Squirrels are a common pest in many yards and gardens, and they can also cause damage to your roof if they’re not kept away. It’s certainly tough to keep these “tree-rats” from chewing on your siding, but there are quite a few steps you can take to protect your roof. From blocking off access points to using repellents and other animal-proofing techniques, you can keep your roof safe from squirrels and their destructive habits. This article will hopefully give you some ideas on easy and cruelty-free methods to keep the squirrels in the trees, where they belong, instead of on your roof. Feel free to share additional methods in the comments.
Identifying areas of access to your roof
One of the first steps in protecting your roof from squirrels is to identify areas of access where these rodents may use to get into your home. Look for cracks in your roof as well as broken or torn shingles, which will make it easier for squirrels to climb up and start nesting in your roof. Also, look for areas where squirrels may be entering your attic, such as loose or damaged vents. If you have a tall tree near your home, squirrels may be nesting in its branches and using them to access your roof. Finally, be on the lookout for broken screens on your vents and windows, which are easy squirrel entry points on a warmer day.
Blocking off access points
If you find that squirrels are gaining access to your home through one of the areas described above, you’ll want to block off the opening to keep them out. Squirrels and other rodents can cause extensive damage to your home. To do this, you can install a metal mesh screen, which is easily found at any hardware store and is designed to keep out rodents. You can also use traps to keep squirrels out of your home. Traps are one of the most effective ways to deal with squirrels and are easy to use. Simply place the trap near the access point and bait it with peanut butter or another food that squirrels love. Once the squirrel gets trapped in the trap, you can safely relocate it, keeping it out of your home.
Using repellents
If you’ve tried blocking off access points and setting up traps without success, you can try using repellents to keep squirrels away. You can purchase various sprays and pellets designed to keep squirrels away from your home. When choosing a repellent, make sure it’s safe to use around pets, children, and plants. Avoid repellents that are toxic, as they can be harmful to humans and pets if they’re accidentally sprayed or ingested. If you have young children or pets, look for a repellent that’s safe to use around them.
Setting up an electric fence
If you continue to have problems with squirrels after trying repellents and blocking off their entry points, you can try setting up an electric fence. Electric fences are useful for keeping a variety of animals out of your yard, including squirrels. An electric fence is a physical barrier that uses a low-voltage electrical current to keep animals out of your yard. An electric fence is easy and inexpensive to install. All you need is a conductive wire, which you attach along the perimeter of your yard. You can bury the wire in the ground or use a guide wire above ground to keep it up, and you can use any type of wire for an electric fence, including rope or even fishing line. To power the fence, you’ll need a low-voltage transformer and a power source, such as a battery or an outlet.
Installing deterrents
If you’ve tried setting up an electric fence but are worried about the safety of the electrical current, you can try installing one of the many types of animal deterrents available. Squirrels are generally afraid of strange noises and vibrations, so deterrents like air horns, water sprinklers, and even loud music can scare them off. You can also try hanging plastic squirrel frighteners, which are designed to scare squirrels away with flashing lights and loud noises. If you have trouble keeping squirrels off your roof, you can also place fake owls on top of your home. These scarecrows should keep squirrels from nesting on your roof as they’re generally afraid of owls.
Trimming trees
You can discourage squirrels from nesting in your trees by regularly trimming them. Squirrels prefer to nest in tall trees that provide shade, shelter, and protection from predators. If you regularly trim your trees, you can make them too short for squirrels to nest in them, discouraging them from setting up shop in your yard. You can also try planting less appealing trees near your home, such as fir trees, to keep squirrels away. Squirrels generally prefer to nest in deciduous trees, while evergreen trees are less attractive to them. If you have deciduous trees near your home, you can also try spraying them with a citrus oil spray, which can be found at many hardware stores.
Consulting a professional
If you’ve tried everything you can think of and your roof is still being damaged by squirrels, you may want to consider hiring a professional to remove the pests. Professional roofers can help you set up a trap using an electric grid designed to safely shock and scare squirrels off your roof. If you want to keep squirrels away from your home but don’t want to harm them, a professional can help you set up a variety of non-lethal squirrel control methods. To keep squirrels away from your home, professionals can help you set up repellents, install deterrents like aerators, and trim trees.
Wind can also cause a lot of damage quickly. If you’re looking for more information on wind damage, check out our post from last November about it.
Regularly checking for signs of damage
After you’ve taken steps to keep squirrels off your roof, it’s important to regularly check for signs of damage. Squirrels often chew on shingles and can also damage flashing. If you spot any damage, you can quickly patch it up with caulking or roofing tar. If you see squirrels on your roof, it’s best to scare them off using loud noises or a scarecrow. However, if you see a mother squirrel on top of your home, don’t try to scare her off: She’s protecting her young. Instead, you can try placing a nest box near your home so the mother squirrel has a safe place to nest without harming your roof.
Taking preventive measures
The best way to protect your roof from squirrels is to avoid attracting them to your yard in the first place. You can avoid attracting squirrels to your home by keeping your yard clean. To do this, regularly remove any food scraps and fallen fruits or nuts from your yard, and keep your yard free of wood piles, which can serve as prime nesting and hiding spots for squirrels. Avoid feeding pets outside in squirrel-prone areas, as the food they leave behind can attract squirrels and other rodents. If squirrels are already frequenting your yard, you may want to invest in a squirrel trap to safely remove them. You also want to make sure your roof is properly maintained. Regularly check for damage, including loose shingles, missing flashings, and broken vents, and repair any issues as soon as possible to avoid having squirrels make a home on your roof. You can also install metal mesh screens over your vents to keep squirrels from nesting inside your home.