Squirrel Removal From Roof Vent in Etobicoke

Squirrel Removal From Roof Vent in Etobicoke

The initial call to the property in Etobicoke was for a squirrel who had entered the attic, however, the entryway was unknown to the customer. Consistent activity in the attic was heard for an extended period. A technician was sent out to inspect for an opening and to exclude with a one-way door to humanely evict the animal from the space.

Etobicoke, GTA:

Etobicoke is a name that was first used by the Mississaugas people who called Etobicoke creek and the area around it “Adobigok” which means the place where the Alder trees grow. This name was not changed when the British defeated the French and signed the Toronto purchase in 1763. This was the purchase of land from the Scarborough Bluffs to the Etobicoke creek just mentioned above. This was a hotly contested situation that was not resolved until an entirely new Toronto purchase agreement was written and resigned in 1805. This agreement stands today as the only reason the Mississauga of Ontario do not own the whole of Toronto.

Exterior Inspection

The initial inspection of the home revealed multiple issues with the roof including a clear and apparent hole in one of the roof vents. Along with it, four other roof vents were found to be open to access by wildlife as well as 3 soffit intersections, a pipe vent on the roof, two wall vents, as well as the need for disinfection and deodorization on the entryway due to animals, smells, grease and fur.

roof vent damaged by squirrel
A roof vent was damaged by the squirrel using it as an entryway. Squirrels are rodents with incisors that continue to grow for their entire lives. This allows them to chew on very hard materials for hours until they penetrate them. They do this both because they can feel the residual heat of your home and they are frightened of other squirrels harming them. Squirrels that are black or brown are some of the most aggressive animals in nature and will kill each other simply because they crossed paths.

Initial Measures

The initial measures taken by the technician included the installation of a one-way door to allow the animal to humanely vacate the attic while preventing it from reentering. This process can take three to ten days. The technician also disinfected and sterilized the entryway and excluded a number of possible entryways both on the roof and on other areas of the house that would be easy access for wildlife or rodents.

roof vent was excluded steel cage with one way door attached
The roof vent was excluded with a black rubber-coated galvanized steel cage bolted to the roof. The one-way door was attached to an opening in the cage to allow it to vacate humanely. This is because squirrels are protected wildlife and killing them is not an option.

Proposed exclusion

The proposed exclusion by the technician, along with installing a one-way door, was to seal off two wall vents that could be accessed by both wildlife and rodents using black rubber-coated galvanized steel cages as well as four roof vents beyond the first that were excluded with a one-way door. A plumbing vent was also found and excluded using galvanized steel mesh. Roof soffit intersections are places on the roof in recesses where the soffit meets the shingles and is a very easy place for raccoons to access. These areas were sealed using galvanized steel mesh as well.

roof vent covered with cage
The other roof vents were also excluded with cages to protect them from other squirrels, including this one. If the squirrel could chew through one roof vent it can chew through them all.
damaged plumbing vents excluded with steel mesh
Most plumbing vents installed after the 1980s are made of a plastic call PVC, which is Polyvinyl Chloride, which is meant to be strong, durable, and unlike metal pipes, will not rust. Sadly they are not strong enough to fend off a squirrel so these areas needed to be excluded using waterproof galvanized steel mesh.
open wall vent protected with steel mesh
An open wall vent that could be used by an animal to access the inner walls of the house. It has been excluded with a galvanized steel cage.
second protected roof vent
A second sealed roof vent
soffit roof intersection squirrel exclusion
A soffit roof intersection where the soffiting are not attached to the roof is an easy place for squirrels and raccoons to access. By pulling up the aluminum siding of the soffits the animal can squeeze through and gain access to the attic.
second sealed wall vent
A second sealed wall vent
roof vent protected with rubber steel mesh
A third sealed roof vent
wildlife proofing roof vent sealed
A fourth sealed roof vent
roof shingles protected from squirrel damage
Reinforcing the shingles under the ventilation pipe prevents animals from lifting the shingles and entering the attic

Conclusion

In conclusion, the squirrel was evicted from the attic and the one-way door was removed from the roof vent which was then fully excluded. The house was effectively protected from rodent and wildlife infestation or occupation and the customers were pleased with the results.

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