Squirrels are abundant in the wild because their numbers far exceed the number of predators, making them a significant risk to your Plano home. Their large population and the decreasing natural habitat in many areas cause them to seek shelter in homes in Texas. They can cause significant damage to your home and are dangerous to you and your loved ones. If you suspect an infestation, contact the Plano pest control professionals today.
The Types Of Squirrels That Hang Around Yards
The fox and gray squirrels are the most common squirrels hanging out in your Plano yard. Otherwise known as tree squirrels, these pests can be one of the most common nuisances for homeowners because they inhabit garages and attics and cause significant damage.
Gray squirrels are more slender and slightly smaller than fox squirrels. As the name suggests, they have grayish fur, and the tips of their tails are white. Fox squirrels have a large body, tail, and reddish belly. The fur on their body is a gray color with reddish-yellow mixed in.
Both squirrel species can gnaw on the interior and exterior of walls, electrical wiring, timbers, and cables. They are also known to short out electric power transformers. They can be discovered because they make a lot of noise in their area. All these squirrels are known to cause damage to yards and homes. In yards, squirrels damage lawns by digging up or burying nuts, chewing on the twigs and bark of shrubbery and trees, and eating the vegetables and fruits from gardens and trees. Squirrels can also cause damage to siding and wooden support beams and chew on electrical wiring, posing a fire risk. Squirrels tend to enter homes through small spaces, and if current openings aren’t large enough, they’ll make themselves fit, causing damage in the process.
The Diseases Squirrels Are Capable Of Spreading
Squirrels are in the rodent family; thus, they can spread some of the same diseases to humans as mice, rats, and other rodents. Squirrels carry many diseases; however, only a few can be transmitted and are dangerous to humans. The most common ones include salmonellosis, tularemia, typhus, and ringworm. These diseases are spread through direct contact with an infected squirrel, such as a bite. Squirrels can also carry several parasites, such as mites, fleas, and ticks, that spread indirectly. Squirrel bites can be very dangerous if rabies is involved.
Effective Squirrel Prevention Tips
There are some valuable strategies you can utilize to make your home less appealing to squirrels and other rodents. These include:
- Remove all access points to your home by cutting back tree branches that they can use to jump onto your roof.
- Regularly harvest vegetables and fruits from your garden to limit their access to food.
- Remove bird feeders from your property and make sure all lids are tight-fitting on compost bins.
- Eliminate all entry points into the home. Repair holes along the roofline, place caps on chimneys, replace loose window screens, and place mesh covers over vents.
Even if you try to do everything to keep squirrels out of your Plano home, they could still find their way inside.
The Best Way To Keep Squirrels And Other Wildlife Away
Squirrels can be tricky pests to deal with. As a homeowner, the best thing you can do to solve your squirrel problem is to partner with a pest control company. Pest control professionals at DANCAN have the proper experience and equipment to deal with squirrels and other pests. At DANCAN, we use only the highest quality tools when excluding or removing wildlife from your property. We hire only the best pest technicians trained to handle all wildlife in any situation, including squirrels.