Squirrels might seem harmless when you catch them scurrying around your yard, but they can cause big issues for Reno homeowners. Here’s what local residents should know about the behavior and habits of common squirrels, what kind of problems they can create around your home, how to prevent them, and what you can do to get rid of a squirrel infestation with pest control in Reno.
Habits & Behaviors Of Common Squirrels
While there are several types of squirrels around Reno, the most common to invade homes and yards are ground squirrels and tree squirrels. Most ground squirrels can grow up to 12 inches in length, and tree squirrels can become a bit larger at up to 20 inches if you include their long bushy tails.
Generally, ground squirrels live and mate in burrows, which can become as deep as 6 feet and as long as thirty feet. This is because multiple generations of ground squirrels can all live in the same burrow, with each squirrel creating their own exit and path. With enough time, an established burrow can become an intricate tunnel system.
Contrary to popular belief, most ground squirrels don’t hide or store their food underground – but they do enjoy snacking on nuts, seeds, fruit, and occasionally, insects and fungi.
As the name suggests, tree squirrels prefer to make their homes and nests in trees. Unlike ground squirrels, tree squirrels may hide and store food in abandoned burrows or other small ground cavities – especially during the spring and summer when food is more abundant.
Here are a few other essential facts to know about squirrels in Reno:
- Like other rodents, a squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing, so they need to continuously chew and gnaw to prevent their teeth from growing too long.
- Squirrels are double-jointed, which makes it much easier for them to run and climb trees at high speeds.
- Squirrels are more clever than you might think and can often navigate obstacles to obtain food.
- A tree squirrel’s nest is called a “drey” and is usually made with grass, leaves, and bark.
- Squirrels are extremely vocal and often communicate with each other through chatters, barks, calls, and even non-verbal signals with their tails.
Squirrels may be cute and fun to watch as they scamper in your yard, but having squirrels too close to your home can be problematic.
The Problems Squirrels Can Create In & Around Your Home
Squirrels can create problems in both your yard and your home. While they’re trying to build nests, tree squirrels may chew new openings through your wooden siding, eaves, vents, and unscreened chimneys. Once they’ve gotten into their “nest”, it’s not uncommon for squirrels to chew through electrical wires and cables, which can quickly become dangerous.
Although squirrels prefer to nest or burrow outside, they may sometimes venture inside if weather conditions are unfavorable. While squirrels aren’t usually aggressive, they can lash out in self-defense – especially if they feel cornered or threatened inside your home.
Of course, squirrel damage isn’t just limited to your home. Ground squirrels can cause plenty of outdoor damage to your lawn and garden. Squirrels may create deep burrows in your lawn or destroy your garden. Fruits and seeds are an essential part of a squirrel’s diet, and they won’t hesitate to dig up plants or eat all your ripe fruit and vegetables for their next meal.
How To Prevent Squirrels Around Your Home
Getting rid of squirrels isn’t always easy, but here are some natural ways you can prevent them around your property:
- Don’t provide squirrels with food, including birdseed, compost piles, or accessible trash cans.
- If you have fruit trees, make sure you’re regularly removing fallen fruit and raking up nuts and seeds on the ground.
- Add plants to your garden that naturally repel squirrels, like daffodils, snowdrops, and hyacinths.
- Regularly inspect your home for possible entry points, like damaged siding or eaves and open windows. Install repairs or screens to prevent squirrels from getting inside.
Minimizing factors that attract squirrels and making it more challenging for them to enter your home are helpful ways to lessen the chances squirrels will become a nuisance inside your home, but these strategies are often not enough to combat an existing squirrel population.
How To Get Rid Of A Squirrel Infestation In Your Home
Squirrels can be difficult to control on your own, which is why professional pest control is almost always recommended – and essential – to get rid of squirrel infestations. This is where Celtic Pest Control can help. With more than enough experience battling rodents of all kinds, we understand how destructive squirrels can be.
If you are seeing evidence of squirrel destruction around your property, don’t wait – contact us today at Celtic Pest Control to learn more about how our rodent control and squirrel control services work.
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