Squirrel Removal and Control in Georgia

Squirrel control is one of our most-needed services, especially at this time of the year. Squirrels overwinter in attics, soffits, and other warm, protected places.

There are many species of squirrels, but the most common squirrels in Georgia are the gray squirrel and the flying squirrel. Both of these squirrels are aerialists who spend much of their time in trees, attics, and other high places; but there are important differences between gray squirrels and flying squirrels:

• Gray squirrels walk along tree branches and balance on utility lines to get into buildings. Usually, they gain access by gnawing at existing holes (such as the openings where wires enter a building) to make them bigger. They can also climb vertically on any surface that allows them to get a good grip, such as trees, shingles, and most exterior building materials.

• Flying squirrels don't really "fly" so much as glide. They can't take off from a fixed point and gain altitude, like a bird or a bat can. But in addition to their impressive climbing abilities, flying squirrels have "wings" formed by skin that stretches between their legs and their bodies. These wings allow flying squirrels to glide for impressive distances and to land accurately on buildings, even at points that would be impossible for them to climb to. This makes flying squirrel control especially challenging because their entry points can be almost anywhere on the exterior of a building.

Many squirrel calls start when clients hear scratching noises in the attic or walls. Usually, squirrels are the culprits (although sometimes mice, rats or birds can get inside structural voids and make noises). Removing squirrels from attics is a big part of what we do every fall and winter.

Squirrels as Pests

Both gray squirrels and flying squirrels create a nuisance when they move into buildings. A squirrel's diet consists mainly of nuts, so they have powerful jaws and sharp, strong teeth. They use those strong jaws to chew holes through wood, siding, and other building materials. This gnawing can cause serious damage to both the building and any items stored in it. Squirrels also increase the risk of fire when they gnaw on electrical wires.

In addition to the physical damage they cause, squirrels' urine, droppings, shed hairs, and disease-causing parasites also create health risks. Dead squirrels can cause odors and serve as a breeding medium for flies and other insects when they die in wall and ceiling voids, soffits, and other inaccessible areas. This is one reason why you should call an animal control specialist, not a "squirrel exterminator," for squirrel control.

Professional Squirrel Removal

Squirrel removal is one of our most in-demand services, especially in the fall and early winter. This is the time when squirrels hoard food and set up their winter homes in attics, soffits, steeples, and other parts of our homes, churches, and commercial buildings. And although it may seem odd because of their small size and timid nature, trapping and excluding squirrels is also one of the more challenging and hazardous animal control jobs we do. Why?

Long-lasting squirrel control requires specialized equipment and a keen knowledge of squirrel biology and behavior. It also requires working aloft with extra long ladders, scaffolding, or bucket trucks -- not the kind of equipment most people have sitting around in their garages.

In short, don't waste your time trying do-it-yourself squirrel control. It's dangerous without the proper equipment and usually doesn't work, anyway. Call us instead.

Rid-A-Critter provides safe, professional, non-chemical squirrel removal in Atlanta, Macon, Athens, Columbus, Roswell, and most of Georgia. But we're not "squirrel exterminators." Our earth-friendly squirrel control program provides humane, long-lasting control of gray and flying squirrels using trapping, exclusion, and habitat modification instead of pesticides. We were performing "green" squirrel removal before it was fashionable to be green.

Our comprehensive squirrel control program includes:

• Detective work to figure out how the squirrels are getting into the building
• Non-toxic, environmentally-friendly squirrel trapping to humanely remove squirrels from the attic, soffits, or wherever else they are living.
• Cleanup of squirrel detritus (urine, droppings, shed hair, etc.)
• Squirrel damage repairs and squirrel exclusion -- to keep squirrels out by making your home squirrel-proof
• When needed, replacement of contaminated insulation.

How are the Squirrels Getting into My House?

Non-toxic squirrel control begins with figuring out how the squirrels got into your building in the first place. We're experts at finding and repairing the holes squirrels use to get into your house or building.

The pictures on the right demonstrate the importance of a skilled eye in professional squirrel control. The top picture is a roof vent. It looks perfectly intact to the layman's eye. But to a squirrel removal professional, the vent and the old squirrel droppings screams out for a closer look. The bottom picture shows what we found: A virtual highway for squirrels.

Removing gray squirrels or flying squirrels without also performing squirrel exclusion (fixing holes to seal out squirrels) results in a revolving-door effect, with "new" squirrels moving in almost as quickly as the "old" ones are trapped and removed. For successful squirrel control, repairs have to be done to keep them out of your home permanently.

In Georgia, identifying squirrel entry holes is especially difficult. Georgia is full of grand old buildings whose magnificent architecture provides many ways for squirrels to get in. Obviously, trapping squirrels without closing up the holes would be a never-ending job and a waste of money. That's why hiring Rid-A-Critter will save you money in the long run.

The pictures below and to the left represent only a small sample of the thousands of squirrel-removal and squirrel-proofing jobs we've done over the years. We have the tools and personnel to handle any squirrel control job, so please call us today.