Hundreds of people in Manhasset suffer from pests and rodents invading their property and homes, causing thousands of dollars in damages. Many people don’t put squirrels at the top of the list when they think of damaging pests, but squirrels pose a huge risk if they get into your home, and can quickly cause a lot of damage if they are left alone.
How Squirrels Get Into Homes
In the wild, squirrels will take shelter in or under trees if they can as a way to avoid predators and stay out of the elements. This behavior is also what leads them to seek shelter inside homes much of the time. They will nibble and claw at things trying to find shelter and will often burrow their way through siding and insulation to get inside if they think they see an opening. Squirrels also take interest in your home during the cold winter months when they feel the warmth radiating from your house.
Damages Caused By Squirrels
Squirrels have a natural burrowing instinct that enables them to be adept at avoiding becoming a hawk’s lunch. That natural burrowing instinct is also the cause of a lot of the damage squirrels can cause in your home. Since they have an affinity for tight spaces they often crawl into ventilation ducts, crawl spaces, and the voids inside your walls. From there they can tear apart the internal components of your air conditioning and heating system, or chew through wires in the wall. Not only does this cause thousands of dollars in damage directly, but frayed and chewed cables in your wall can pose a serious fire hazard that you potentially never even know about.
How To Prevent Squirrels
There are several methods for preventing squirrels from getting into your home. The best thing you can do is to take a walk around the exterior and interior of your home, including the attic, looking for any place tiny pests could potentially squeeze their way in. Once you have identified possible openings, take measures to seal them using caulking or wood depending on the area and the size of the opening. Once squirrels have entered your home, however, there are not many effective means of getting rid of them on your own. Squirrels are very persistent animals and the best way to deal with them and prevent damage to your home is by contacting a wildlife specialist. Give Parkway Pest Services a call today to protect your Manhasset home from squirrels and other common household pests.