Why You Need to Squirrel-Proof Your Home Before Late Summer

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Budgetanimal

Squirrels are cute little critters, but they are also mischievous house guests. Right now, early-to-mid summer, is the best time of year to start animal-proofing your house against squirrel intrusions. Squirrels love attics and wall voids, and their excellent climbing abilities allow them to access high locations with ease. If your home is not sealed up, it is not well-protected, and therefore, vulnerable to squirrel infestation and damage.

Continue below to learn how to prevent squirrels in the attic, including why it is a good idea to squirrel-proof before late summer or early fall.

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Damages Caused By Squirrels in the Attic

Not only can squirrels cause excessive damage to your roofing system, windows, shudders, gutters, and more, but they are well-known for causing extreme damage once they infest the inside, particularly the attic space. In addition to their gnarly chewing habits, which can destroy electrical wiring, PVC, and anything made of wood, they also saturate their surroundings with urine, droppings, and food debris. This mess is unsanitary and can cause lingering, noxious odors in the home. These damages only worsen if left unchecked, and ultimately add up to costly and invasive renovations. Let’s not forget squirrels are known carriers of several infectious diseases and parasites!

Mid-Summer Squirrel Proofing Tips

Squirrels begin building their winter nests in late summer and early fall. But before they build their nests, they must find a safe and secure place for the project. Your attic is prime real estate for squirrels for all the reasons mentioned earlier: their excellent climbing skills, easy roof access, and vulnerable openings on your house’s exterior like gaps, loose shingles, crumbling mortar, torn screens, damaged attic vents, and wood rot.

In order to make your home stand strong against nuisance squirrel infestations, you must ensure that your property is animal-proofed against small to mid-size critters. While you’re at it, you can keep chipmunks, birds, and more out of your attic! Fortunately, there many effective ways to keep squirrels from becoming an unwanted house guest this year.

Home Exterior Sealing

It is important to hire a licensed and insured critter control professional to inspect your home for target vulnerabilities. They know how to identify susceptible areas that might allow squirrels or other animals to enter. They also retain the proper training, equipment, and resources to seal up openings and exposed spots on your home’s exterior, plus implement additional means of wildlife control.

Environmental Modification

The first step to stopping those furry little critters is modifying your surroundings. This means doing whatever you can to thwart squirrel activity and access. Put away accessible pet food dishes and water bowls, get rid of bird baths and houses, and eliminate low-hanging branches near roofs, patios, gardens, sheds, garages, and more (trim at least 6 feet away). You will also do well to seal up your garbage cans and only take them outside the morning of collection day.

Squirrel Repellent

At your local home and garden store or retailer, you can find non-toxic animal repellents specially-formulated to divert squirrel activity. These products come in granular, spray, and powdered form. The option you choose will depend on a few factors, such as the particular area you wish to treat and your personal preference. Squirrel repellents are inexpensive, but if you want an economical alternative, try making your own homemade animal repellent at home.

Are you searching for licensed wildlife control experts to get rid of nuisance squirrels? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 for TWRA licensed and insured squirrel removal and control in Nashville, Tennessee. We serve commercial and residential clients.

How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden This Spring

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Squirrels are cute, playful, and entertaining little critters to have around the yard. However, if you manage a garden every year, you might not be the biggest fan of them. And that’s okay! Squirrels are a common nuisance for gardeners since they are very good at sneaking around and causing all sorts of gardening problems. If you are tired of living under the tyranny of nuisance garden squirrels, it may help to take a new approach.

Continue reading to learn some effective tips for protecting your garden from squirrel damage, safely and humanely.

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Squirrel Control for Flowerbeds and Gardens

Make Some Environmental Modifications

If you have trees that are near your home and garden, you might want to consider installing metal sheets around the trunks to prevent squirrels from climbing them. These metal tree wraps discourage traction. And if they cannot climb your trees, it is not likely that they’ll stick around your property for too much longer.

Animal-Proof the Garden

If you are planting bulbs this year, consider planting them with cages. These metal cages can be purchased at any local gardening or home improvement store; or you can make them yourself using standard sheet metal. You can take it a step further by installing a metal mesh sheet over the top of your garden soil. Just be sure the mesh openings are at least 2 1/2 inches in diameter so they do not obstruct plant growth. You can use other types of garden barriers and reinforcements too, such as chicken wire fencing and hardware cloth. These methods will work well to prevent nuisance critters from digging up your garden plants.

Rely on Sensory Barriers

There are many non-toxic, homemade repellents you can use to thwart nuisance squirrel activity in certain areas of your yard. Many spices and smells are disliked by wildlife, including cayenne pepper, peppermint, menthol, and cinnamon. Sprinkle these spice mixtures around the perimeter of your garden for added protection. You can also use bowls of moth balls or ammonia soaked cotton balls, as well as, predator urine (coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, etc.), fake owl decoys, and even bitter apple spray. Just be sure to reapply regularly to maintain a constant and strong barrier.

Professional Squirrel Control Service

If nuisance squirrels are an ongoing problem for your property, it is very likely that they have caused problems in other areas of your home. Always try to catch a squirrel problem early on if you can. It is important to hire a professional wildlife control company to inspect your house for squirrel openings, damages, infestations, and all other wild animal susceptibilities. Professional wildlife intervention and proofing services will save you loads of time, money, and frustration in the long run.

Are ready for a more professional and advanced approach to squirrel control? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 to get rid of squirrels in Indianapolis, Indiana at a price you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Budgetanimal

Did you know that today, January 21^st, is the annual National Squirrel Appreciation Day? It’s True!

Americans all across the country celebrate this day by giving back a little more to the local squirrel populations within our communities. You too can do your part to support the neighborhood squirrels, all without posing any risk of animal damage to your property. Continue below to learn some fun facts about squirrels, as well as, some tips for showing your appreciation for these furry little critters this season!

Indianapolis Squirrel Removal and Control — National Squirrel Appreciation Day – January 21st

Fun Facts About Squirrels

Squirrels are small to medium-sized rodents that can fall under one or more of the three following categories: 1) Tree squirrel, 2) Ground squirrel, and 3) Flying squirrel. They belong to the Animalia family, Sciuridae, which also includes animals like chipmunks and prairie dogs, as well as, woodchucks, groundhogs, and other species of marmot.

They are most known for their big bushy tails and tiny dexterous paws. They range in size, depending on species, gender, and basic genetics. For instance, the African pygmy squirrel can be as small as 7 to 10 centimeters and weigh less than half an ounce, whereas the Alpine marmot measures in at over 2 feet long and up to 18 pounds!

Squirrels live in wooded or forested areas where there is an abundance of trees, undergrowth, and plants, as well as a reliable water source. This is also due to their primary diet of nuts, seeds, flowers, mushrooms, and herbaceous plants.

Some squirrels prefer widely-spaced forests with oaks, pines, and mixed tree species, while others, like the Eastern grey, squirrel, prefers trees that are closer together in order to move from tree to tree between canopies. They either build their nests out of tree branches, leaves, and organic material, or they find a tree cavity for shelter.

Supporting Local Squirrel Colonies

To do your part and support your local neighborhood squirrels, you can hang squirrel houses and feeders on the perimeter of your property. You can also modify your outdoor environments to thwart squirrels from getting too close to your structures. Ultimately, such modifications will deliver protection to squirrels because it keeps them in their safe and natural habitat, rather than your chimney or attic.

Dealing With a Nuisance Squirrel Problem?

If you have a nuisance squirrel problem in or around your property, never poison, trap, or harm them under any circumstances. Instead, always use safe and humane methods to control nuisance squirrels, such as a natural repellent. See our blog, “Non-Toxic Repellent Recipe for Nuisance Wildlife” to learn how to make your very own at home. If your squirrel problem persists, please contact a licensed wildlife removal company that can provide non-lethal squirrel removal and control services.

Safe Squirrel Removal and Control for Indiana

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable wildlife removal and control services for squirrels in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our DNR licensed wildlife removal specialists offer wild animal abatement services, cleanup and minor restorations for animal damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and more! We work with all species of Indiana wildlife, except dogs, cats, and waterfowl. Request a free estimate, today.