How to Get Rid of Squirrels in Your Attic by Sophie Flaxman

Discover how to kick your squirrel squatters out—and keep them away for good.

Getty Images / Graham King

If you keep hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet coming from above, you might have some uninvited guests squatting in your attic. Squirrels might seem like charming little critters when they’re scampering around in trees, but they become a major nuisance when they’re in your attic. These furry intruders can wreak havoc on your home, damaging electrical wires, shingles, and soffits, creating unsightly messes, and sometimes even spreading harmful diseases and parasites.

If you’ve discovered squirrels in your attic, they must be evicted pronto. We spoke to David Castro, ACE, technical and training manager at Viking Pest Control, to learn more. He shares everything you need to know about how squirrels find their way into the attic, how to remove them safely and humanely, and how to keep them out for good. Learn how to get rid of squirrels for a pest-free home.

Related: 10 Things You Should Never Store in the Attic

How Do Squirrels Get Into the Attic?

Squirrels are exceptional climbers and usually scamper around treetops, so it’s unsurprising they easily find their way into our attics. After all, it creates a much warmer, safer, darker, and all-round more comfortable nesting space than the hollow of a tree could provide—and as it turns out, it’s pretty easy for them to get in. “Squirrels only need a baseball-sized opening to enter a structure easily,” Castro says. “Unfortunately, they are resourceful and destructive enough to create those large holes out of smaller gaps, especially if they can gnaw on it.”

It’s important to note that these holes can let in more than just squirrels: Rain and snow can seep through the gap, causing water leaks and secondary moisture problems, too. Squirrels can also enter through roof vents, attic louvers, and ventilation fan openings.

“As cute as they may be, squirrels are also very destructive,” Castro says. “The most serious concern is that squirrels love to chew on wires. They cause numerous house fires every year and are considered a major risk to the power grid.” So, if you suspect you’ve got squirrels in your attic, it’s essential to act quickly and with caution.

How to Prevent Squirrels from Entering Your Home

“If trees touch or overhang your house, this can provide an easy pathway to your roof and possibly inside the attic,” Castro warns. In this case, contact a professional tree service to have the branches cut back at least 6 feet from the building to prevent squirrels from jumping onto the roof.

“Inspect the house’s exterior, focusing especially on the roof lines and looking for possible entry points,” Castro says. Look for loose or missing overhang sections, damaged fascia boards from overflowing gutters, or roof and attic vents with damaged or missing screens. “Some of these fixes can be as simple as cleaning the gutters or popping a vent cover back into place, but others may need a professional to repair damages safely and properly,” he says.

How to Get Rid of Squirrels

It’s important to take necessary precautions before you attempt to scare off your unwanted bushy-tailed residents. “Squirrels are wild animals that scratch and bite if they feel cornered or threatened. This can transmit some serious diseases, like rabies, which can be fatal if not treated immediately,” Castro says. It’s also essential to check for signs of baby squirrels, as this might determine the best approach for eviction. 

1. Identify and Seal Entry Points

“Preemptively sealing off smaller openings, commonly called ‘exclusion,’ is a very effective way to prevent squirrels from nesting in the house,” Castro says. (It will also keep them from regaining entry.) Use metal flashing, wire mesh, steel wool, or fiber cement to cover all entry points but one. Cover the final entry point with a one-way door that allows squirrels to exit the attic freely but prevents reentry.

However, this method is a definite no if baby squirrels are in the nest. “Closing off a squirrel’s entryway may discourage it from reentering the structure, but if it has established a nest there, it may do more damage trying to get back in,” Castro says. In this case, it’s better to allow the mother entry to the attic to tend to her babies.

2. Set Live-Catch Traps

Live-catch traps are a humane way of catching squirrels safely so they can be released back into the wild. Bait the traps with nuts, seeds, or peanut butter, and check them daily to ensure the animal doesn’t suffer from neglect in the trap. Before committing to this squirrel-catching method, Castro recommends checking your state and local regulations regarding nuisance animal trapping. “There may be specific rules regarding who is allowed to trap, how the traps must be baited, who to contact when you catch it, and what must be done with the animal afterward,” he says. “That last point can be particularly challenging. Releasing the animal at the site where it was captured is humane, but the squirrel will likely go right back inside the house.” However, releasing the squirrel in a new area may be illegal and dangerous for the squirrel, who may be trespassing on another squirrel’s patch.

3. Use Natural Squirrel Repellents

A great way to get rid of squirrels is by infusing the attic with a scent they can’t stand, like peppermint oil, white vinegar, garlic, rosemary, or black pepper. You can also buy squirrel repellents from garden centers or local hardware stores that mimic the scent of predator urine and quickly scare them off. Put the repellent near entry points, the nest, or anywhere you’ve seen squirrel droppings, and they should soon evacuate.

Related: Protect Your Garden with Homemade Deer Repellent

4. Set Up Deterrents

Attics appeal to squirrels partly because they are dark and quiet spaces. Therefore, you can deter the little critters by making your attic less hospitable. Make it brighter by installing bright lights and motion-activated devices in the attic and disrupt their peace and quiet with an ultrasonic repeller that blasts sound far above human hearing ranges that pests, like squirrels, can’t stand.

Related: The 6 Best Motion Sensor Lights of 2024, According to Testing

5. Call the Experts

To prevent causing further chaos, it’s sometimes better to just call in the experts. Professional pest control companies have the best-qualified people for the job who deal with squirrel problems on a near-daily basis. They can provide the expertise and assistance you need to effectively deal with the situation. “If the squirrels are newly gaining entry into the house, we can use a one-way tunnel to discourage them,” Castro says. “They are constructed and attached to the house around the entry hole, allowing the squirrel to leave but preventing its reentry.”

Alternatively, they can set squirrel traps, assuming the task of checking them daily and removing them from the property safely and responsibly. “After the squirrels leave the house, we usually perform some exclusion work to prevent future issues,” he says. Where electrical, structural, or roofing repairs are outside their abilities, they’ll recommend the customer call a professional contractor or roofer instead.

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