With winter quickly approaching and spring following close behind, it’s nearly time to start protecting your home from squirrels looking for a place to have their babies. For most of the year these pesky critters will look for a warm, dark and safe place to nest, then wreak havoc on your home and yard. Once they are comfortable in your home it can be hard to get rid of them- especially if babies are present- so prevention is the best solution.

There are a few things you can do to help make your yard and home unappealing to squirrels and it’s best to put those into play before squirrel baby season starts!

Squirrel babies in the attic

Once a squirrel has their babies in your attic, you won’t have any trouble identifying their presence! Squirrels are anything but quiet, with their penchant for noisily fighting and running around after each other throughout most of the day.

Any squirrel in your attic between February and March should be assumed to have babies nearby or on the way. This makes the squirrels much more difficult to get rid of, since you have to be careful not to separate them from their mother. You also need to be careful that you don’t frighten her into abandoning her babies.

Regional Wildlife Services helps Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton-Hamilton homeowners keep animals out, before they get in. We now offer DIY roof vent covers if you can safely install them yourself. Or, call our experts for fast, on-budget squirrel and animal prevention and removal services.

Ways to keep your home squirrel-free

Don’t provide them with food

One reason a squirrel will stick around and make themselves comfortable in or around your home is because they have access to food. The most common source of food in residential areas is a bird feeder, so an easy step to protecting your home is to monitor that.

You should install bird feeders several feet off the ground and coat the pole in petroleum jelly so they can’t climb up. You can also buy squirrel-proof bird feeders to keep them out. 

Seal up any entry points

Squirrels will enter your home looking for a quiet and safe place to have their babies. This usually means they’ll look for a hole or crack into your attic, since that space is usually quiet, safe from predators and full of materials to build their nest.

In order to make your home unappealing to them there are a few steps you can take:

  • Seal any holes or cracks near your roof – Squirrels can squeeze through very small holes so don’t underestimate the size of any holes or cracks! Cover any concerning spots with mesh so they can’t get in. Be careful they aren’t inside though, you don’t want to seal them in.
  • Cover your chimney with a cap
  • Enter your attic during the day to see if you can spot light coming in anywhere – this can indicate a hole or weak spot.
  • Install mesh covers on any vents or air intakes

Keep trees trimmed

Squirrels will often enter your home at the attic, so keeping any branches that go near the roof trimmed will help discourage them from thinking they have easy access. Contact your utility company to install deterrents if there are lines crossing above your house.

Prevention is the best course of action

When it comes to squirrels and their babies in your home, the best way to deal with them is to catch them before they get comfortable. If you find yourself with squirrels in your attic and are unsure whether they have babies or not, it’s a good idea to contact a professional pest removal company to help you out.