Squirrels might seem harmless because they run when you get close. Once one sets up in your home, though, you’d be surprised how much damage it can do.
How to identify squirrels
Illinois has three species of tree squirrel: the fox squirrel, the eastern gray squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. All three are small, with long bushy tails, prominent ears and long hind feet. Ground squirrels are covered on our chipmunk page.
Their four front teeth never stop growing, so they gnaw constantly to keep them worn down. That’s the problem: nuts, wood, soffits, wires.
How to know you have a squirrel in the attic
Listen to when the noise happens. Squirrels are most active from dawn to about 10am and again around sunset, and they keep the same schedule every day, like clockwork.
Watch your house for the last hour before sunset and you’ll often see them heading for the nest, and even going into the hole. That tells us exactly what needs to be repaired.
How they get in
Squirrels usually chew a fist-size hole in the roof, fascia or soffit. Low-hanging branches give them an easy jump onto the roof, and from there they chew a new hole or find a vent that isn’t well screened. Attic fans and roof vents are the number one way squirrels and raccoons get into homes.
Habits and lifestyle
All three tree squirrels are common in woodlands, parks and neighborhoods, and they can breed twice a year, in early spring and late summer. Most live 2 to 4 years. They eat nuts, plants, berries and flowers, plus insects, eggs and baby birds, and many city squirrels have become talented garbage raiders.
Please don’t trap them yourself
You need a license from the State of Illinois to handle or relocate squirrels. The safest way to solve the problem properly is a licensed wildlife control professional.
How we handle squirrels
We’re licensed, highly trained nuisance wildlife professionals. We remove squirrels humanely, then find and seal the way in so the next one can’t follow. See animal trapping and animal proofing for how that works.