Think you have a squirrel nest in the attic? You're not alone — this pest species is now found pretty much everywhere, and even more so in urban habitats over more rural ones. Sadly, this urban preference causes a string of problems for the average property owner.
You're going to want to know what to keep your eyes open for:
1 - Points of Entry
Holes in your home are a bad thing because those holes will allow the entry of a serious amount of nuisance wildlife, ranging from small rodents, such as mice, to larger ones and mammals too, including rats, bats, and squirrels. Any holes that you see must be repaired or sealed immediately to avoid potential problems. You should also repair any small patches of damage before they get much bigger — squirrels will chew smaller holes to make them bigger, and so will rodents and larger mammals too.
2 - Chewed Marks
Do you have patches of wood on the fence or siding that appear to have been nibbled on? Squirrels are one of the likely culprits. Wood isn't the only material they'll ‘have a go' at, either; plastic, drywall, and many other materials hit hard. They'll chew to make small holes large enough to squeeze through, and for a variety of other reasons.
Evidence of chewing is a sign that you have a nuisance animal problem, but squirrels are not the only offender.
3 - Squirrel Poop
You may have guessed that we are telling you all about the signs that SQUIRRELS are around and not just the nests, but the reality is that a seemingly lone adult squirrel hanging around will almost always be a female. Females are usually going to have young squirrels in a nest, especially during spring. Some squirrels, such as Eastern Grey squirrels, can have two litters in one year — one at the the beginning of spring, and one at the end of summer-beginning of fall.
Seeing squirrel poop, especially relatively fresh poop, means that squirrels are close by — more than one. Probably a nest of.
4 - Food Debris
Again, you'll likely find this in abundance when you're dealing with squirrels. They steal and then stash food, which makes life complicated for you. You will need to find this stash of food to ensure it doesn't then attract rats or mice. If the food has been stashed in your back garden, you may find that plants or trees start sprouting in weird and wonderful places. This is quite a regular occurrence with squirrels — they stash seeds which are then forgotten about.
The food, although a real pain to find and clean up, can actually point you in the direction of where the squirrel's nest might be hiding. You'll need to follow the breadcrumbs, so to speak.
5 - Plant or Garden Debris
Do branches or twigs keep finding their way outside your back door? Weird piles of leaves? It could be the case that a female squirrel has been building a large and comfortable nest for her babies, and she accidentally dropped or left her building materials there. Squirrel nests tend to be quite disorganized and messy, put together with loosely constructed garden bits n' pieces, so there's a good chance you'll see some ‘stuffing' lying around — vines, leaves, twigs, branches, stuff removed from garbage bags or compost heaps, and even stuff from your attic/own home.
6 - Prints, Smudges & Grease Stains
If an animal uses a hole enough, the grease and other fluids from the fur of that animal will transfer — a dark or greasy stain will be left behind. The same thing can also happen if a large amount of animals go through that hole, or rubs/runs over the same surfaces enough times.
Animals, including squirrels, will also leave tracks; and sometimes these will be paw prints. A quick Google will let you know whether the paw prints that you can see are the same ones that squirrels will typically leave behind. You can create your own proof-traps by using a soft, powdery substance, such as flour. Sprinkle some flour where you believe your squirrel squatters are moving around and, when you return, tiny paw prints will give the game away. If they're not there, the squirrels are likely not visiting that particular area.
7 - The Scent
Depending on your specific problem, there is probably going to be a horrendous smell coming from the nest and surrounding lived-in areas. Wherever you find live animals, you'll also find dead animals. This is definitely the case if you've got mothers with kids in tow. These dead carcasses will decompose and give off a horrendous smell that gets worse over time and with heat, and can sometimes be the very first indication of a wildlife problem.
Dead squirrels aren't the only thing that'll kick off an awful stench — urine and feces, rotting/leftover/stashed food, the natural smell of a wild animal's nest ...
8 - Weird Noises
If you think you can hear scuffling in the middle of the night, coming from somewhere in the house above your head, it's probably not squirrels. Squirrels are not nocturnal — they are awake during the day mostly; although they will nap some of the mid-afternoon away.
You probably won't hear squirrels, because the noises are drowned out by the sounds of busy, everyday life — traffic on the roads, a lawnmower, dogs barking, kids chatting and crying, birds tweeting, etc.
If the house is quiet in the morning — around dusk — there is a chance that you will hear the adult squirrel and her nest of babies. Chattering, squeaking, chewing, rustling, and growling sounds are all common.
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