If you’ve discovered squirrels in your walls, you’re likely facing an urgent situation. Squirrels in walls can cause damage to your home, create a mess, and even pose health risks. This guide will walk you through how to get rid of squirrels in walls effectively, covering the best steps to take to remove the squirrels safely and prevent them from returning. Learning how to get rid of squirrels in walls is an essential skill for homeowners who want to protect their property.
Step 1: Identify Signs of Squirrels in the Walls
Before you start figuring out how to get rid of squirrels in walls, it’s important to identify the problem. Squirrels are often more active at night, and you might hear them running, scratching, or making noise inside the walls. Other signs include:
- Scratching sounds in the walls, especially at night.
- Droppings near entry points or around your home.
- Chewed wires, insulation, or other signs of damage.
Recognizing these signs is crucial in how to get rid of squirrels in walls. Once you’re sure there are squirrels inside, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Locate the Entry Points
The next step in how to get rid of squirrels in walls is finding the entry points. Squirrels can squeeze through tiny openings, so it's important to inspect your home carefully. Look for:
- Gaps or cracks in walls, roofs, or around windows and doors.
- Holes around chimneys or vents.
- Areas where wires or pipes enter the house.
Once you’ve identified the entry points, it’s time to proceed with sealing them. Locating the openings is key to solving how to get rid of squirrels in walls effectively.
Step 3: Trap the Squirrels
To get rid of squirrels in walls, you’ll need to trap them and remove them from your home. The best method for trapping squirrels is using humane live traps. Here’s how to trap squirrels effectively:
- Place traps near entry points: Set the traps in areas where you’ve noticed the squirrels entering or exiting. Squirrels tend to follow the same path, so positioning the trap correctly is essential.
- Use the right bait: Squirrels are attracted to foods like peanut butter, nuts, or sunflower seeds. Place a small amount of bait inside the trap to lure the squirrels in.
- Check the traps frequently: It’s important to check the traps at least once every few hours. Once you catch a squirrel, relocate it far from your home to prevent it from finding its way back.
By trapping the squirrels, you can successfully remove them from your walls. This step is critical in how to get rid of squirrels in walls once and for all.
Step 4: Seal the Entry Points
Once you’ve caught all the squirrels, the next step in how to get rid of squirrels in walls is to seal up the entry points. You’ll need to:
- Close up any cracks or holes with caulk, foam sealant, or wire mesh.
- Install chimney caps to block entry around your chimney.
- Repair any damaged vents or exhaust fans where squirrels might be getting in.
Sealing up the holes is a key part of the process. Without doing this, squirrels are likely to return. Make sure all the gaps and cracks are properly sealed to prevent future infestations.
Step 5: Set Up Deterrents
After removing the squirrels, it’s a good idea to set up deterrents around your home to prevent new squirrels from entering the walls. Some effective deterrents include:
- Ultrasonic repellents: These devices emit high-pitched sounds that squirrels find unpleasant, which can drive them away.
- Predator urine: Spraying predator urine, such as coyote or fox urine, around the perimeter of your house can discourage squirrels from approaching.
- Peppermint oil: Squirrels dislike the smell of peppermint. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them near entry points to repel squirrels.
Using deterrents is a smart way to ensure that squirrels don’t return once you’ve figured out how to get rid of squirrels in walls.
Step 6: Monitor the Area
After sealing the entry points and setting up deterrents, continue to monitor the area for any signs of squirrels trying to re-enter. Check for new holes, noises inside the walls, or other indications that the squirrels are back. If you notice any activity, you might need to set additional traps or reinforce your barriers.
Monitoring your home for squirrels is essential to ensure that the problem is truly resolved. If you’re still hearing noises or seeing signs of squirrels, you may need to contact a professional pest control service to handle the situation.
Step 7: Consider Professional Help
If you’ve followed all the steps and are still struggling to get rid of squirrels in walls, it may be time to call in professional help. A pest control expert has the experience and tools necessary to remove squirrels safely and prevent further infestations. They can also help you identify potential entry points you might have missed.
Professional pest control is often the most effective way to resolve a squirrel problem when you’re unsure how to get rid of squirrels in walls on your own.
Conclusion
Learning how to get rid of squirrels in walls is an important skill for homeowners dealing with these pesky creatures. By identifying the problem, trapping the squirrels, sealing entry points, and using deterrents, you can effectively remove squirrels from your walls and prevent them from coming back. Regular monitoring of your home and seeking professional help when needed will ensure that your home stays squirrel-free.
By following these steps, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve dealt with the problem of how to get rid of squirrels in walls once and for all.