Squirrel Control Service

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We Don't Just Remove Squirrels. We Make Sure They Don't Come Back.

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How Do You Know It Is a Squirrel (Identification)

Colour

Red-brown to grey, with a pale belly.

Size

Body 15-25 cm long. Bushy tail adds another 10-20 cm.

Description

Small, rounded ears; big, dark eyes; and a thick, fluffy tail. Red squirrels are active by day. Flying squirrels come out at night.

Notes

Often mistaken for gophers. Gophers live in burrows and have short tails. Not sure what you have? Send us a photo.

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Signs You Have a Squirrel Problem

One squirrel in a tree is normal. Squirrels running along your roofline or going in and out of the same spot is not normal. Look for:

Scratching, scurrying or thumping in the attic or walls, often in the morning and late afternoon.
Chewed holes in soffits, fascia, roof vents or siding.
Squirrels carrying leaves, twigs or insulation into a gap.
Dark, pellet-shaped droppings in the attic or on the roof.
Piles of spruce cone scales on decks, roofs or stumps.
Chewed wires, or lights that flicker for no reason.
Chattering or squeaking, especially in spring when babies are in the nest.
Brown stains on ceilings from urine soaking through insulation.

Where Do Squirrels Live and Hide?

You usually hear squirrels before you see them. Most of the damage happens out of sight, in the attic or wall voids.

Outside:

Tree cavities and leaf nests high in spruce and poplar trees.
Under decks, in woodpiles and in sheds.
On roof edges and in eaves.

Inside:

Attics and roof spaces.
Soffits, wall voids and behind siding.
Chimneys and unscreened vents.
Garages and crawl spaces.

How Fast Does a Squirrel Problem Grow?

A single squirrel looking for a warm spot in January can turn into a nest with babies by April. The earlier we deal with it, the less repair you’ll need. Here’s how the year usually goes:

Late winter: Squirrels mate. Females look for a warm, dry, quiet spot to have their young, and a cozy attic is perfect.
Spring: Litters of about three to five babies are born. The mother stays close and defends the nest.
Summer: The young leave the nest after about two months. Some females have a second litter.
Fall: Squirrels stash cones and seeds and look for shelter for winter. They don’t hibernate, so Alberta’s cold pushes them into attics and walls.

Why Do I Have Squirrels?

Squirrels move in for warmth, safety and food. Here’s what we see most often in Alberta homes:

Gaps and damaged areas such as rotted fascia, loose soffits, torn vent screens and uncapped chimneys.
Tree branches that touch or hang over the roof, giving squirrels an easy path.
Mature, tree-lined neighbourhoods and homes near river valleys and parks.
Bird feeders and spilled seed that bring squirrels right to your house.
Woodpiles, sheds and decks that give them cover close to the building.
Cold Alberta winters. A warm attic beats a tree cavity at -30°C.

How Worried Should I Be About Squirrels?

A squirrel outside is cute. A squirrel in your attic is a problem you shouldn’t ignore.

Fire risk: Squirrels chew constantly to wear down their teeth. Chewed wiring is one of the biggest dangers, and it can lead to a house fire.

Property damage: They tear up insulation, chew wood and ducting, and stain ceilings with urine. Nesting material can block vents and chimneys.

Health: Droppings and urine soak into insulation. Squirrels can also carry fleas, ticks and mites that find their way into your living space. A cornered squirrel will bite and scratch.

How fast it escalates: The damage grows every week they stay. If you hear babies in spring, don’t wait.

How to Prevent Squirrels

Here’s a checklist you can do yourself:

Trim branches back at least two metres (about six feet) from your roof.
Check your roofline, soffits and vents every fall and again in late winter, before nesting season.
Repair damaged fascia, soffits and siding.
Cover vents and chimneys with heavy-gauge steel mesh or proper caps.
Move bird feeders well away from the house and use squirrel-proof models.
Store birdseed and pet food in metal containers.
Keep woodpiles and bins away from walls.
Don’t feed squirrels.

Can You Get Rid of Squirrels Yourself?

We don’t recommend it. Trimming trees and fixing your feeders are great DIY jobs. Removing squirrels from a house usually isn’t. If you seal the hole while a squirrel is inside, it will chew a new way out or die in the wall. If there are babies, you can trap them without their mother.

Call a professional if:

You hear noises in the attic or walls.
It’s spring, and there could be babies.
You see chewed wires or damaged soffits.
The roof is too high or too steep to inspect safely.
You’ve sealed a hole, and the squirrels are back.
You’re not sure whether it’s squirrels, mice or flying squirrels.

How Much Does Squirrel Control Cost?

Generally, the final price for our squirrel control depends on how many entry points there are, how high and hard the roof is to reach, whether there are babies in the nest, how much damage needs repairing and whether you need follow-up visits.

Major Pest Control provides squirrel control in Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer.

The quickest way to get a real number is a free quote. Get a Free Quote

Our Squirrel Control Process

Inspect and identify. We check your roofline, attic, vents and chimney, identify the species and find every entry point, not just the obvious one.
Remove humanely. We use one-way exclusion doors so squirrels can leave but can’t get back in. If there are babies, we handle them carefully so they stay with their mother.
Seal and repair. Once the squirrels are out, we seal every gap with steel mesh and flashing and repair damaged soffits and fascia.
Monitor and follow up. We confirm that activity has stopped before the final seal, and we re-check if needed.
Report and guarantee. You’ll know what we found, what we did and what to do next. If squirrels get back in through our work, we’ll return and fix it at no extra cost.

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FAQs About Major Pest Control Services

How do I know if I have a squirrel in my attic?

Listen for scratching, scurrying or thumping, usually in the morning and late afternoon for red squirrels. Other clues are chewed soffits or vents, nesting material at the roofline and piles of cone scales nearby. Night noises may point to flying squirrels or mice, so an inspection is the surest way to know.

Can I seal the hole myself?

Please don’t until you know the attic is empty. Sealing a squirrel inside means it will chew a new way out or die in the wall. In spring, you could also trap babies without their mother. We use one-way exclusion doors so squirrels leave on their own, then seal everything properly.

Will squirrels come back after removal?

Not if you seal every entry point. Squirrels return to the same spot because it’s warm, dry and safe. We find the main hole and the weak spots they haven’t used yet, then seal them with steel mesh and flashing. If they get back in through our work, we’ll return at no extra cost.

When are squirrels most active in Alberta homes?

Spring and fall. Red squirrels typically have their young from March to May and look for warm, quiet spaces like attics. In fall, they stash food and look for shelter for winter. Squirrels don’t hibernate, so they can also move in during a cold Alberta winter.

Are squirrels and gophers the same thing?

No. Gophers are Richardson’s ground squirrels that live in burrows in lawns and fields. The squirrels that get into homes are tree squirrels, mainly red squirrels and sometimes flying squirrels. They need different treatment, and we handle both. Not sure which you have? Send us a photo here Gopher Control.