The American Red Squirrel: Best Practices to Prevent Potential Problems

Best Practices to Prevent Potential Problems:

Red Squirrels are the only squirrels that enter at the ground, not just the roofline compared to other squirrel species. They can be active both day and night, as opposed to other squirrel species that are active either during the morning only or at night only. In residential areas, squirrels will travel along power lines 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 bio-hazardous risk, and the smell attracts new squirrels. Occasionally, squirrels will cause damage to 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.

Best practices to prevent potential squirrel problems include:

Remove artificial food sources (bird seed, pet food).

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).

If you or someone you know needs assistance with Squirrel Removal and you are in one of our service counties: Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, or Fairfield
Please Contact Westchester Wildlife LLC to schedule an inspection today!
914-760-5713 or 800-273-6673