Squirrels chewing wires in your attic can cause major problems. This can cause electrical malfunctions and even lead to a fire in your home. Squirrels are a big nuisance. They are also dangerous to have in your attic for any period of time.

An interesting fact about squirrels is that their teeth never stop growing. Did you know that if a squirrel didn't constantly chew, their teeth can grow up to six inches long in only a year?  That's right, squirrels have to constantly chew on something to file them down, much as we do with our fingernails. If they do not chew constantly, their teeth continue to grow and will become too long for them to eat. So to prevent this, they will chew on wood inside and outside of your home.

If you see chewed wires in your home or smell electrical smoke, please contact an electrician immediately.  Advise the electrician of your squirrel or rodent problem, and he will know exactly how to correct the problem for your safety.  Chewed wires are a leading cause of house fires in America, and we don't want to see you become a statistic. 

Have you ever seen or heard transformers blowing up or sparking? Sometimes it is because squirrels or other animals have damaged the wires by chewing on them. Squirrels will chew through the wires until the transformer explodes, creating power failures and possible fires. This is extremely inconvenient and can interrupt power needs in many homes, businesses and especially stoplights at intersections. It also results in an electrocuted squirrel who never knew what hit him.  Usually a city employee will be dispatched to remove the unfortunate squirrel and repair the transformer.

Residential homes can also have a power failure or catch on fire from wires sparking. This is more dangerous inside of homes than when it happens to outside power lines. In residential homes, the wires are concealed and hidden from view. In this case, you may not even know there is an issue until its too late.  Your wiring should always be checked regularly by a professional.

One important prevention method to keep squirrels out of your attic and away from your wiring is to trim your trees. Cut back any branches that are close to your house or hanging over your roof. Squirrels use branches like we use highways and interstates. Branches make jumping onto your roof easy for a squirrel, so cutting them back will take away that option.

It is also a good idea to trim any bushes that are up against your house. Squirrels are amazing climbers. Cutting back branches may help, but it is not the solution to solve the entire problem.  Squirrels love nuts and seeds, especially bird feed.  It goes without saying that bird feeders will attract squirrels.

When it seems that no deterrents or prevention methods are working and you still have a squirrel problem, it may be time to call your favorite wildlife trapping company. Apex Wildlife Control is here for all of your wildlife trapping and sealing needs! Let us help you to trap the squirrels trying to get in your home so you can keep your family safe and secure.  Our amazing exclusion technicians will seal your home up tight.

In our inspection, one of the first things we do is check for any chewed wires, droppings or obvious wire damage in your home. Our technician will also check for signs of squirrels in your attic. He will document all damage with photos which he will email to you at the end of the inspection. The technician will immediately notify you if he finds anything that could be a danger to you or your home or commercial business.

The technician will then perform the exterior part of the inspection. He will look from the home's foundation to the top of the roof. Our technicians are trained to look for all possible and actual points of entry. This will include any holes in the foundation, vents, etc.  He will also point out other possible ways the squirrels can try to get in and document these areas with photos as well.

The technician will then provide an estimate to not only trap the squirrels, but also to fully seal your home. If there is wire or electrical damage from squirrels or any other wildlife, the technician will recommend that an electrician come out immediately and repair any damages.

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.  We also do not perform any electrical work.  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!

Again, if you have squirrels or rodents and you are having electrical problems in your home or business, please contact an electrician immediately.

And if we can help you get rid of these troublesome squirrels, give us a call today.  We're here to help!