You do what you can to keep your home running smoothly and to keep it protected from unexpected situations. The elements, natural or man-made disasters and even pests can cause some serious issues that can be really troublesome to deal with.
If you do experience a situation like water damage after a storm or a squirrel infestation during the fall months, you want to do everything you can to prevent it from happening in the future. But what happens when you are walking around your kitchen and start to hear that all too familiar scratching sound above your head a few months from now?
Knowing why squirrels keep coming back into your attic after you remove them can help you make decisions that will keep them out for good.
Let’s dive into the reasons why you might be dealing with a chronic squirrel infestation and what to do about it below.
Squirrels are prey animals, which means they are always on the lookout for predators while they hunt, sleep, and relax. Just like any other prey animal, having a safe place to sleep and to escape the elements is one of the biggest priorities for a squirrel family!
While the crook of a tree might be a decent place to set up a nest, your cozy attic space is going to look pretty enticing when the weather cools down. Attics are known to be warm, dry and secure, which is exactly what a squirrel is looking for when it comes to finding a place of refuge.
If you have any sort of damage along the sides of your home or have the tiniest gap in your roofline, a squirrel can easily get inside and create a home inside your home.
In addition, these areas are also great entryways for pests like squirrels:
Once they get inside your attic space, they can be really tricky to get out on your own. While you might be able to shoo them away or pound on your ceiling to help scare them back outside, they will inevitably make their way back to your home once the threat has passed.
Even though they are rodents, they are smarter than you may think and their survival instincts will take them back to your warm and inviting home, leading to more damage and more issues.
Like all animals, squirrels are motivated by food. After all, they have to feed themselves and their families every day! If you recently dealt with a squirrel infestation in your attic, take a look around your property to notice sources of food that might be enticing them to come back.
If your property has an oak tree or two that drops what feels like countless acorns in your yard every year, consider cleaning up the acorns regularly. You should also be sure to trim any overhanging branches that are encroaching on your roof. As squirrels look to stuff their cheeks, they will inevitably land on your roof and could discover an entrance to your attic that way.
In addition, having bird feeders of any kind hanging from your roof or deck can encourage squirrels to come back time and time again. Food that is easy to reach and access is a huge draw for pests like squirrels, and they will settle into any area around your home that allows simple access to feeders like these.
If you like to feed the birds, try to keep the feeders as far away from your home as possible or in one specific area that is not close to your roof line. You should also be sure to store the seed inside a tight container or in the garage.
Another huge draw when it comes to your attic space is a squirrel’s need to protect their young. Staying cozy and safe is important for all squirrels, but especially when they are having their litters. Squirrels typically have litters in the spring and the fall and they need a safe space to hunker down during these times.
If you dealt with a squirrel infestation in the spring, keep a close eye on your attic space during the fall months. Squirrels tend to return to the same spot to have their litters if able, so sealing entry points and watching and listening carefully for sounds of them returning is crucial.
Squirrels and other pests won’t treat your home as carefully as you will. They will sneak their way inside and then will eat, reproduce and leave droppings and urine all over in your attic space.
Any sort of waste or hazardous material will definitely smell unpleasant, but unfortunately, that smell will attract even more pests over time. That smell is familiar to them and will draw them back into your attic space even after they are removed. This is why having a professional removal team is crucial! The squirrels will be humanely taken care of, and a thorough cleaning will occur to get rid of the smell, and the mess, completely.
Squirrels are creatures of habit, and they will put their health and safety first when it comes to finding a reliable place to nest, sleep and eat. You also have these priorities for your family as well! If you start to suspect that you are dealing with another squirrel infestation, the best way to handle it is to call a professional squirrel removal team.
Squirrels are wild animals, which means that they can carry a wide variety of diseases and they can leave behind a serious mess in your attic space. Trying to remove them on your own can be dangerous to both you and your family. Getting bitten or scratched can lead to disease or infection, or inhaling fumes from urine or droppings can also be dangerous to your health.
This is why having a trained team to handle their removal is crucial. A professional pest removal team will have the right training and safety gear to properly secure your home, remove the squirrels humanely, and seal up entry points, all while staying protected during the process.
A professional squirrel removal team will also be sure to locate the specific reasons why the squirrels keep coming back into your attic. They will also help you determine what you need to do around your property to keep them away for good.
Don’t ignore the squirrel problem in your attic! Contact the team at Master Attic today at (800) 285-4009 and be one step closer to a squirrel-free home.
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