When a squirrel suddenly shows up inside your home, it can be pretty startling. But honestly, you can handle it without panicking.
If a squirrel gets in, act fast to keep everyone safe, then remove the animal gently and block its entry point. Here’s what you should watch out for, how to get the squirrel out without hurting it, and a few tricks to keep others from sneaking in later.
First, take a breath and move slowly so you don’t freak the squirrel out. Below, I’ll walk you through what can happen when a squirrel gets inside, the risks you might face, and some easy steps for getting rid of it and keeping more from coming.
What Happens When a Squirrel Enters Your Home
Having a squirrel in your house can be nerve-wracking. It might make a racket and ruin your stuff.
You’ll need to act quickly and figure out why it came in. Try to spot where it got through.
Immediate Reactions and Safety Steps
Stay calm—seriously, it helps. Close off doors so the squirrel’s stuck in one room, and keep kids and pets away.
Don’t chase it or corner it. If you do, it might dart into a wall or ceiling and get stuck.
Open a window or an outside door to give it a clear escape. Turn off the lights so the squirrel can see the way out.
If it hides in a wall or ceiling, don’t poke at holes or try to block them. If you spot the squirrel in the open, you can gently guide it with a broom toward the exit—but don’t swing or smack at it.
If you get scratched or bitten, rinse the wound with soap and water right away and talk to your doctor. Squirrel bites can carry bacteria.
When a squirrel won’t budge or you can’t reach it, call a wildlife removal pro. That way, you avoid injury and any legal trouble.
Reasons Squirrels Come Inside
Squirrels sneak into homes for food, warmth, or a cozy spot to nest. In colder months, both tree and ground squirrels look for safe places like attics with insulation and boxes.
They might follow the scent of birdseed, pet food, or even pantry snacks. Sometimes, a mother squirrel brings her babies inside wall spaces.
Young or lost squirrels can also wander in by accident, especially if they’re running from predators.
Squirrels love to chew. They gnaw on wood, wires, and boxes to make holes bigger or to grab stuff for nesting.
If you notice squirrels coming back again and again, check your food storage and attic for nests or shredded materials.
Common Entry Points and Signs of Entry
Check your roof, soffits, and eaves for small gaps—anything over 1.5 inches is fair game for a squirrel. They squeeze in around vents, loose flashing, chimney caps, and attic vents.
Branches hanging near your house give squirrels an easy jump onto your roof.
Listen for scratching or scurrying at dawn or dusk. Look for fresh chew marks on wood or siding, and check attics for shredded insulation or piles of nesting stuff.
Squirrel droppings look like tiny dark pellets. Always wear gloves if you need to clean them up.
Take a look at attic vents, ridge caps, and loose shingles too. Trim back any branches that touch your roof.
If you spot tracks, chew marks, or nesting material, patch up holes with metal flashing or tough wire mesh. You might want to use a one-way door so squirrels can leave but not get back in.
Prevention and Removal of Squirrels from Your Home
Move quickly to block squirrel access, safely get rid of any inside, and fix damage as soon as you can. Focus on closing up holes, removing squirrels gently, and call professionals if you find damage or a nest in the attic.
Securing and Sealing Entry Points
Find every gap bigger than half an inch around your roof, soffits, vents, and foundation. Cover holes with heavy hardware cloth, steel mesh, or metal flashing—don’t bother with foam or thin wood, squirrels chew right through those.
Fix or add chimney caps and screen your vents so animals can’t sneak in through chimneys or ducts.
Trim tree branches back six to eight feet from your roof. Squirrels can’t jump that far.
Cover attic vents and use one-way doors on any obvious entry points so squirrels can get out but not come back. Check your seals after storms and at least twice a year.
Best Practices for Squirrel Removal
If a squirrel gets inside, open doors and a ground-level exit, then wait. Make the area quiet and dark so it heads for the exit.
For squirrels in the attic or walls, don’t seal up holes until you’re sure no animals are left inside. If you use live traps, only do it where it’s legal and follow local rules.
Bait traps with peanut butter or nuts, and check them often so the squirrel doesn’t get too stressed.
If you hear more than one squirrel or think there are babies, don’t try to handle it alone. Disturbing a nest can scatter the young and make things worse.
Try humane deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers outside, and squirrel-proof your bird feeders to cut down on easy meals.
Assessing and Repairing Squirrel Damage
Check your attic, crawl space, and garage for chewed wires, torn insulation, or droppings. Chewed electrical wires can cause fires—if you find any, call an electrician before messing with insulation.
Remove any soiled insulation and clean up droppings to cut down on health risks.
Patch exterior holes with metal flashing or hardware cloth. Replace damaged fascia or soffits with rot-resistant wood.
To protect your garden, lay chicken wire over bulbs or bury mesh barriers. Take photos of damage for insurance or if you need to hire a contractor. Keeping before-and-after shots can really help.
When to Contact Professional Wildlife Removal
If you spot squirrels nesting in your attic or notice chewed electrical wires, it’s probably time to call a professional. DIY fixes might seem tempting, but if those squirrels keep coming back, you’ll want an expert.
Licensed wildlife removal pros handle trapping and safe exclusion. They’ll walk you through any permits or local laws you need to know about.
These folks can install chimney caps and add exclusion fittings that actually last. If you’ve got a big infestation, hear weird noises at night, or see obvious damage, don’t wait—get help.
Sometimes, they’ll even coordinate with electricians or roofers to fix dangerous issues. Always ask for proof of licensing, insurance, and check if they use humane methods before you hire anyone.
