It's only natural for squirrels to look for warm places to stay for the winter. The gutters, eaves, chimneys, and attics of houses are often targeted by these creatures for this purpose, which is why the best thing homeowners can do is take measures for keeping squirrels out during winter in Atlanta.
A mother squirrel normally gives birth to two litters of young per year. When they grow in numbers, these energetic creatures will take over more space, eventually scurrying into the walls, where may either die and decompose or chew up electrical wires creating a fire hazard. The best solution is to simply prevent them from entering to begin with.
Doing a detailed assessment of one's property helps identify anything which may attract squirrels or allows them to enter. They are naturally drawn to yards with accessible bird feeders and plenty of fruit trees, and those where tree limbs extend to the house, acting as a bridge for these creatures. The most important thing is to find all potential entry-ways and after making sure they aren't already in use, repairing them.
Limiting access to anything which may be viewed as a food source by a squirrel can help make the property less appealing. Pets should only be fed inside and their feeding dishes should not be left outdoors. Some people will even set up a feeder exclusively for the squirrels to distract them and keep them in one area.
All openings found anywhere on the house need to first be "tested" to determine if animals have already taken up residence inside them, this can be done by placing crumpled up newspapers in the holes and then observing to see if the papers are forced out. A professional service should be consulted to trap and relocate any animals present and fix the entry points.
Although not especially effective, some homeowners may also wish to try deterrents such as mothballs, hot or cayenne peppers, or sprays made from squirrel-predator urine. A decoy owl or coyote is another option, but only if they are moved around frequently, as squirrels are rather smart and will fast realize they pose no danger.
Special attention should be paid to rooftop ventilation fans, which are usually covered in weak screening that can easily be chewed up by a squirrel. This material should be replaced with galvanized steel wire hardware cloth. Chimneys should be capped off with animal-proof chimney caps that prevent creatures from entering.
A mother squirrel normally gives birth to two litters of young per year. When they grow in numbers, these energetic creatures will take over more space, eventually scurrying into the walls, where may either die and decompose or chew up electrical wires creating a fire hazard. The best solution is to simply prevent them from entering to begin with.
Doing a detailed assessment of one's property helps identify anything which may attract squirrels or allows them to enter. They are naturally drawn to yards with accessible bird feeders and plenty of fruit trees, and those where tree limbs extend to the house, acting as a bridge for these creatures. The most important thing is to find all potential entry-ways and after making sure they aren't already in use, repairing them.
Limiting access to anything which may be viewed as a food source by a squirrel can help make the property less appealing. Pets should only be fed inside and their feeding dishes should not be left outdoors. Some people will even set up a feeder exclusively for the squirrels to distract them and keep them in one area.
All openings found anywhere on the house need to first be "tested" to determine if animals have already taken up residence inside them, this can be done by placing crumpled up newspapers in the holes and then observing to see if the papers are forced out. A professional service should be consulted to trap and relocate any animals present and fix the entry points.
Although not especially effective, some homeowners may also wish to try deterrents such as mothballs, hot or cayenne peppers, or sprays made from squirrel-predator urine. A decoy owl or coyote is another option, but only if they are moved around frequently, as squirrels are rather smart and will fast realize they pose no danger.
Special attention should be paid to rooftop ventilation fans, which are usually covered in weak screening that can easily be chewed up by a squirrel. This material should be replaced with galvanized steel wire hardware cloth. Chimneys should be capped off with animal-proof chimney caps that prevent creatures from entering.
About the Author:
Dave L. Weglin has taught safe animal control practices for over 20 years. If you are interested in getting the Best Pest Control in Decatur and Tucker, GA then he recommends you visit his friend at Crocodile Dave
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