Squirrels are very secretive when invading your attic, but once settled, they become a nuisance. When you hear a lot of weird noises, scurrying and scratching coming from up there, just know that these pesky little guests are here and have come to stay.
Squirrels can enter the attic using the vents, construction gaps, gutters, roof edges chimneys, plumbing mats, and even by chewing through any weak areas they may find. You can have a professional inspect it to confirm their presence. Squirrels can nest and breed in your attic and cause a lot of damage to your property and endanger your health as well.
Here are some of the ways squirrels can damage your property and you need to call our professional squirrel removal Hamilton services.
Damage to the Attic and Structure
Squirrels are known to be avid chewers and can chew on a lot of things, including electrical wiring, piping, wood, and roof beams, among many others. They have strong, sharp teeth which they use to destroy things in the attic.
They create holes in the wood, which can weaken your structure, causing more damage. Other rodents will also get the freeway to your house. Electrical wires can cause electrocution or fire. When squirrels gnaw on a lot of material, the insulation of the attic gets damaged as well.
To prevent more damage, seek professional help as soon as possible.
Damage to Other Properties
Squirrels enter your property by burrowing holes around the house or gnawing on the siding. This leaves the home damaged and prone to flooding and water leaks.
Once they penetrate your attic, squirrels will make their nests using your books, blankets, and even clothes for comfort. They will destroy your possessions just to make their nests comfortable for breeding. Since these materials are highly flammable, your property will be exposed to fire hazards.
Accumulation of large quantities can moisten the insulation, weaken wooden structures around the attic, or cause mould growth.
The risk to your health
The buildup of urine and squirrel feces in the attic not only smells horrible but also endangers your health and that of your family. Squirrels can transmit various diseases to human beings. If they are infested with ticks, they are likely to infect you with Lyme disease if they bite or scratch you. See a doctor immediately if you get bitten or scratched.
Squirrels also carry mites, lice, fleas, and other parasites that can cause rabies and other diseases. Touching their droppings can lead to salmonella. Other diseases caused by squirrels include leptospirosis and tularemia, although in rare cases.
How to Prevent the Damage
To prevent all the damages caused by squirrels and your risk of contracting strange diseases, you will need to protect your home against their invasion. Seal all the gaps and other openings to your compound to hinder them from entering. Cover all the entrances, repair fences, cut trees around the house to prevent them from climbing to the roof, and seal any openings or vents in the chimney, attic, and all the places they are likely to infringe.
Conclusion
Considering the damages caused by squirrels, you would want to get rid of them as soon as you discover them in your house. Driving them away from your compound by yourself can be challenging. You need to use a pest control expert to help you trap and take them far away from where they cannot return.