Squirrels are rodents, characterized by their quick, frenzied movements and bushy tails. You often see the rodents squirreling away nuts to prepare for winter. Like elsewhere in the country, squirrels are very common in the Boise ID area. While they may look harmless while scurrying in your yard, you don’t want these furry creatures getting into your home. Once there, they’re very hard to get out. They are nuisance pests that can threaten health and damage your home. At first signs in Boise, contact rodent exterminator experienced with rodents and squirrels

Just like their cousins -- mice and rats – squirrels’ main goal is to get warm and find shelter once the weather turns cooler. They need a place to stock up on their food and have their babies in peace. Squirrels don’t necessarily spread serious diseases to humans, but they can bite if threatened and can cause a lot of expensive damage to your property. Knowing the threats they pose is key to preventing them from setting up shop in your home.

Squirrel Habits

You may have heard the term “tree squirrels” before, and this refers to several species ranging from fox to flying to gray squirrels. They all eat nuts, but they also eat meat and plants too. In fact, they stockpile fruits, small insects and nuts in the fall at the approach of winter so they can have enough food for the cold season.

Squirrels make their nests in twigs, bark, and leaves within tree holes. Some like to actually get inside a building of some sort, such as a house, attic, garage or shed. If you have been hearing squirrels in your attic, keep in mind they can do a lot of damage due to making their nests in your insulation. Attics also provide easy accessibility to your house from nearby trees. Always trim your tree branches back from your roof to cut off their means of entry.

Squirrel Threats

Once squirrels have gotten into your home, they can cause significant property damage that’s not only time intensive to fix but expensive as well. Just like their mouse counterparts, they will leave behind droppings and urine in the insulation, make holes in siding, and even chew through wiring. This action will damage your HVAC system, electronics, and appliances. They love to nest in old boxes containing clothing, and again, they will leave urine and feces behind. The nasty odor and health threat to occupants are two big reasons to get rid of squirrels.

Squirrel Prevention

To keep them from getting inside in the first place, here’s what you can do:

• Cover vents and chimney openings with screens
• Seal entry points around windows and doors (cracks and gaps)
• Cut tree limbs back from the roofline by about six to eight feet
• Take out the garbage regularly and seal food in air tight containers
• If you have fruit trees on your property, pick ripe fruit right away
• Call a Boise pest control professional at the first sign of squirrel infestation.

Contact Eco Pest Control

Our Boise pest control company is well aware of common entry points for these nuisance pests and will give you pointers on how to keep them out of your home. If you think you have a squirrel infestation, contact us at 208-600-8734 or complete our online form.