In BC, squirrels are a fact of life. With so many forests in the province, squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem. BC is home to several native species, as well as one invasive critter, the Eastern Gray squirrel, which has become the most commonly-seen species in urban areas.
Unfortunately, squirrels don’t respect boundaries. To a squirrel looking for a place to live, especially a mother squirrel looking to have babies, your home is every bit as inviting as a tree in the forest. And if squirrels can get access to your home, you’ll be surprised how much damage these small rodents can do.
TLDR;
- Squirrels enter homes looking for warm, safe nesting spots, especially in attics and roofs
- Common entry points include roof vents, soffits, gaps in siding, and damaged shingles
- Scratching noises, especially in the morning or evening, are a common early sign
- Chewed wires, insulation damage, and nesting debris indicate active squirrels inside
- Sealing entry points and trimming tree branches away from the roof helps prevent access
- One-way exclusion methods are the safest way to remove squirrels without trapping them inside
- Acting early prevents structural damage and avoids squirrels raising young inside your home
Or Summarise this article with.
Why do we want to keep Squirrels out?
Squirrels, like other rodents, are capable of carrying diseases that can infect humans, such as tularemia and typhus. They can also carry ticks and other parasites capable of spreading disease such as Lyme disease and encephalitis.
But more common than these diseases is the nuisance squirrels cause when they rip up insulation, chew electrical wires, and leave droppings everywhere they go. Plus, you wouldn’t believe the amount of noise a squirrel can make until you have one running around in your attic just before sunrise.
Coexisting with squirrels means learning how to keep them out of your home and in the trees where they belong. Here’s how to keep your home squirrel-free.
How To Keep Squirrels Away From House
Keeping squirrels out starts before they ever get inside.
Focus on making your home less inviting:
- Trim back tree branches: Keep them at least 6–8 feet away from your roof so squirrels can’t jump across
- Secure roof vents and soffits: Use metal covers instead of plastic. Squirrels can chew through weak materials fast
- Remove food sources: Bird feeders, fallen nuts, and accessible garbage all attract attention
- Inspect your roofline regularly: Small gaps turn into entry points quicker than you’d think
A little prevention here saves you from dealing with scratching in the attic later on.
How to prevent squirrels getting into your home
Without a doubt, the best way to deal with squirrels in your home is to make sure they don’t get in in the first place. If you live in an area with lots of trees, you can guarantee there’s a high squirrel population in the area.
Luckily, there are many squirrel control tactics to employ to decrease the risk of the squirrels making your home into theirs.
1. Remove food sources
Squirrels will go where there’s food. Bird Feeders are a very common source of food for squirrels. Make sure any birdfeeders you use are squirrel-proof. Feeders that cut off the food supply when weight is applied are good at keeping squirrels out while still allowing birds to eat. Alternatively, you can mix your birdseed with cayenne pepper. The heat of the pepper will make the seed unappetizing to squirrels but won’t affect the birds.
2. Keep Garbage areas clean and lids secure
Household garbage can also be a good source of food for squirrels, as well as other rodents such as rats and mice. Store your garbage in a robust garbage can with a tightly-fitting lid to avoid attracting squirrels.
3. Cut tree branches
Squirrels use tree branches like highways to get where they want to go. If tree branches touch the roof of your home, you’re asking for squirrels to investigate the building. Cut back any branches that come close to the house. The largest squirrel species in BC, the Eastern gray squirrel, can jump up to nine feet horizontally, so you may need to cut tree branches back quite aggressively.
4. Block access
Inspect your roof and look for any holes that squirrels could use to get inside. Remember that these rodents don’t need a lot of space; about 1 inch can be enough to let them get in. Also remember that like rats, squirrels are capable of gnawing through material such as wood, so you’ll need to use something stronger. Metal flashing or quarter-inch galvanized steel mesh can be a good solution to block up holes.
Check soffits, junctions where different areas of the roof meet, and anywhere pipes or wires enter the house. Do this before squirrels get inside to avoid problems down the line.
What to do if squirrels get inside your home
If the squirrels are already inside your home, it’s too late to block holes and remove food sources.
In fact, blocking up holes at this point can do more harm than good. Generally, squirrels come inside attics to have babies. In BC, this happens in the spring, sometimes as early as February. When first born, the baby squirrels are helpless and don’t leave the nest. The mother will go out and forage for food to bring back to them.
Blocking up a hole while the mother squirrel is outside can cause more harm than good. The mother squirrel can do a lot of damage to your roof as she tries to get inside back to her offspring. Plus, you don’t want to kill a bunch of baby squirrels in your attic and then have to deal with the guilt that comes with it.
Finding all the holes squirrels can use in your roof isn’t easy, and it’s important to be thorough and make sure you get every possible entry point. The easiest thing to do is call an experienced pest control professional who can identify and seal up all the holes squirrels use to get inside.
The BC SPCA recommends you review their best practice sheet on how to handle squirrel problems or remove them from your home.
Humane squirrel removal methods
Once squirrels are inside the attic or walls of your home, you have a couple of options. It’s usually best to wait for the babies to grow until they are big enough to leave the nest. Then, you can either trap them or install a one-way door that will allow the mother and her babies to leave the attic, but will slam shut behind them and not let them back inside.
Alternatively, you can trap the squirrels inside the attic. You can use live traps baited with peanut butter, birdseed, or other food items that are attracted to squirrels. Make sure to check the traps regularly, as squirrels are very susceptible to stress and can quickly injure themselves or even die inside the traps.
Once the squirrels are trapped, you’ll have to deal with them somehow. Relocation generally isn’t recommended and letting them go in the garden means they’ll just get back inside so be sure you’ve blocked up the holes in the meantime!
“Why is relocation a bad thing? Studies have shown that most squirrels relocated after being trapped die soon after their relocation because they are not familiar enough with the area to survive. Both BCSPA and the BC Govt suggest other squirrel removal methods where possible.”
Trapping squirrels, sealing off all potential points of ingress and installing one-way doors is a specialized service that is beyond the ability of most homeowners. Generally, it’s better to call a professional squirrel control company like Westside Pest Control. Westside has years of experience humanely removing squirrels and making sure they don’t come back, giving you peace of mind and letting the squirrels live.
Westside Pro Tip
If squirrels keep showing up on your roof, watch how they’re getting there.
Grab a coffee and spend five minutes observing from outside. You’ll usually spot their exact route. Fence, tree, downspout, repeat.
Once you see the path, break it.
Trim the branch, adjust the feeder, or block the access point. You’re not guessing anymore. You’re cutting off their highway.
The Verdict?
Prevention is key of course. Figuring out how they are getting in should be your primary goal. If you’re dealing with a mum and some young baby squirrels you’ll likely have a tough task on your hands.
Even once the squirrels are gone, they will leave you with a big mess to clean up. Westside also offers a full cleanup service for attics, basements and crawl spaces. We can remove all squirrel droppings so that you can have your home back the way it was before these furry invaders decided to show up.
Need some help getting a squirrel out of your attic?
Call, email, or chat with a pest expert for more information about squirrels and a quotation.
FAQs
Can squirrels get back into the same spot after removal?
Yes, and they often try. Squirrels have strong homing instincts and will return to places they’ve nested before. If the entry point isn’t properly sealed with durable materials, they can reopen it quickly. That’s why exclusion and repair go hand in hand. Remove the squirrel, then lock down the access point.
What time of year are squirrels most likely to enter homes?
Spring and fall are the busiest times. In spring, they’re looking for safe places to raise young. In fall, they’re preparing for colder weather. If you hear activity during these seasons, it’s worth checking sooner rather than later before nesting gets established.
Do squirrel repellents actually work?
Most repellents have mixed results. Some sprays or scent-based products may deter squirrels temporarily, but they don’t solve the root problem. If there’s an easy entry point or a cozy nesting spot, squirrels will ignore the smell. Physical prevention and sealing entry points tend to be far more reliable.