Squirrels are sure cute to watch BUT...they sure can cause you problems for homeowners. 
When you are buying a home it would be a good idea to ask the seller to specifically disclose any pest activity within the last two years. Even if a pest has been removed, others can scent the territory and move right back in.
This is especially true of squirrels. In the Denver Metro area we have the Fox Squirrel, which is a tree dwelling rodent mostly active during the day. The diet of the Fox Squirrel varies: Fruit, nuts, berries, tree buds, and succulent plant materials are the common base but they have adapted to urban environments to become scavengers of most anything available, including nestling songbirds. In the fall squirrels will range more for food and tend to pester homeowners more at this time.
They often build tree-nests of leaves, twigs and other debris, but they prefer an enclosed space if they can find it. Squirrels can be a nuisance at your bird feeder, your garden or your garbage cans but the severe problem is when they enter your residence, usually at the eave or soffit, to make their nest and have their young. Once nested, squirrels have two to seven young per litter, usually twice per year in February to April and August to September.
Like all rodents, squirrels gnaw constantly and along with eating their way through your shingles or wood siding to get inside, they will gnaw on rafters, studs, drywall and chew through electrical wiring, which can cause a fire. Fox squirrels can also remove wooden shakes and shingles from roofs and enter attics. They also will use your attic as their bathroom, creating a health hazard from the wet and drying waste. Like all wild animals, they are dirty and carry fleas, ticks, mange mites and internal parasites. They will remove bark from deciduous trees, especially elms and Russian olives. They love bird feeders. Digging in lawns, eating ornamental plants and bulbs are indicators that you are frequented by squirrels.
Some ways to keep the squirrels away are to use squirrel-proof bird feeders, trim tree limbs six feet away from your home and by placing metal “collars” on trees to keep them from climbing at all. They sometimes find entry through a chimney, so make sure a regulation chimney cap is in place.
If squirrels are causing damage to your property or have entered to make a nest the only method of removal allowed under Colorado law is trapping. Once trapped and removed it is important to squirrel-proof the former entry points because squirrels are numerous and others will soon fill-in the empty territory and nest.
When you are buying a home it would be a good idea to ask the seller to specifically disclose any pest activity within the last two years. Even if a pest has been removed, others can scent the territory and move right back in.This is especially true of squirrels. In the Denver Metro area we have the Fox Squirrel, which is a tree dwelling rodent mostly active during the day. The diet of the Fox Squirrel varies: Fruit, nuts, berries, tree buds, and succulent plant materials are the common base but they have adapted to urban environments to become scavengers of most anything available, including nestling songbirds. In the fall squirrels will range more for food and tend to pester homeowners more at this time.
They often build tree-nests of leaves, twigs and other debris, but they prefer an enclosed space if they can find it. Squirrels can be a nuisance at your bird feeder, your garden or your garbage cans but the severe problem is when they enter your residence, usually at the eave or soffit, to make their nest and have their young. Once nested, squirrels have two to seven young per litter, usually twice per year in February to April and August to September.
Like all rodents, squirrels gnaw constantly and along with eating their way through your shingles or wood siding to get inside, they will gnaw on rafters, studs, drywall and chew through electrical wiring, which can cause a fire. Fox squirrels can also remove wooden shakes and shingles from roofs and enter attics. They also will use your attic as their bathroom, creating a health hazard from the wet and drying waste. Like all wild animals, they are dirty and carry fleas, ticks, mange mites and internal parasites. They will remove bark from deciduous trees, especially elms and Russian olives. They love bird feeders. Digging in lawns, eating ornamental plants and bulbs are indicators that you are frequented by squirrels.
Some ways to keep the squirrels away are to use squirrel-proof bird feeders, trim tree limbs six feet away from your home and by placing metal “collars” on trees to keep them from climbing at all. They sometimes find entry through a chimney, so make sure a regulation chimney cap is in place.
If squirrels are causing damage to your property or have entered to make a nest the only method of removal allowed under Colorado law is trapping. Once trapped and removed it is important to squirrel-proof the former entry points because squirrels are numerous and others will soon fill-in the empty territory and nest.
If you need assistance with your squirrel, pest or wildlife problems contact Whitmore Pest Control. Hugh Whitmore hwhitmore@q.com has the experience to resolve your problems.
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