Do you have squirrels in your soffit? Have you been seeing squirrels running around on your roof lately? You may want to start checking the exterior of your house for chew marks. If you have already found holes around or in your soffits, they are most likely in your attic and it is past time to call in a professional to help.

Squirrels, like any other living thing, want to feel safe and protected. For this reason, among others, you will often find squirrels in your soffit or other areas. The integrity of the home is vital and should be protected and we're here to help. Apex Wildlife Control has assisted in protecting homes for 16 years. 

Chances are, if there are squirrels in your soffit, there may be other areas around your home that have also been penetrated. There are many places that squirrels can gain access to with very little trouble. These areas include soffits, fascia boards, construction gaps, gable vents, dryer vents, and ground vents, among others. Don't wait until it's too late to have an inspection on your home as time is of the essence.

Squirrels can climb up and chew through just about anything because their claws and teeth are so sharp. Their front paws can grab onto objects well, while their claws dig in to give them traction to hold on. They can leap across trees and power lines to get to your home with ease.

A few prevention methods that can help, is to start with what is around your home, possibly attracting these squirrels. Any type of birdseed, nuts, berries, or food on the ground can attract them to your property. Take down bird feeders, even the hummingbird ones. Trimming bushes away from the house can also help sometimes. Trim down trees that the branches are hanging low to your roof or near your soffits. Repair any rotted wood around your home that the squirrels could easily chew through or tear apart.

Once squirrels have decided to make your home theirs, it is hard to keep them away. If the squirrels have already started to make a nest in your soffits then they likely also have access and are inside of your attic. In the attic, they can do a lot of damage that can also lead to very dangerous situations as well as costly for your home and family.

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 chewing your soffits, give us a call today.  We're here to help!