Hamilton, Ontario – 2024
This article will analyze and recount a case of a squirrel removal from an attic in a house in Hamilton. It will detail the steps taken in the removal of the squirrel along with the full exclusion of the roof and other areas that wildlife can access.
The technicians, before the work is done, must first inspect and confer with the customer or customers on the issue and then must inspect for the source of the activity. This situation began as a wildlife inspection for a squirrel in the attic. This situation began as a wildlife inspection was done, it was found that the squirrels had access to a large number of entryways from various openings along the roof edge as well as a chimney, roof vents, and gaps all over the roof. Without sealing all of entryways, the squirrels would never leave. Without sealing all of these entryways, the squirrels would never leave.
Hamilton, Ontario: Steel City
Hamilton is a beautiful city in Western Ontario: Steel City Hamilton is defined by an escarpment, which is a beautiful city in Western Ontario on Lake Ontario. Home to Mohawk College and MacGill Universituniversityften considered a large cliff face that divides the city into upper and lower sections. Hamilton is known for its steelworks, which is why many refer to it as Steel City. Hamilton is known for itNeighborhood, which lies at the base of the Escarpment with Victorian and Gothic manor-like houses lining the cliff face.
Exterior Inspection
When the technician arrived on site, they performed an exterior inspection of the property and found an enormous number of openings in the roof. There was a whole side of the roof that had an open drip edge that was recessed multiple inches from the gutters and was an easy access point for squirrels and rodents. This area needs to be sealed off using galvanized steel mesh, or the squirrel would never leave the attic. The technician also found there was an open and accessible chimney on the roof, which is a great place for squirrels, raccoons, and other animals and rodents to use as a home. Roof vents made of plastic were found, which is commonplace but also an access point for many types of wildlife and rodents who chew holes in them and use them as an access point to the attic. In the case of a raccoon, they can tear a roof vent clean off the roof, letting rain into the attic. The technician also noted a large number of soffit wall gaps; these are areas where the soffit, the metal or wooden plating of the underside of the roof overhang, does not meet the wall tightly. These areas are very easy for rodents and squirrels to access and get into the attic or even the home itself.
Initial Measures
The first step was to seal off the area the squirrel had gotten into. Sealing the area off could risk the squirrel dying in the attic or making new entryways to escape through. To prevent this, the technician uses a one-way door. The one-way door allows the animal to vacate but prevents it from getting back in. This allows the animal to exit the attic humanely while preventing it from re-entering. This process can take some time as the squirrel stockpiles food in the attic and will wait until it is essentially starving before vacating.
Proposed Exclusion
In order to prevent the squirrel from getting back in, the technician needed to seal off all the other open areas it could access. This included the fifteen feet of open drip edge, which was sealed using galvanized steel mesh and bolts to keep it in place, as well as sealing off the soffit wall gaps using caulking that will keep rodents and other small animals from entering the area. The roof vents were sealed off using black rubber-coated galvanized steel cages, which will prevent rodents and squirrels from chewing them open, or raccoons from tearing them off the roof. The chimney was sealed off using a galvanized steel chimney cap and mesh to prevent animals from living in it, and the one-way door was installed at the main entryway the squirrel used to enter the roof.
Conclusion
The technician excluded the roof and all areas that are sensitive to animal ingress and left the squirrel with nowhere to go but out. The job was completed, and no more noises were heard in the attic from that point onwards. This is why it is so important to ensure that the roof is protected from wildlife and rodents. Just attaching a one-way door is not enough. The entire roof must be inspected, and any easily accessible areas must be sealed to prevent re-entry.
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