The following case study details a squirrel removal job in Grimsby, Ontario. A squirrel that had chewed its way through the roof and into the attic was safely removed with a one-way door. The technician on site also excluded vulnerabilities on the roof with mesh. If there are squirrels on your property and you need help, contact Squirrel Control. We offer safe and guaranteed solutions to all squirrel problems.
Inspection
The homeowner in this case called Squirrel Control in January after hearing noises coming from the ceiling of their single-family home. They could scratching sounds during the day. While this was somewhat late in the season, it is common for squirrels to build nests in homes when it is cold outside. They find openings in the edges of roofs and gnaw their way into the attic. A technician came to inspect the home the next day.
Our technicians always carry out inspections when evicting squirrels. This determines exactly where the animals are nesting, so the technician can remove them effectively. The inspection also identifies weaknesses on the home’s structure, which can be excluded from future break-ins.
Here, the technician found some openings along the edges of the roof. These are common in old homes, as the edges of the roof can split and warp with time. The gutters were also full of pine needles and leaves. Stuffed gutters like these attract squirrels to the roof. They will come use the nesting materials within the gutters or nest in the gutters themselves. Stuffed gutters may also cause flooding into the basement and the rest of the home.
The squirrel’s nest was just beyond a hole in the edge of the roof. The animal had chewed its way through shingles and wooden framing of the attic. Squirrels have incredibly strong teeth that let them chew through wood, plastic, and even some metals. Where they find a weakness in the roof, they may chew their way through.
To remove the squirrel, the technician proposed the installation of a one-way door to the squirrel’s entry point. Once out, the technician would replace the door with mesh. Like an open-ended trap, the one-way door has a flap inside it that the squirrel can push forward. When it would need to feed, the squirrel would emerge from its nest, crawl through the door, and be unable to get back inside.
As for the other weaknesses on the roof, the technician would cover them in a wildlife-proof mesh. This would keep the squirrel from coming right back, or having other animals come inside. The homeowner agreed to go ahead with the work, so the technician got started right away.
Removal and Exclusion
First, the technician installed the one-way door. He installed right over the entrance to the squirrel’s den and sealed the area around it with mesh to ensure that the animal would leave. This is our go-to solution to most squirrel problems. It’s humane and incredibly effective.
Following the one-way door, the technician put mesh along the roof’s edge to keep wildlife out of the attic for good. The mesh used was a 16-gauge, half inch steel mesh. Squirrels would be unable to chew through it and raccoons would be unable to tear it off.
Conclusion
Within a few days, the homeowner could no longer hear any scratching sounds. The squirrel had crawled its way through the one-way door and found another place to nest. Though it was January, the squirrel likely had other nests nearby, so it moved to another one. The technician returned to the property and replaced the door with mesh.
Squirrel removal is straightforward when carried out by a professional. Technicians recognize the signs of an invasion and can find the animal’s entry point. They can remove the animal safely and ensure that every other weak spot on the roof has been covered. Call Squirrel Control today if you are interested in protecting your attic from wildlife.