Have you seen squirrels in your gutters in Memphis TN? You may have noticed the gutters not working properly when a storm goes through. These two things could be more connected than you realize. Squirrels tend to make a lot of noise as it is, so having them run through your gutters can make that noise ten-times worse.

Squirrels tend to be most active during the day, so you will probably hear them in the morning. You may hear them at night when they are going in and out of their nest. However, in the summer months, it can get extremely hot on and around the roof and gutters, so you may not hear them during the middle of the day.

Squirrels can crawl up gutter spouts easily. Even if you have gutter guards, squirrels may still get in them. Always make sure you fix the bottom of the gutters if necessary, so the squirrels can’t climb up and make a nest in them.

If squirrels are in your gutters, it will create more problems than just noise. If they make a nest, it can block the flow of the water and clog up the drainage. This restricted flow of water will eventually cause the wood to rot.

It is always a good idea to look around for water stains. If you notice an area where you can see watermarks, you need to check your gutters. Just one squirrel nest can create a major blockage. If you find water damage, you also need to be aware that there could be mold. If you see mold, you need to check to see if it has spread into the interior of the wall. You do not want to risk having mold on the inside of your house. This can make your family sick and you may not even realize mold is the reason.

Squirrels love to scratch and chew. Make sure you are checking your home for chew marks. If squirrels are nesting in your gutters, they are likely creating more damage in other areas of your home. You do not want to neglect this issue for too long because squirrels can do a lot of damage in a very short amount of time. They can get into your home and start to chew on wiring, cause damage to duct work or HVAC, and ruin the insulation with urine and fecal droppings. These are just the most common issues. That’s not even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to squirrel damage.

Prevention is the best route to take. This is sometimes easier said than done. One important prevention method 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, 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. Another tip is to make sure no food scraps are being left outside. Squirrels love nuts and seeds, especially bird feed.  

When it seems that no deterrents or prevention methods are working, 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. We will make sure they stay out. Our amazing exclusion technicians will seal your home up tight.

First, we will send one of our wildlife technicians to do an interior and exterior inspection of your home. During the interior inspection, he will check for fecal droppings in your attic to determine what species is in your home. Specifically, he will check to see how the squirrels have found their way inside. He will check to make sure there are no chewed wires, damage to your duct work or HVAC, and if there is any urine damage to your insulation. He will take pictures of any damages or signs of squirrels that he finds.

Next, he will go outside for the exterior inspection where he will look from the bottom of your home's foundation all the way to the top of the roof. The technician is checking for all possible and actual entry points. He will take pictures so you can see for yourself how the squirrels are getting in and out. 

Once we complete the full interior and exterior inspection of your home, we will give you a quote that day on the cost to fully seal your home. The quote will include trapping any squirrels that are creating problems within your home.

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. 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 some unwanted little guests hiding in your gutters, give us a call today.  We're here to help!