Squirrel Characteristics
Squirrels are members of the rodent family. The

most frequently dealt with nuisance squirrel is the Eastern Gray Squirrel. They measure around 16-18 inches from nose to tail and weigh approximately one pound. Gray squirrels are active year-round and arboreal, meaning that they live primarily in trees. They feed on a great variety of foods, such as nuts, seeds, fungi, fruits, and of course the seed in your birdfeeder. They store nuts and acorns in holes in the ground. Gray squirrels breed throughout the year, but there are two distinct peaks, in the winter and summer.

The Northern Flying Squirrel is a small, nocturnal mammal weighing 3 to 5 ounces and measuring 6 to 8 inches in total length. It has a long, broad, flattened tail, very eyes, and thick, silky fur. It is a colonizing mammal. It does not actually fly, but uses flaps of skin on either side of its body to glide through the air.

North American Red Squirrels are also referred to as pine squirrels, American red squirrels and chickarees. Red squirrels can be easily identified from other North American tree squirrels by their smaller size, territorial behavior and reddish fur with a white belly. They are also much bigger than chipmunks. The diet of these tree squirrels is specialized on the seeds of conifer cones.

Squirrel Nuisance Concerns.
Squirrels like to nest inside the eaves and attics of homes and commercial properties and when left alone they can be quite destructive. Squirrels are difficult to eradicate once established. They will return year after year to the same location for nesting. In residential areas, squirrels will travel along powerlines and short out transformers. They gnaw on wires, enter buildings, and build nests in attics. Squirrels can cause a fire hazard in homes by bringing in nesting material, and by chewing on power lines. Squirrels can leave behind a lot of droppings and urine in the attic. The droppings not only smell bad, but they pose a biohazardous risk, and the smell attracts new squirrels.

Squirrels occasionally damage lawns by burying or searching for and digging up nuts. They will chew bark and clip twigs on ornamental trees or shrubbery planted in yards. Often squirrels take food at feeders intended for birds.

Flying squirrels are a nuisance because they are colonizing animals. In the wild, they prefer hollowed out trees as nesting sites, but many decide that your attic is the perfect environment. Because they are nocturnal, you may hear them scurrying about at night, particularly as they move in and out of the building. Many people hear the noise and mistake flying squirrels for rats, mice, or other types of squirrels. Flying squirrels chew, like all rodents, and can leave stains on your house at exit/entry sites.

Squirrel Removal.
It is important to take prompt removal action to assure that your home and property are not destroyed by chewing squirrels and that you family isn't exposed to diseases.Proper sanitation and property maintenance will prevent most problems.

Move your bird feeder twenty or more feet from the house. Close or cover garbage cans, and if possible make them inaccessible. If you have a barbecue near the house, keep it clean and covered. Squirrels have been know to eat the drippings and sometimes build a nest if they can get inside.  

Other devices, such as high frequency sound emitters and animal scents may be effective for a short period of time. Once the squirrel gets use to them, and they will. They become ineffective, and you're out a lot of money.

The sure way to take care of your problem is with trapping and removal of the animals. Call Westchester Wildlife for Squirrel Removal.