Should I Worry About Squirrels in My Attic?
Yes, squirrels in your attic are worth worrying about, and the main reason is what they do to the house. Squirrels gnaw on electrical wiring, which creates a fire risk, crush attic insulation and chew on structural beams. The longer they stay, the more there is to repair, and squirrels raise young more than once a year, so one squirrel can turn into several.
Chewed Wiring Is the Biggest Concern
Squirrels are rodents, and their front teeth never stop growing, so they gnaw constantly. In an attic, that means wiring. A chewed wire that’s been stripped down to the copper is a fire risk sitting above your living space, and you usually can’t see it unless someone gets up there and looks.
Damage to Attic Insulation, Beams and the Roofline
Squirrels crush and tunnel through attic insulation as they move around and build nests. They also chew on structural beams. Outside, they gnaw through soffits, roofing material and push their way through vents to get in, which leaves openings along the roofline. Each of those becomes something that has to be fixed after the squirrels are gone.
More Squirrels Over Time
Squirrels in Texas don’t stick to one litter a year. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s guide to Texas squirrels shows two breeding peaks each year for both gray and fox squirrels. A warm, dry attic is a good place to raise young, and that’s how a single squirrel you hear on the roof becomes a family living over your ceiling.
The Mistake That Makes It Worse
The most common mistake homeowners make is spotting the hole and calling a roofer or handyman to seal it. If a squirrel is still inside, it’s now trapped. That squirrel will chew a new way out, often right through the ceiling and into a room of the house, and it becomes much harder to catch. Removal always has to come before sealing.
How We Handle It
The Critter Team provides squirrel removal services that cover inspection, humane trapping, cleanup, repair and exclusion. We replace damaged attic insulation, repair damaged soffits, fascia boards and roof openings, and secure vents with hardware cloth and custom metal fabrication. Every exclusion job is backed by a written warranty.
So Should You Worry About Squirrels in Your Attic?
Yes. Squirrels in the attic chew wiring, crush attic insulation, gnaw on beams and open up the roofline, and the problem grows with every litter. It isn’t something to wait out. The squirrels need to be removed first, and then the house needs to be sealed so they can’t get back in.