Have you noticed squirrel droppings in insulation in Memphis TN?  Have you been in your attic recently and noticed squirrel droppings on the attic floor? If you have squirrel droppings in your insulation, you are not alone. We receive calls daily from concerned homeowners about this very issue. The obvious problem is not just the droppings, but the fact that squirrels are in your home.

Fecal droppings are the quickest way to tell if there are squirrels in your home. When we go into attics that is the first thing we look for. We can tell what species the wildlife is just from the shape and size of the fecal droppings. We can also tell if the droppings are fresh or old.

Squirrel feces can vary in size depending on the species. Flying squirrels tend to lay very small oval-shaped droppings all in one area. It's almost like it is the designated toilet area. Other species of squirrel will deport their droppings sporadically here and there.

Fecal droppings and urine can ruin your attic insulation. If this happens, the insulation may need to be replaced. Fecal droppings contain a lot of bacteria and diseases. It is possible to breathe in airborne spores if you disturb an attic area. To become infected, you must come in direct contact or inhale the fecal airborne particles. Usually, this happens while cleaning up the feces. Bacteria is often transferred by touching your face or clothing after contact with fecal matter.  

If there is enough urine or droppings in the insulation, mold can start to grow. This is especially problematic if it is near an air duct. This can lead to airborne particles being circulated throughout your entire house.

Check the ceilings in each room for wet stain spots. These wet spots could be urine that has soaked through from the nesting site. If this happens, you may need a full attic restoration. Attic restoration is when the insulation needs to be completely removed and replaced. The cost of an attic restoration will depend on the severity of the situation.

Proper safety equipment must be used when cleaning up squirrel droppings in your insulation and attic floors. If cleaning up fecal matter, ensure you have an N95 grade mask. This will ensure you do not breathe in any airborne spores.

Rubber gloves protect your hands from bacteria in the droppings. A hazmat suit is also important. If particles get on your body or clothes, they can be transferred into other areas of your home. Having the right equipment to clean the fecal matter is just as important as having the correct cleaning supplies to sanitize the area.

Some bacteria will not die with regular cleaning agents. You need to make sure you are selecting the right chemicals to kill specific diseases and bacteria. You can never be too careful when it comes to handling fecal droppings from squirrels or other wildlife species.

Be aware that the odor of squirrel droppings and urine can attract other wildlife predators. Once an animal has left its scent in your home, other animals will try to enter as well.  Raccoons follow a reliable food source, so it is very common for a raccoon to breach your attic if they smell squirrels and rats. Raccoons are extremely strong and can easily enlarge any smaller holes left by squirrels or rats.

Any predator that picks up the scent of other wildlife will follow it into your home.  The amount of damage a squirrel does pales in comparison to what a raccoon will do, especially to your HVAC!

Apex Wildlife Control also offers a fecal removal and deodorization service that can be performed once the squirrels have been trapped and your home sealed from further wildlife entry.

Squirrels are known to carry numerous diseases, though only a few are dangerous to humans. Some of the more common include tularemia, typhus, plague, and ringworm. Such diseases are transmitted through bites or other forms of direct contact with infected squirrels. Tularemia, typhus, and plague have symptoms that mimic the flu and can be deadly when left untreated. While all mammals are capable of getting rabies, squirrels are very rarely rabid.

Other diseases squirrels transmit to humans come from the various parasites they carry. Rife with parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites, squirrels living in proximity to homes frequently pass these tiny pests on to both humans and pets. Some of the diseases humans can get from the parasites include Lyme disease, Encephalitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Many of these diseases are fatal when left untreated, so individuals should monitor for symptoms, and seek medical attention after coming in contact with squirrel urine or feces.  Breathing in particles of the animal's excrement is the most common method of disease transmission.  Squirrels can build nests in your attic, soffits and gutters that can contain all kinds of disease that can make you and your family very sick.

Keeping squirrels off your property and out of houses is the best way to ensure the health and safety of both homeowners and their pets. While screening and capping vents and chimneys is effective, entry points like windows, doors, and holes in the roof should also be properly sealed.

Our company does not fix rotted wood or do any major carpentry work such as an attic restoration.  If there is a lot that needs to be done, we ask that you have a carpenter come out to assess your home and repair those areas first.  Our main focus with exclusion work is sealing up the small gaps, securing vents and patching up the smaller holes. If there is rotted wood around your home, it needs to be repaired before we perform exclusion. We can’t secure any of our work to something that could fall apart or is easily chewed through.

At Apex Wildlife Control, we pride ourselves in providing the highest quality work. We want satisfied customers who know our work is going to hold up and last!

So if you have squirrel droppings in your insulation in Memphis TN, give us a call today.  We're here to help!