil to keep squirrels away. Replace or refresh these deterrents as needed.
These steps are essential for maintaining a squirrel-free environment. Regular actions prevent these persistent creatures from reclaiming their territory.
Conclusion
Successfully managing a flying squirrel infestation requires a multifaceted approach. By understanding their behavior and characteristics, you can better anticipate their actions and take proactive measures to prevent their entry. Combining humane removal methods with effective deterrents ensures that you address the problem ethically and efficiently.
Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial for keeping your home squirrel-free. Don’t hesitate to seek professional pest control services if the situation becomes overwhelming. With the right strategies and consistent effort, you can reclaim your living space and maintain a peaceful, squirrel-free environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What damage can flying squirrels cause in homes?
Flying squirrels can chew through wires, insulation, and woodwork, causing significant structural damage and potential fire hazards.
How can I tell if flying squirrels are in my home?
Signs include scratching sounds, droppings, gnawed wires or insulation, and visual sightings of the squirrels themselves, especially at night.
What are effective methods for removing flying squirrels?
Combine prevention, humane removal, and exclusion techniques. Identify entry points and use appropriate traps, followed by proper relocation and deterrents.
What do flying squirrels look like?
Flying squirrels are small with large eyes adapted for nocturnal vision, a gliding membrane, and typically have a grayish-brown color.
Why do flying squirrels enter homes?
They seek shelter in homes, especially during colder months, for warmth and safety.
How can I prevent flying squirrel infestations?
Seal entry points, remove indoor and outdoor food sources, and use deterrents like ultrasonic devices and natural repellents.
What are common entry points for flying squirrels?
Flying squirrels typically enter through attic vents, roof eaves, chimneys, and gaps in siding.
What kind of traps should I use for flying squirrels?
Use appropriate humane traps and place them in high-activity areas with effective bait. Monitor traps regularly to ensure quick and humane relocation.
How far should I relocate trapped flying squirrels?
Relocate to a distance of 5-10 miles from your home to prevent them from returning.
Are there professional services available for flying squirrel infestations?
Yes, pest control professionals can inspect, exclude, trap, relocate, and repair damage, ensuring effective removal and future prevention.
What should I do after removing flying squirrels to prevent their return?
Inspect for damage, make necessary repairs, maintain barriers, eliminate food sources, and conduct regular inspections to prevent future infestations.
What deterrents can I use to keep flying squirrels away from my home?
Use ultrasonic devices, natural repellents like peppermint oil and hot pepper spray, and physical barriers such as mesh screens and sealants.
How often should I inspect my home for flying squirrels?
Conduct monthly inspections to detect and address potential entry points and prevent infestations.
What should I expect from a pest control service dealing with flying squirrels?
Expect thorough inspection, exclusion, trapping, relocation, sanitation and repairs, and follow-up to ensure your home is squirrel-free. Regular monitoring and maintenance are also recommended.