How to Get Rid of Squirrels In Your Attic
Fact checked by Jillian DaraReviewed by Amanda Rose NewtonFact checked by Jillian DaraReviewed by Amanda Rose Newton
Scurrying, scratching, and sounds of small objects (usually acorns) rolling around your attic may mean squirrels have moved in. Other telltale signs of squirrel "squatters" are small, foul-smelling pellets with rounded ends littering your property (rat poop has pointed ends). If you suspect squirrels are nesting under your roof, you can safely get them to leave with tactics such as using noise and bright lights.
Learn more about how to get rid of squirrels in your attic the humane way—and prevent their return.
The Spruce / Alex Dos Diaz
How Do Squirrels Get Into Attics?
Squirrels love attics because they are uninhabited, warm, dry, high up, and protected from predators so they can build a nest and have their babies in peace.
Once squirrels reside in your attic, they will use their urine to mark the space as their territory. In spacious attics, they use one end as a nesting area, the other as a latrine, and stash their food supply of nuts in between.
These innocent-looking pests are agile jumpers and destructive chewers that can quickly get into attics. When squirrels want to get into an attic, they do the following:
Push in bricks on chimneys
Climb brick or stucco buildings in seconds
Pull apart terra-cotta and slate roofs
Chew through shingles, wood, aluminum, and high, hard-to-reach parts of the roof
Squeeze themselves through holes or missing fascia boards along the roofline
Fun Fact
You won't see squirrels actively chewing on your home because they warn each other of nearby danger using ultrasonic chatter far above a human's hearing range.
How to Prevent Squirrels From Nesting in Attics
Keep squirrels out of your attic by making the space unattractive and uncomfortable for nesting. Follow these steps:
Remove bird feeders as a food source from your property or place them far away from your house.
Replace bird feeders with squirrel-proof types. One effective type to keep squirrels away is the Brome SquirrelSolution 200 Bird Feeder.
Secure the garbage cans to limit more sources of food.
Cut the tree limbs back around the house so squirrels cannot access the roof easily.
Check your chimney cap to make sure it doesn't need replacement.
Repair rotting wood on your fascia, which causes inviting holes.
How to Get Squirrels Out of the Attic
Shoo squirrels away by creating a whirlwind of activity in and around your attic. Squirrels dislike it when their space is inhabited or too loud. Try these steps before using any commercial squirrel repellants (which are typically formulated with predator urine):
Make noise: Bang on the ceiling and rafters with a broom handle, talk or yell loudly into the attic, bang pots and pans at the attic entrance, turn on the radio, TV, or loud music, and leave it playing.
Use bright lights: Turn on a bright spotlight or strobe light in the attic and leave it on night and day.
Stink them out: Soak rags in cider vinegar and place them in the attic (they hate the smell) or use mothballs around it (they are repelled by that smell, too).
Warning
Never use mothballs around young children or pets; the fumes can harm humans and pets if inhaled. Children have mistaken them for candy, which can have harmful consequences if ingested.
Other Squirrel Removal Methods
Install Exclusion Devices or One-Way Doors
Install exclusion devices, which are one-way doors placed at known entry points. Exclusion devices allow squirrels to leave the house and reenter the wild, but they can't reenter the house. To be effective, these devices need to be set up at all entry points and secured tightly (screwed and screened) to the house so the squirrel can't wriggle through.
This method is only used from November to February when squirrels are not breeding. Using this method any other time during the year risks permanently separating a mother squirrel from her litter. The babies would likely die in the attic and the squirrel mother may cause damage to the outside of your house as she tries to regain entry by gnawing a new hole.
Use Live-Capture Traps
Remove and release squirrels using trapping cages in the attic. Be sure to release the squirrels from the cages in the wilderness at least 3 miles away from your home so they can't easily find their way back. However, this is not considered a humane method for relocating squirrels in the winter because they won't have access to their stockpile of food.
This method lets you see how many squirrels you removed. If you notice a female nursing mother in the mix, she can be let back in to tend to her litter. She will eventually bring the babies out or they will come out on their own in about four months.
Use Squirrel Repellents
Scare away squirrels with repellents that use pungent odors, bright flashing lights, or ultrasonic high-frequency sounds. Use several repellents at the same time to make your attic unpleasant to squirrels.
Employ Squirrel Decoys and Predators
Position a decoy, such as a fake owl, fox, or hawk in the attic to scare a squirrel from coming back.
Cats and dogs are natural predators that can also make squirrels think twice about setting up a home in your attic.
Block Squirrels With Physical Barriers
Line the soffit under the eaves and attic vent systems with heavy-duty woven mesh wire or bird spikes to deter squirrels from making an entry.
Prevent a squirrel from climbing a nearby tree or pole by wrapping it with wire or plastic mesh.
Obstruct entry to your garden with physical barriers so squirrels will move on to another garden with easier access to favorite foods.
When to Call a Professional
If your squirrel removal efforts don't work, it may be because they do not want to leave their babies behind. Call a professional to relocate the family safely and humanely. While at your home, ask the squirrel removal company to inspect and plug up the squirrels' entry points to prevent wildlife from coming back into your house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use in my attic to get rid of a squirrel?
Get a squirrel out of an attic using anything that makes it uncomfortable to make a nest up there, such as bright lights, loud noises, decoys, or terrible smells.
Will squirrels leave an attic on their own?
Squirrels need to be compelled to leave an attic. A nesting mother will hunker down with babies but others leave at the first sign of compromised safety. Once the babies are old enough, a nesting mother will leave an uninviting space. Once the family goes, plug up all entry points immediately.
What do squirrels really hate?
Squirrels hate strong odors. Use a commercial repellent or try natural items, such as pepper, garlic, or apple cider vinegar, for example.
Are squirrels in an attic considered dangerous?
Squirrels can ruin your stored items by taking pieces of cloth, fabric, or paper to make nests. Squirrels are also voracious chewers, needing to chew to sharpen their teeth constantly. Exposed wires are one of their favorite chewing items, which can pose a fire hazard.
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