There is nothing like walking into a warm home after a few hours out in the cold and feeling every cell in your body thank you. We sometimes take it for granted, but it is really amazing all the comforts our homes provide. The only problem is that squirrels also love staying warm through the colder months. To help you keep these bushy-tailed pests off your Waltham property throughout the year, here are some helpful and effective control tips to try.
Things You Should Know About Squirrels
You have seen squirrels around, running up trees, dashing around your yard, and picking up nuts. Despite your many encounters with squirrels, there are most likely many things you still don’t know about these common wild creatures. Here are just a few things you should know.
Just like all other rodents, squirrels have sharp, strong front teeth that continuously grow. They file these teeth down by chewing open nuts and gnawing on hard materials. On occasion, squirrels will chew on vinyl panels, wood, or other structures to get into homes.
Squirrels are incredibly dexterous and can easily run up trees and jump several feet from branch to branch. When looking to get into a home, squirrels will find their way onto roofing and examine roof lines, shingles, and attic windows for damage or structural problems they can use to invade.
Squirrels are intelligent creatures and are adept at avoiding danger and finding clever ways to invade homes. One way squirrels show their intelligence is with how they gather and hide their food. If they suspect someone or something is watching them, a squirrel will fake hide a nut and then relocate it to another location to throw off potential thieves.
The Dangers Of Squirrels
For as cute as squirrels look, they are fairly dangerous creatures. One big problem squirrels cause around properties is spreading diseases. A few common diseases these pests can transmit include tularemia, typhus, ringworm, and rabies.
Squirrels also carry fleas and ticks. These smaller pests also transmit diseases, some of which can be life-changing such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you own a cat or a dog, make sure they have the proper protection against these invasive and dangerous parasites.
Preventing Squirrels Around Properties
Preventing squirrels takes a bit of effort. If you have some spare time on your hands, here are a few tips and tricks to use to keep these pests off your Waltham property:
- Keep your landscaping well maintained.
- Install a fence around your yard and or garden.
- Fill in holes around your property.
- Do not feed them anywhere on or near your property.
- Pick up fruits, berries, and nuts as they fall into your yard.
- Clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings.
- Make sure your bird feeders are squirrel-proof.
- Invest in rodent-proof trash cans.
- Seal up points of entry around your home’s exterior foundation.
- Plant flowers around your home; squirrels hate like daffodils, snowdrops, allium, and hyacinth.
A Better Way To Prevent Squirrels
If you are looking for a simpler and more time, and cost-effective way to keep squirrels away from your property, look to the experts at Assurance Pest Solutions. We offer both comprehensive prevention services to keep squirrels away and effective trapping to remove these pests from properties. With a team of dedicated technicians, two ACE certified entomologists, and a few friendly service representatives operating the phones, you can be sure we have what it takes to handle your pest problems the right way.
Give our team a call today at (781) 630-5653 to learn more about our wildlife control services and find a solution for your squirrel problems. Learn more about our home pest control process.