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Squirrel (Xerus princeps)
Getting rid of squirrels will help to preserve your home and property, as they can be extremely destructive. Like
most rodents, squirrels have a tendency to chew on both inedible and edible objects to file and sharpen their
continuously-growing teeth. Unfortunately, this means they are often quite hard on their surroundings when they
get into a human dwelling.
In the Greater Toronto Area, the most common type of squirrel is the Eastern Grey Squirrel, which is black or brown in colour, with a long tail. Squirrels, especially young ones, are naturally friendly and curious, so being approached by one is not a sign of odd behaviour. However, they are still wild animals, and can bite when threatened, so handling them is inadvisable.
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Squirrels usually breed twice a year, in late winter or early spring, and again in late summer or early fall. They have a gestation period of five weeks, and give birth to litters of between two and five kits. A mother squirrel can have several nests at once, allowing her to more efficiently distribute food to her young. Squirrels are extremely protective of their young, and have been known to attack people and animals who threaten their nests.
Squirrels play an important role in tree propagation. They lose a significant number of the nuts they bury, allowing the spread of new trees to areas that would not be seeded by windfall. Squirrels also serve as prey to a number of predators, including hawks, foxes, weasels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, owls, and domestic cats and dogs.
Squirrels will often raid bird feeders, and are agile enough to bypass most forms of "squirrel guard" on the market. If you have
a bird feeder that is being raided by squirrels, your best bet is to get rid of it. Once the free source of food is gone, they will
likely move on.
Squirrels will often nest in attics and chimneys, and can cause a great deal of damage, chewing threw gables, vents, soffit, and
fascia corners. Every now and then, they will chew their way into the main body of a house in which they have nested. Sometimes,
a squirrel in search of a nesting site will get trapped in a chimney. If you hear scrabbling noises above the damper, there is a
good chance this has happened. If the animal is not removed, it will usually die.
Do you hear running in your attic?
If you have a problem with squirrels nesting in your attic or chimney, call The Animal Movers at (416)-410-6323 or 1-800-322-0019. We
will humanely remove both the adult and the young squirrels, repair any structural damage they've caused, and install measures to prevent
them from returning. If you have a squirrel that has become stuck in your chimney, or is running around the main area of your home,
contact us immediately and we will arrive as soon as possible to perform a safe and humane emergency removal.
See information and samples of Squirrel Tracks here.
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