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Squirrels in the attic

Squirrels in an attic are a hole problem before they are an animal problem. The order you deal with the two matters.

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The short version

How you know
Scratching and running overhead in the early morning and before dusk.
Do not
Seal the hole while animals may still be inside.
Who removes them
A wildlife control operator; in Tennessee, one permitted by the state wildlife agency.

Safe to check from outside

  • Look for a gnawed hole at the roof edge or a vent.
  • Watch at dawn to see where the animal goes in.
  • Look for tree branches touching the roof.
  • Note the season: spring and late summer often mean young.

Leave to an operator

  • Going into the attic after the animal.
  • Trapping and handling.
  • Sealing the entry points.
  • Checking wiring for gnawing.

What the job involves

  • Finding every holeSquirrels use more than one way in. Missing one means the job is done twice.
  • Getting them outOne-way doors and traps let animals leave without being sealed in.
  • Closing upHoles are repaired with material squirrels cannot chew through.
  • Checking the damageSquirrels gnaw. Wiring and insulation in the attic should be looked at afterward.

What an operator will do

  1. Inspect the roofline and the attic.
  2. Remove the animals, including any young.
  3. Seal the entry points once the attic is empty.
  4. Report damage that needs an electrician or a roofer.

Tennessee's wildlife agency gives this caution for spring: young animals may be involved, so "before enclosing any entry points, make sure all animals have exited the structure."

Related guides

Sources

  • Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
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