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Squirrels

Gray squirrel

This is the common squirrel of parks, suburbs, cities, and the country. Occasionally they will get into homes. Usually in the attic, rarely in the walls. They are quite destructive, destroying insulation, and chewing on anything available including wires. They have been known to cause fires because of this habit.

Red Squirrel

About 1/2 the size of a gray. Habits and damage are similar to grays but are encountered much less frequently, because they are only associated with evergeen trees.

Video of a red squirrel removal

 

Sound associated with gray and red squirrels is usually a running sound in the attic during the day when they are active, or loud chewing noises.

 

 

Red and gray squirrels usually give birth from late February to early April and the young do not leave the nest for about 6 weeks. After breeding in late December to early January the females will start looking for a place to build a nest and will sometimes investigate chimneys which they may fall down and then can't get out and subsequently will wind up in a fireplace or in the house if fireplace damper is open and there is not a closed screen or glass door on the fireplace. Typical litter size is 2-7. Sometimes they will have a second litter in July-August.

Several gray squirrels that used to live in the attic

Flying Squirrel

About 1/4 the size of a gray squirrel. They don't really fly but rather have large flaps of skin (called a patagium), between their front and rear legs which can be stretched out and used to glide with.  The fur on their tail is flattened top to bottom and used as a rudder to steer during flight and as an air brake when they are about to land. They refer Mature hardwood forests. Nocturnal. Occasionally get into attics. Noises(running and scratching) usually heard right after dark as they leave for the night and just before daylight when they return. Sometimes noises will be heard if they return during the middle of the night and then leave again.

Video of a flying squirrel removal

Typical damage caused by gray or red squirrels chewing into the attic through a louver.

Typical setup for trapping squirrels in the attic. Fencing is put over the louver and two holes are cut in it. Attached to one is a one way door going in (righthand side) and a one way door trap coming out (lefthand side). If the squirrel is out when the setup is put in place, it can get back in without chewing another hole somewhere else. when it leaves the next time it comes out into the trap.The traps are left up for 3-4 days after the last squirrel is caught, to make sure everyone is out. Then the trap and one way door are removed and the holes in the fencing are patched!

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