Are there squirrels in your loft? To determine this, here’s a list of signs that you should watch out for.
How do you know if there are squirrels in your loft?
1. Strange noises
Squirrels can be quite loud. They make a variety of noises that are similar to rats and mice. These include things like screeching, squeaking and grunting. Baby squirrels also make chirping type sounds. Squirrels will also create scampering and scratching noises as the scurry around up there. You’ll mostly hear these noises at night when squirrels are most active, so watch out for this.
2. Droppings
If there are pest squirrels in the loft, you’ll quickly notice droppings everywhere. These are fairly similar to rat droppings. They are dark brown and torpedo shaped, but are usually larger than rat droppings (usually about the size of a small bean). These droppings will often accumulate in piles around your loft.
3. Urine
Squirrels also urinate everywhere. What happens is that this dries, but leaves behind a pungent odour. Squirrel urine has a musty smell which also smells like ammonia. If you begin to detect this kind of aroma, there could be squirrels in your loft.
4. Nests
These are the most obvious sign. If you see nests in your loft, then you probably have either mice, rats or squirrels. Squirrel nests look similar to bird’s nests, just larger. They have a circular shape and are usually made of twigs, leaves, grass and bark. The presence of squirrel nests could mean that the rodents are breeding.
5. Gnaw marks
Because squirrels are rodents, one of the weird facts about them is that they constantly need to gnaw. These pests mostly gnaw on wood. They also gnaw on anything softer than their teeth. This can include plastic piping, wires, and even brick. Closely examine your loft at regular intervals. If you see bite marks anywhere, then you could have rodents living up there, including squirrels.
6. Decomposition smells
Squirrels can sometimes get stuck in your roof. They may also get trapped behind walls. These squirrels then die and begin to decompose. If there is an odor emanating from your loft that smells like something has died, then it could mean that a rodent is rotting somewhere. This could also mean that there are other rats or squirrels still living in the loft.
7. Overhanging branches
This isn’t exactly a sign of squirrels in the loft, but branches that overhang your roof could mean that squirrels can more easily gain access to the shelter your loft provides. These pests use overhanging branches to drop down onto the roof. They can then enter your loft and cause chaos.
If you have any or all of the above signs, then you’re more than like dealing with these pests. Calling a reputable London squirrel control company like Diamond is advised. We have the resources at our disposal to eliminate these and other types of rodent in a safe and effective way.