Squirrels are a common sight in our backyards and parks, but when they invade our homes, identifying the type of squirrel can make all the difference in solving the problem effectively. Flying squirrels and tree squirrels each have unique behaviors, nesting habits, and challenges when it comes to managing them. Here’s everything you need to know about these furry invaders and how to handle them.
Flying Squirrels vs. Tree Squirrels: Key Differences
1. Behavior
Understanding these differences is crucial in identifying which squirrel is causing trouble and determining the best removal strategy.
- Flying Squirrels: Despite their name, flying squirrels don’t truly fly but glide gracefully through the air. They achieve this using a specialized membrane of skin, known as the patagium, which stretches between their limbs, allowing them to glide effortlessly from tree to tree. These small and nimble creatures are experts at infiltrating attics and walls, often squeezing through the tiniest cracks or openings. Being nocturnal, they are most active after dusk and before dawn, making them a common source of nighttime noise disturbances.
- Tree Squirrels: Easily recognized by their bushy tails and strong preference for trees, tree squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are primarily active during the day. They are most often seen in the morning or afternoon but can still cause disruptions at night if they manage to invade your attic. As skilled climbers, tree squirrels can effortlessly access attics by using overhanging branches or rooftops as entry points.
2. Diet
Both types of squirrels share similar diets, though their feeding habits may vary depending on their surroundings and activity patterns.
- Flying Squirrels: These nocturnal creatures are active at night, foraging for a diet that includes nuts, seeds, fungi, fruits, and even tree bark. While their diet is similar to that of tree squirrels, their nocturnal nature means their food-gathering and storage activities often occur while you’re sleeping, potentially adding to nighttime disturbances.
- Tree Squirrels: Tree squirrels are most active during the day, making them more visible as they forage for food. They primarily gather nuts, seeds, and acorns, often storing their finds in nests or tree cavities for future consumption.
3. Nesting Habits
Flying squirrels and tree squirrels differ not only in how they build their nests but also in their preferred nesting locations.
- Flying Squirrels: Flying squirrels prefer to nest in hollow trees, but if they are unable to find natural nesting sites, they will settle in attics, walls, or even chimneys. They are often attracted to cozy, insulated areas and may build nests out of shredded insulation, leaves, and other materials they find in your attic. Their nests are typically small and compact, and they can fit into the tiniest of spaces.
- Tree Squirrels: Tree squirrels build larger nests (called dreys) made of twigs, leaves, and other plant materials, often in the branches of trees or in the eaves of buildings. If they find their way into your attic, they will build nests out of shredded insulation or other soft materials. Tree squirrels tend to be more active during the day, which can make them more noticeable, but their activity at night can still cause disturbance.
Unique Challenges When These Squirrels Invade Your Attic
When flying squirrels or tree squirrels invade your attic or walls, they bring distinct challenges, but noise is often the most noticeable issue. Their nocturnal activity, including scratching, gliding, and scurrying, can disrupt your sleep. Here’s a closer look at the specific problems associated with each type of squirrel:
Flying Squirrels: Nocturnal Disturbance
Flying squirrels can be especially disruptive at night due to their heightened activity after dark. You may hear scurrying paws, light scratching, or even the soft sounds of gliding as they navigate your attic. This nocturnal commotion can make it difficult to sleep, particularly if they are nesting or playing in the confined spaces above. Their small size and gliding ability allow them to move stealthily, making them harder to detect than tree squirrels. However, their presence becomes unmistakable through the distinctive noises they create as they run and glide through your home.
Tree Squirrels: Daytime and Nighttime Intruders
While tree squirrels are more active during the day, their presence in your attic can still lead to noise disruptions at night. They are particularly noisy when moving around or building their nests, and their habit of chewing and gnawing on wooden beams, insulation, and wiring can cause significant damage to your home. During the day, their scurrying can be disruptive, but at night, the sounds often become more pronounced as they settle into their nests, amplifying the disturbance.
Steps to Evict Flying and Tree Squirrels Humanely
While both types of squirrels can be problematic, there are humane and effective ways to handle them and prevent future invasions:
1. Identify and Seal Entry Points
The first step in addressing a squirrel infestation is identifying the entry points they use to access your attic. Both flying and tree squirrels can enter through small holes in the roof, damaged soffits, vents, or cracks around windows and doors. Inspect your home thoroughly for these openings and seal any gaps or cracks to prevent further entry. However, it’s essential to leave an exit point open to allow the squirrels to leave safely. Installing one-way exclusion devices is an effective solution, as these ensure the squirrels can exit but are unable to return.
2. Remove the Squirrels Humanely
After sealing all entry points and providing an exit path for squirrels, you can use live traps to capture any that remain inside. Bait the traps with attractive foods like nuts, peanut butter, or seeds to lure the squirrels in. Once trapped, handle the squirrels carefully and release them far away from your property in accordance with local wildlife regulations. This humane approach ensures their safe relocation while protecting your home from future reentry.
3. Clean and Repair
After the squirrels are removed, clean up any nests, droppings, and debris left behind. Squirrel droppings can carry diseases, so it’s important to sanitize the area thoroughly. If any damage has occurred to your attic or insulation, make repairs or replace the damaged materials.
4. Exclusionary Repairs and Long-Term Prevention
To prevent future squirrel invasions, it’s critical to conduct exclusionary repairs. Use strong materials like steel mesh or hardware cloth to cover vents, chimneys, and any holes that may serve as entry points. Trim back any tree branches that may provide a direct path to your roof or attic.
Why Hiring a Professional Animal Removal Expert is Essential
Although it may seem like a simple task to remove squirrels on your own, there are several reasons why it’s important to hire a professional pest control expert:
1. Expertise in Handling Squirrels
Professionals bring valuable experience in handling both flying squirrels and tree squirrels. They possess a deep understanding of each species’ behaviors, nesting habits, and movement patterns. Equipped with this knowledge, they can implement the most effective and humane methods to remove squirrels from your home safely. Their expertise ensures not only a successful eviction but also minimizes stress on the animals and prevents further damage to your property.
2. Safety Concerns
Handling squirrels can be dangerous. Squirrels can be unpredictable, and attempting to trap or remove them without proper training can lead to bites or scratches. Additionally, dealing with squirrels involves working at heights, which poses risks if you’re not experienced.
3. Damage Control
Squirrels can inflict substantial damage to your home, including tearing insulation, chewing on wiring, and compromising structural elements. Professional pest control experts are trained to thoroughly assess the extent of this damage and carry out the necessary repairs to prevent further issues. Additionally, they specialize in cleaning and sanitizing the affected areas, effectively removing debris, droppings, and potential contaminants. This reduces health risks associated with diseases carried by squirrels, ensuring your home is safe and secure.
4. Long-Term Prevention
A pest control expert will not only help with the immediate eviction but also with long-term prevention. They can identify weak spots in your home that could allow squirrels to return and fix them for good. DIY attempts often fail in this area, as homeowners may miss critical entry points or fail to address all the damage.
Contact Attic Kings Today!
Whether dealing with the gliding, nocturnal flying squirrel or the daytime-active tree squirrel, both can create significant challenges when they invade your attic. The noise they produce, paired with the potential structural damage, can turn into a stressful situation. Understanding their habits and behaviors, taking humane steps for removal, and focusing on thorough exclusionary repairs are key to regaining control of your attic and preventing future infestations.
While DIY solutions might seem cost-effective, hiring a professional pest control expert is the best way to ensure a humane and comprehensive resolution. This approach not only guarantees the safe eviction of squirrels but also safeguards your home against the long-term risks and damages associated with an infestation.