You can stop the scratching, chewing, and those surprise droppings without risking even more damage to your home. The best way to get squirrels out of your attic? Combine humane exclusion (like one-way doors or traps), seal up every entry point you can find, and always check for young before you do anything drastic.
Start by figuring out if you’re really dealing with squirrels or some other attic pest. Watch for where they come and go. Spotting the right signs and entry spots helps you pick the right tools and avoid unnecessary headaches.
Here’s how you can remove them safely, try some quick deterrents, and block them out for good.
Identifying Squirrels in the Attic
Take a careful look and listen. No single clue proves you’ve got squirrels, but if you hear noises, spot nests, see droppings, and notice chew marks, it’s pretty likely.
Common Signs of Squirrels in the Attic
You’ll usually hear daytime activity: running, scratching, and those short, high-pitched chirps. Squirrels keep busy in the morning and late afternoon. Listen around vents, eaves, and by the chimney.
Check for piles of shredded insulation, leaves, or twigs near rafters or roof seams. Squirrels drag in whatever they can find to build a cozy nest in the warmest, driest corner.
Look for food stashes—acorns or nut shells tucked behind insulation or in corners. Squirrel droppings sometimes pile up near nests or along their travel routes. If it smells strongly of urine, you might have a long-term guest.
Squirrel Nests and Droppings
Squirrel nests, or dreys, look like loose piles of leaves, paper, fabric, and insulation. You’ll usually find them compacted into a bowl shape, hidden in insulation or between rafters.
Sometimes you’ll see nesting material jammed into vents or gaps. Droppings are small, rounded, and tapered at one end—kind of like tiny, pointy rabbit droppings, but smaller than rat droppings.
You’ll spot droppings near nests, along walls, or in dusty attic corners. If you need to clear them, wear gloves and a mask. Don’t stir up dust. If there’s a lot, maybe call a pro for cleanup.
Chewed Electrical Wires and Other Damage
Squirrels chew constantly, either to wear down their teeth or to break through somewhere new. Look for gnawed roof edges, chewed vents, and torn-up shingles.
Fresh chew marks look lighter than the weathered wood around them. Check wiring for bite marks or exposed copper—chewed wires can cause fires.
If you see wire damage, turn off the power in that area and call an electrician before doing any cleaning. Also, check ducts, attic fans, and insulation for holes or shredded bits. Squirrels can loosen vents and yank off flashing to make a bigger entrance.
Distinguishing Squirrels From Other Pests
Squirrel noises happen during the day, unlike rats or mice, which mostly scurry around at night. Birds sound different—lots of chipping and fluttering—while squirrels make heavier thumps and scurries.
Droppings can help you tell them apart: mouse droppings are tiny and pellet-like, rat droppings are longer and blunt, but squirrel droppings are rounded and tapered. Squirrels use larger leaves and twigs for nests, while mice prefer fine shreddings.
Check for bigger footprints and tail drag marks in dusty spots. Not sure what you’re looking at? Snap a photo of droppings, nests, or chew marks and send it to a wildlife control expert.
How to Get Squirrels Out of Your Attic
You’ll need a mix of making the attic unwelcoming, trapping or excluding the squirrels, and sometimes calling in the pros. Stick to safe and legal steps so you don’t endanger babies or cause more damage.
Creating an Unwelcome Environment
Make the attic so unpleasant that squirrels decide to leave. Set up a radio or speaker and let it play for several days—that noise really bothers them.
Add a bright work light to make the space feel exposed and uncomfortable. Use strong but safe smells: soak rags in apple cider vinegar or put sealed containers of ammonia in the corners. Keep these away from pets and kids.
Skip mothballs if you’ve got children or pets—they’re toxic. Try non-toxic repellents instead. Remove any food sources you find. Store fabrics, boxes, or bird seed in tightly sealed plastic bins.
Trim tree limbs so they’re at least 6–8 feet from the roof. Squirrels love easy access. Check your chimney cap and vents—cover them temporarily while you work.
Squirrel Traps and Live-Capture Methods
Live traps let you catch squirrels without hurting them. Pick a cage trap made for tree squirrels and bait it with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or apple slices.
Set traps near the main entry point or wherever you see signs of activity. Check them every few hours. Most states have rules about how far you can relocate trapped animals, so check before you drive them out.
Release squirrels at least three miles away—if your local laws allow. If you find a female with babies, don’t remove her. If you separate mom and babies, the little ones won’t survive.
In that case, call a wildlife rehabber or a professional removal company. They know how to handle families safely and legally.
Using Squirrel Repellents and Bait
Commercial squirrel repellents can make your attic less appealing. Look for products labeled for squirrels and follow the directions. Many repellents use predator urine or hot pepper oils to make things smell or taste awful.
You can try natural options too, like cayenne pepper, garlic spray, or peppermint oil around entry points and rafters. Reapply after rain or if the scent fades. Don’t spray repellent directly on insulation or wires.
Only use bait in traps or tamper-proof bait stations. Don’t leave food lying around. If repellents alone don’t work, combine them with noise or trapping for better results.
Exclusion Devices and One-Way Doors
Exclusion devices let squirrels leave but block them from coming back. Install a one-way door over the main entry hole and leave it for several days to a week. Watch to make sure they all get out.
Seal up every other hole first so you don’t trap anyone inside. Once they’re gone, swap the one-way door for permanent repairs—use heavy-gauge hardware cloth, metal flashing, or sheet metal.
Secure everything with screws or metal fasteners so squirrels can’t chew through. Patch vents and soffits with 1/4-inch welded wire mesh.
Timing matters. Don’t block them out during breeding season if babies can’t climb out. If you’re unsure, it’s honestly best to call a pro. They’ll know the safest timing and methods.
Professional Squirrel Removal Options
When the job looks too big, risky, or involves electrical damage, it’s best to call a licensed wildlife removal or pest control company.
Companies like Orkin, along with local pest control services, handle squirrel removal and can fix up your attic or swap out insulation.
Always ask for proof of licensing and insurance. Make sure they use humane removal methods.
Get everything in writing. The estimate should spell out each step—removal, sealing entry points, and repairs.
Ask if they guarantee their work, especially when it comes to sealing up the house.
A good pro will check for diseases, droppings, and chewed wires. They’ll also clean and repair the attic safely.
If you want to keep things simple, pick a company that tackles both wildlife removal and the repairs.
Check reviews and compare at least three quotes. It’s worth the extra effort to find the right mix of price and quality.
