Do you have squirrels in your insulation in Memphis TN? Hearing that you have squirrels in your insulation could make just about anyone want to cry. Have you noticed a bad smell that are almost musty? Are squirrels in your attic making lots of noise and keeping you up early in the morning? If you think you may have squirrels nesting in your attic, give u a call today!

Squirrels can do a lot of damage to your attic in a short amount of time. Squirrels urinate in insulation and the scent can be an attractant to predators. If squirrels get into your attic, they often make nests in your insulation. It is very common for squirrels to chew their way into homes especially before it starts getting cold outside.  They want somewhere warm and safe from other predators and your attic and its insulation are the perfect spots.

Squirrels mate between December and February as well as in May and June. They gestate up to 44 days and can have a litter size on average from two to four babies. They look for a safe, warm and quiet place to raise their young. The baby squirrels are weaned around seven to ten weeks. At that time, they will start to get out of the nest more. Mama Squirrel will start to bring them outside of the nesting area when they are big enough to teach how to hunt. Once this happens, you will begin to see more activity and damage.

It’s best to take some preventative measures that will help deter squirrels from deciding they want to room with you. Look for any low-hanging branches over your roof. Branches are the main highway for squirrels. They can easily jump from the branches onto your roof.

Make sure there is no food outside your house. Squirrels love nuts, berries and seeds. If you have bird feeders in your yard, make sure they are far away from your home. Anytime you are outside, it is always good to observe the condition of your home. Check for any chewed corners or scratching around your roof. If you see any signs that squirrels are trying to get into your home, they have most likely already gained access.

You may begin to see stains on your ceiling when not treated properly.  When squirrels nest in your attic on the insulation they are urinating and defecating all over it. With enough urine, the insulation can be ruined and it could also spread to other areas.

If the squirrels have chewed any wiring and it is exposed, it could create a fire or cause a shortage in the electrical systems. They can damage your ventilation system, insulation, and structural integrity. Because squirrels have sharp teeth and claws, they can do this in a very short amount of time and rack up expenses quickly.

The sooner you can identify the problem, trap the species, and seal the home, the sooner you can have your home structurally sound. Our call volume is unpredictable and for this reason, we ask that you reach out to a professional before more damage can be done. Typically you will hear the noises first, but if you see squirrels in your soffit or chew marks then it is better to go ahead and call for an inspection to get a better idea of what is going on with your home.

The Apex Inspection Process:

Our technician will start with the interior inspection first. The technician will look for fecal droppings to determine the species of the animals. He will also check for chewed wiring, damage to your HVAC, and damage to your duct work. He will document his findings with photos to email to you at the end of the inspection.  The technician will then begin the exterior inspection of your home.

The technician will be looking for the possible and actual entry points from the bottom of your home's foundation to the top of the roof. The technician will also document these findings with photos for you. After the full inspection, the technician will provide you with an estimate detailing areas that need to be sealed, damage to your home and our trapping services.

We can do many repairs through our exclusion (preventative repairs) services, however, we cannot do everything. Any repairs that involve concrete around the foundation, rotting wood, and roofing work need to be done by a carpenter who specializes in those areas.

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 in your insulation, give us a call today.  We're here to help!