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Description
Squirrels are members of the rodent family. The most common squirrel is the Eastern Gray Squirrel. They measure approximately 16-18 inches from nose to tail and weigh about one pound. Gray squirrels are active year-round and live primarily in trees. They feed on nuts, seeds, fungi, fruits, and are especially fond of the seeds in bird feeders as they are plentiful and easy to get. Nuts and acorns that have been gathered are stored in holes in the ground and account for more trees being planted each year than man, due to the fact they don't remember where they put many of them. Gray squirrels breed throughout the year and six weeks after breeding give birth to two to four young that are raised in a nest for about three months. They prefer cavities in trees or human homes to nest in and when cavities aren’t available they will build a nest out of leaves and twigs high in a tree.
Why squirrel control is important
Squirrels have easily adapted to humans and frequently use buildings and houses as nesting areas. A favorite place for the squirrel to enter the home is through a soffit or attic opening. An un-screened gable vent is the most often used entry point. If they find even the smallest opening, they will chew it until it is wide enough for them to enter.
Squirrels use the attic, not only to raise their young, but also for nesting throughout the year. Squirrels will often fall down the chimney and sometimes are unable to climb back out and will enter the home through the fireplace. Sometimes they fall down a wall from the attic and get stuck. Squirrels can become a fire hazard in homes by chewing on power lines and leaving behind large amounts of dropping and urine in the attic.It not only smells bad, but can pose a bio-hazard threat to humans not to mention that the smell attracts other new squirrels.
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How Would I Know If I Have Squirrels?
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Sometimes, it's not so easy to know that you have a wild animal living with you. You may hear scratching, gnawing or other unexplained noises at night when everything is very quiet. The same noises made during daylight hours may actually go unnoticed. Rats, mice, squirrels and other animals like to gnaw so figuring out what animal it is can sometimes be difficult for the average homeowner.
Squirrels are the acrobats of the animal world and can run easily along utility lines, thin diameter tree branches and are capable of running vertically up some siding materials on homes. They can chew through small gaps that are present during a homes' construction and enter through chimneys and other unsecured areas like vents. The first thing most people hear is scratching noises in the attic. The first thing to determine is whether or not a squirrel is the culprit.
Wildlife agents at Jarrod's physically examine your attic and are able to tell if squirrels are present through the identification of droppings, nesting materials and type of damage observed. By using these clues it isn't even necessary for an actual squirrel to be spotted. We know the signs. Call us for a free estimate: In Georgia and Alabama call 706-221-8000
Property Damage
Squirrels must constantly gnaw and chew to keep their teeth sharp. Rafters, boxes, insulation on electrical wires, PVC plumbing pipes and cable wires are all common targets of squirrels. Often they will chew up cardboard boxes and the contents to make nesting material. This material is dry and lightweight and makes excellent kindling. Just one spark from an electrical wire that has been stripped of it's insulation and you have the potential for a fire. Most attic fires are caused in this way. Attic fires are perhaps the worst type of fire because they are in an area that is not easily observed and can therefore spread quickly before anyone notices. In short, squirrels in the attic are a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as it is detected.
Dead Animals in the Attic
If you ever have smelled a dead animal you know it is something you don't want in your house. Though squirrels are agile, they sometimes fall in between walls or get trapped in ventilation ducts and die. Because of their location it is difficult for the homeowner to figure out where the smell is coming from. The longer the carcass deteriorates, the worse the odor gets. Other factors like heat and humidity can increase the smell until it becomes unbearable and makes it impossible for humans to stay in the structure...and the stench isn't the worst part of it.
Rotting animal bodies attract flies which lay their eggs on the carcass to hatch. The resulting larvae (maggots) break down the body as they feed on it and often the liquid from the tissue leaks through to the floor below. Stained ceilings can occur and the terrible odors are then transferred to the lower floors.
At Jarrod's, we know what to look for, where to look, and the best way to deal with these situations. We have never left a customers home or business without resolving the problem.
Jarrod's is the leading squirrel trapping, removal and squirrel control company in Georgia and Alabama. We are not "exterminators." We practice only environmentally friendly catch and release methods. All wildlife has a place, just not in your home. When trapping squirrels we use live capture cage traps. Our captures are taken into the wild and released at least 20 miles from human habitation.
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