Wednesday, April 17, 2024
HomeEditor PicksHow To Keep Squirrels Off Roof

How To Keep Squirrels Off Roof

Buy Fox Urine For Squirrels

Stop Squirrels from Chewing Your Roof Vent Pipes DIY #tooltips #lifehacks

Squirrels, raccoons, and other animals fear foxes. They detect foxes and other predators by their smell. Buy a bottle of fox urine for the squirrels in your home. Spray the urine on the ground around the yard and near tree branches.

The squirrels will detect the smell and believe that a fox lurks nearby. They will then run away, scampering for safety.

What Damages Can They Cause Inside The Attic

When you have a squirrel in attic spaces, it can get comfortable and may even breed offspring.

You wouldnt want to risk this as it can cause damage and life-threatening hazards.

Squirrels love gnawing through your exterior and interior walls. Squirrels also tend to chew on electrical wirings, timbers, or cables.

Besides this, they stack hay, twigs, and dried leaves in your attic. These are harmful to potential fire hazards.

They also leave behind a lot of their droppings and urine. If left unresolved, squirrels can cause odor problems and health risks.

These can also leak through your drywall and ceiling. Once the damage is too severe, it may affect the quality of your home.

You may also have to resort to a full attic restoration to clean up their droppings.

What About My Yard Is So Attractive To Squirrels

Theres a reason squirrels are camping out around your house. Below are the factors that attract squirrels to your property.

Thick Vegetation

If you have lots of hedges and shrubs, you will probably notice squirrels running in and out of them. Squirrels dont enjoy open spaces, for fear of their safety . This is why they love the cover of thick vegetation or other areas around your home that provide shelter.To help prevent this, make sure to keep your hedges and bushes properly maintained. After all, a squirrel isnt the only pest who will enjoy a place to hide in your yard! Not only will keeping your shrubs maintained help prevent pests, but its also an important part of yard maintenance.

Food & Water

Maybe you want to have birds around your home, so you set up some bird feeders and a bird bath. While the birds will surely love it, unfortunately, so will the squirrels.A squirrel will do just about anything to get to the food in a bird feeder. More often than not, its extremely entertaining and results in some pretty funny videos. Without a doubt, these food and water resources in your yard are one of the reasons squirrels keep coming back. If you do keep food and water out for other animals or birds, try to keep it in a place where only they can reach it. Or, use specific bird feeders that are squirrel-proof.

Trees

Don’t Miss: How Do I Estimate The Cost Of A New Roof

A Buy A Pole That Is Manufactured Specially To Prevent Squirrels

For example, I used to own the Squirrel Stopper Pole, and not one single critter EVER got past the attached spring-loaded baffle.

A squirrel baffle is merely a contraption that prevents squirrels from climbing up your bird feeder pole. Check out the spring-loaded baffle on the Squirrel Stopper pole below:

Not only is this pole great at preventing squirrels from climbing up, but it holds up to 8 bird feeders and looks classy in my backyard.

Easy Ways To Keep Squirrels Off Your Roof

How

By: Author Ryan M.

If you are having a problem with squirrels, dont worry. There are many ways to deter them from coming onto your property and these three methods are some of the easiest.

All of these methods have been proven to work for different people, so take a look at what they suggest and see if it will help you! So here are three simple methods to try to keep them squirrels off your roof!

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Rv Roof

Covering Electric Cables And Wires

Squirrels are excellent climbers as well. So when they cant leap to the roof from the nearest tree, they may try to climb up the electric pole and use the electric cable to get to the roof.

To solve this problem, get at least two PVC pipes and cut them diagonally to enable you to slip them over the electric cable. When the squirrel tries to walk through the cable, the PVC pipes will keep moving, making the cable sway from side to side. The animal will lose its balance and fall off. Over time, squirrels will give up on climbing your roof.

The Top 4 Ways To Stop Squirrels From Climbing Your Downspouts

Make Your Own Squirrel Repellant

You can combine red pepper and petroleum jelly and spread it on the insides of your downspouts. This may help in detracting squirrels and making it slippier to climb.

However, it can be difficult to coat the insides of the downspout, especially if a squirrel has already established its den inside. You must also be very cautious of squirrels running out of downspouts and potentially

Use Mothballs

Mothballs are another alternative you can try to get rid of those squirrels. You can toss a few mothballs in the gutter and at the bottom of the downspout.

This method may be worth a try, but is only a temporary solution to the problem. Mothballs are also very toxic not only to humans but to other animals as well, so it is important to make sure pets, children, or other animals do not consume them.

Install Wire Mesh On Your Downspouts

Wire mesh can be installed on the entrances of your downspout to prevent them from coming in. It may be risky to do so, since squirrels can bolt out of the downspout and surprise you if youre unprepared.

Another major drawback is that it will be harder to clean out your downspout if the wire mesh causes debris to get stuck inside the downspout.

The best and safest option is to call a professional. Professional wildlife removal companies will be able to get rid of your squirrels with high success.

Unlike the other methods, professionals will be able to provide more permanent solutions to your squirrel problems.

Recommended Reading: Do I Need A Permit To Replace My Roof Myself

What Kinds Of Roof Damage Do Squirrels Cause

Squirrels can peel up your roof shingles and chew through your roof decking. They may tear holes in your roof soffit or fascia, damage your gutters, and then enter your home and wreak havoc. When they enter your attic, they may chew up electrical wiring, damage your insulation, and cause harm to the things you stored in your attic, thinking they would be safe and sound.

What Are The Best Squirrel Repellents

How to keep squirrels off your roof & attic

There are a variety of squirrel repellents that you can use around your home and in other areas where youre having trouble with squirrels. Squirrel repellents fall into two categories: physical repellents and chemical repellents. Physical squirrel repellents are devices or equipment that will keep rodents off roofs, out of attics, and away from gardens. Chemical deterrents include plants and liquids meant to discourage squirrel activity these work by making areas less appealing or by actually bothering or hurting the squirrel. When choosing an option, consider how long it will take for you to see resultsphysical options may take some time while chemical solutions might be more instantaneous but may have side effects .

You May Like: How Do I Get Rid Of Moss On My Roof

Why You Need To Keep Squirrels Out Of Your Roof

  • Squirrels think your roof is a safe place. Squirrels like to stay in high places where they can stay away from predators. This is why you often see them up in tree branches, nibbling on nuts. Your roof is another safe place for them. Its not just high and inaccessible to predators. Its also warm. And in some instances, its also full of food and water.
  • They can cause damage to your home. Squirrels are pests. You dont want them inside your house on your roof or otherwise. But your roof is particularly vulnerable to squirrels because it contains cables, wires, and other structures that are usually inaccessible and difficult to repair. Squirrels can gnaw on them, causing electrical malfunctions, and worse, house fires.
  • These rodents are health risks. Rodents can spread diseases like leptospirosis, Lyme disease, salmonellosis, and tularemia. While squirrels are timider compared to other rodents, they can still attack, resulting in squirrel bites and their accompanying risks. The only positive thing here is that squirrels are not known to transmit rabies to humans. But hey, you can never be too sure.

How To Get Squirrels Out Of Your Walls Permanently

Squirrels are typically referred to as cute animals. The internet is full of pictures and videos of the little furry rodents doing funny stuff. Despite their appearances, this doesnt change the fact that squirrels are widely known to be pests. When a pair of squirrels choose to inhabit your home, they can grow an entire army of pests that will invade your property for a long time. Keeping squirrels in your walls can cost you because they tend to damage whatever they see and touch. This prompts you to make repairs that are important, especially when the damage is done on utilities like electrical wires and plumbing pipes.

They can destroy your plants and crops as well, from veggies to flowers, and simply turn the whole household upside down. However, this does not mean its impossible to get rid of these troublesome critters. Even without the help of a pest control company, you can manage to get rid of them yourself.

You May Like: How To Put Shingles On A Roof

Why Do Squirrels Love The Roof

Squirrels love the roof because they spend most of their time above ground, mostly on top of trees where they play and munch on twigs and tree bark as a hobby to keep their teeth sharp.

In residential areas, roofs just like trees present a safe place for squirrels to play and stay safe from predatory animals such as foxes, coyotes, and snakes.

There are different types of squirrels ranging from ground squirrels, flying squirrels to chipmunks. And all these squirrels vary in fur color, but the most popular are the gray squirrels and the fox squirrel.

Squirrels belong in the wild, but they are known to live longer and thrive in captivity, and as much as they are cute and fuzzy, squirrels are known to be restless and can chew just about anything, edible or not.

Here is a list of signs that squirrels are on your roof:

  • Banging and rustling in the roof/attic, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoons.
  • A sudden foul smell of potent urine coming from above that was not there before.
  • Claw marks on shingles that have been chewed.
  • Finding nests in the attic that are bigger than that of a rat.
  • Droppings on the roof or attic that belong to a squirrel etc.

Remove Entry Options To The House

Keep Squirrels Off Railing

For squirrels, human homes are very attractive. Its well-insulated, offers protection from the elements and predators, and is likely close to a steady source of food.

So if there is a crack big enough for them to squeeze into, you can be sure theyll try. If youre wondering how to keep squirrels away from your home, the simplest solution is to block them from coming in.

Walk around your home and take note of any possible entry points, like a crack in the foundation, a hole in the screen door, or water-damaged eaves. Fill these in with sealant.

Your best bet to stop squirrels from biting through is copper mesh paired with expandable foam. The strong teeth and powerful jaws of these rodents are no match for the copper mesh.

These thin sheets of metal are pliable and can be easily stuffed into openings of different shapes and sizes. Fill in the tiny gaps in the mesh by applying the foam with a foam applicator gun.

This keeps water and dust from seeping in through the crack. Paint over the foam once fully dry, and youll never know a hole was there.

Keep squirrels away by removing anything they can use to scale up your walls. This includes pruning tree branches and vines that graze the walls and removing firewood leaning at the side of your house.

You May Like: Where Do The Screws Go On A Metal Roof

Read Also: How Do You Put A Tarp On A Roof

How Do Raccoons Get Into Your Home

Raccoons are clever animals. When they are determined to do something, they are typically successful. If an opening is available, raccoons will climb through it. If they cant find an easy entry point, the raccoons create one using their sharp claws and teeth to dig through weakened spots in your homes structure.

# : Using Pepper To Keep Squirrels Off Your Roof

Description of method: This is a very easy and safe option, but it is also the most labor-intensive one because you will have to sprinkle pepper on your roof for several days in order to get rid of all squirrels that are living there.

The reason it is so effective, though, is because pepper has a very pungent smell that will make the squirrels feel sick whenever they are around it.

These are all great ways you can keep squirrels off your roof and if you combine these methods together with each other theres no doubt in our mind youll be able to get rid of all the squirrels for good!

Read Also: How To Waterproof Concrete Roof

What If I Notice Damage

If critters have already taken a toll on your roof, or youre noticing holes or shingles that look askew, call DryHome. Our technicians have the right equipment to get onto your roof and make repairs. Plus, a new roof might attract good looks from the neighbors but it deters critters from making their home in yours.

Problems That Can Occur When Squirrels Invade

How to Keep Squirrels off the Roof

Squirrels are generally 6-8 inches in length and can use every bit of their size to cause damage in your Cashiers home. What is even scarier is that a squirrels front incisor teeth can almost grow that many inches in a year. Of course, they file these teeth down to keep them at a reasonable length, but the chewing needed to keep their teeth filed down can result in some serious damage to your property.

Most commonly this damage starts when they invade higher areas of your home such as in attics and roofing. From here personal items such as insulation, drywall, electrical wires, food containers, storage boxes, and wooden structures come under serious risk. The worst of these being electrical wiring which if chewed can cause sparks that could ignite into a fire. This is a nightmare situation that no homeowner should ever have to face.

Another major problem squirrels can bring into your home comes in the form of ticks and fleas. If you have ever had to deal with these pests, either on your pets or within your home, you know how much of a problem they can be. The danger with squirrels is that they can carry fleas and ticks onto your property and potentially spread them to your pets and living spaces, leaving you with a different kind of infestation to deal with.

Recommended Reading: How Much Does A Solar Shingle Roof Cost

How To Stop Squirrels From Coming Back In Your Soffit And Roof

At this point, you must have the rodents point of entry identified because the next step is all about blocking those entrances.

Remember:

Vents in particular are a major area and deserve special attention. As do chimneys. Even if your soffit has screened over its ventilation, so long as it is not sturdy enough, then the rodents can easily claw through it.

What you need to do now is to repair all of these points of entry and give your soffit ventilation a sturdier screening.

Do that now.

Next up:

Cleanups are absolutely essential if you want to get rid of any droppings and waste that the squirrels might have left behind. Squirrel feces, nesting material, and all sorts that might very well be stinking up your attic already.

Here is a video demonstration of some of what has been discussed here by BioTech on YouTube

Understanding How Squirrels Function Can Shed Light

Now, I know everything that I needed to do to keep the squirrels out. I will get to that in a minute. But, before I got started with evictions, I wanted to understand the law for my area and the most humane actions to take.I also wanted to get an understanding of their behavior. In the past, I had always handled repairs prior to a problem occurring. Having an actual battle of wills with squirrels was a first for me.

So, I began by checking with my states wildlife control center. I also checked with my states law and with the Humane Society. The combination really helped me with deciding on how to deal with my issue.

Recommended Reading: Does My Home Warranty Cover Roof Leaks

Also Check: How Much Is A New Asphalt Shingle Roof

Where Can I Buy These Tools

You can find squirrel trapping tools in pest control shops. Theyre also for sale in local hardware stores.

Perhaps youd also like to look for specific brands. Depending on the price and quality youre after, you can browse through a variety of them online.

Many of these tools retail in online stores like Amazon. Amazon also offers the best squirrel catching tools available in the United States.

How To Stop Squirrels From Getting In The Roof

Saline Squirrel on Roof

Squirrels are tree-dwelling rodents that can be entertaining as they go about their business in the outdoors. But they lose their appeal when they enter houses for warmth and refuge from predators. Their gnawing can do major damage to wiring and wooden structural members, and the stink of their urine and feces is just plain nasty. The best tactic for dealing with squirrels is to prevent them from getting into your house in the first place.

  • 1.

    Inspect your roof and walls for holes where a squirrel may gain entry. Use a ladder and flashlight to inspect the roof along soffits, eaves, ridges and valleys. Inspect along the edges where dormers protrude from the roof and where the walls join the roof. Check that attic vents are complete and dont have any holes. Inspect for entry holes around chimneys, roof vents and other protrusions. Look for loose or rotting boards that may allow entry.

  • 2.

    Enter the attic and check to see if any squirrels are in residence before repairing entry holes. If you find evidence of squirrel presence, such as gnaw marks, urine or feces, and insulation ripped apart, make noise and light the attic brightly to encourage the squirrels to leave. When you are unsure whether or not squirrels are still present, consult a pest control specialist. Commence repairs once you are sure the squirrels are gone.

  • References

    Don’t Miss: How To Install Solar Panels On Corrugated Metal Roofing

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular