Category: squirrels

Squirrels can be cute and delightful critters to watch when taking a stroll around your local park. Although, they can quickly become a nightmare if they choose to infest your Pittsburgh-area property. When dealing with such a rodent infestation, you will, undoubtedly, be searching for fast and inexpensive remedies to your squirrel problem.

A commonly promoted, natural squirrel removal method recommends using ammonia to get rid of squirrels. However, there are a few things you should know about the substance before using it to remove squirrels.

Understanding Ammonia

Ammonia is a colorless gas that is dissolved in water to form ammonium hydroxide, a solution regularly used in household cleaners. The solution is most commonly known for its strong, pungent odor.

Is Ammonia Effective Against Squirrels?

Because squirrels have a sensitive sense of smell, they are repelled by the overwhelming stench of ammonia. By placing ammonia-soaked rags or cotton balls near areas of increased squirrel activity, the solution can be used to chase squirrels away from residential homes and commercial businesses.

While ammonia is a cheap and easy-to-access cleaning product, it is only a mildly effective squirrel deterrent. It is not a guaranteed way to eliminate a squirrel infestation or even fully deter all squirrels from your property.

The Problem with Using Ammonia to Get Rid of Squirrels

While the smell will not be fatal to squirrels, ammonia can be poisonous to any animal, wild or domestic, if ingested in small amounts. Ammonia also serves as an irritant for humans, causing a burning irritation to the eyes and suffocating the lungs if consistently inhaled. If used in a room that is not properly ventilated, ammonia can even cause death. Therefore, ammonia must be used sparingly to avoid toxic or deadly symptoms.

Instead of putting your health or the safety of your family at risk, rely on the professional services of a licensed and trained wildlife removal expert to help get rid of squirrels on your Greater Pittsburgh-area property.

Fast and Effective Squirrel Removal Services

The experienced squirrel removal technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh use safe and non-toxic methods to quickly and safely remove nuisance squirrels and other invasive wildlife from your Pennsylvania property and keep them from returning.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our humane and efficient squirrel removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.

If you’re hearing scratching and rustling sounds coming from your walls at night, chances are a squirrel has gotten inside and decided to make itself a nest in the walls of your home. Squirrels are common invasive rodents that can cause significant structural and electrical damages to your residential home’s interior if they are not quickly removed. Furthermore, your squirrel removal cost can also increase the longer they’re left in your home.

Here are a few squirrel in wall removal methods that you can try to remove nuisance squirrels from your walls.

Why Squirrels Nest in Walls

Squirrels like nesting in wall cavities because they provide a warm, dark, and narrow space that is similar to the tree holes where squirrels normally build their nests. Since they won’t be disturbed, it’s the perfect place to raise their young.

Effective Squirrel in Wall Removal Tactics

• Squirrel Exclusion – Scan the exterior of your home for common squirrel entry points, such as damaged vents and cracks in your foundation. If there are multiple exposures, seal off all of them but one to force the critters out. When the squirrels go outside to forage for food, seal the remaining hole in your wall to keep them from returning.
  
  While this method can help to exclude squirrels from your walls, there is a chance that the invasive squirrels gave birth inside your walls. Squirrel maternity season is typically in February or March and again in June or July. So, it’s important to check for babies in the walls before sealing entry points so you don’t leave them behind.

• Squirrel Trapping – You can also try placing live traps outside their entryways to capture the squirrels and safely release them away from your home; however, attempting to trap a wild animal can be very dangerous if you lack the training and equipment needed to protect you and the animal from harm.

The Problem with DIY Squirrel Removal

Evicting squirrels from your home is more complicated than you think. Some of the issues include:

• Accessibility – It’s hard to reach squirrels once they’ve made it inside your walls. If you can’t get inside the wall cavity, you may have to cut holes in your walls to help you find them.
• Diseases and parasites – While they’re normally docile critters, squirrels can bite or scratch when they sense danger and transmit infectious diseases and parasites to you in the process. In addition to fleas and ticks, squirrels are also known carriers of rabies.

Professional Squirrel Removal Cost Cutters

If you are in need of affordable squirrel in wall removal services, call the experienced squirrel removal specialists at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh. Our expert team of wildlife removal professionals use an effective four-step method to remove squirrels safely and humanely from your property and keep them out for good. Our process includes inspection, removal, exclusion, and restoration methods that will return your home to its pre-squirrel infestation condition.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free squirrel removal estimate, call us today at 412-767-4067.

When you spot a wild squirrel inside of your home, it is important to call a professional to remove it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many homeowners hesitate to contact a squirrel removal specialist because they worry that a professional wildlife extermination service may not fit into their budget. However, the cost of exterminator for squirrels services will differ for each case.

Average Squirrel Removal Cost

Looking at the numbers, the average American will pay about $350 for a squirrel removal service. However, there is a wide range of potential prices that you may come across. On the cheaper end, your squirrel removal service may cost as low as $200. However, on the higher end, squirrel removal could cost up to $1500.

The Variable Cost of Exterminator for Squirrels

So, what determines whether you’ll be spending a few hundred dollars versus over a thousand? Here are some factors that could affect your specific squirrel removal cost.

• Where you live
• The size of your squirrel infestation
• The severity of your squirrel issue
• How easy the infested area is to access
• The amount of damage caused by the squirrels

The Risks of DIY Squirrel Removal

While attempting DIY removal methods might be a less expensive option up front, they will not be as effective as the methods used by a squirrel removal specialist. DIY squirrel removal requires the purchasing of various safety equipment, traps, and squirrel deterrents to get the job done. Furthermore, dealing with unpredictable wild animals like squirrels can be detrimental to your health as they can bite, scratch, and spread disease if provoked.

Therefore, the best thing to do when you have a growing squirrel issue is to rely on the effective and affordable and humane squirrel removal services provided by experienced professionals. If you live in Pittsburgh, rely on your licensed, trained, and local wildlife control experts at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh.

Squirrel Removal Experts in Pittsburgh

At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, our experienced wildlife removal technicians are equipped to quickly and safely remove nuisance pests from your property. Our team will also repair any damage squirrels caused to your property and implement preventative measures to ensure the pests cannot return.

For more information on our squirrel removal costs or to schedule an inspection of your property and receive a free squirrel removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.

While squirrels are often a friendly neighborhood animal, they can sometimes get into your home in search of food and water, create a nest, and cause an infestation to occur. When this happens, a variety of problems can ensue ranging from unsettling sounds to significant property damages. While invasive squirrels can be a nuisance, there is always a humane way to evict them from your home.

Here are a few signs of squirrels that you can look out for and some humane squirrel removal strategies that you can enlist to remove squirrels safely and effectively.

Signs of a Squirrel Infestation

If you notice scratch marks, bite marks, or droppings along floorboards or in and around your attic, then you may have squirrels in your home. Another sign that points to the presence of invasive squirrels is scurrying, scratching, and squeaking noises coming from your ceiling. Lastly, foul smells around your home are also a sign of potential squirrel infestation.

Damages of a Squirrel Infestation

In addition to the disturbing sounds that the rodents can make, squirrels will also instinctively chew through and damage wires, drywall, molding, and flooring, creating fire hazards and threatening the structural integrity of your home. Squirrels also carry infectious diseases that can spread through bites, scratches, and contaminated objects. If that isn’t enough, the foul odor from squirrel urine and droppings can engulf your home in a nauseating and lingering stench if not quickly addressed.

While squirrels can be destructive, they are simply trying to survive, so the price for such annoying behaviors should not be death. That is why you should not rely on inhumane means like snap traps, poisons, and sprays to get rid of squirrels, and instead contact humane wildlife removal professionals immediately if you believe you might have a squirrel issue on your hands.

Humane Squirrel Removal Methods

There are many potential risks involved with DIY squirrel removal both to you and the squirrel. The humane, four-step, wildlife removal methods used by the professionals at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh are effective in quickly resolving an invasive squirrel infestation on your property.  Our humane squirrel removal steps include:

1. Inspection – We will first conduct a thorough inspection of your property to locate all squirrels and any possible entrances they may have used to access your property.
2. Removal – A strategic plan for removal will be implemented to humanely trap and remove all nuisance squirrels from your property.
3. Prevention – All entry points are sealed to keep the squirrels from returning and prevent future infestations.
4. Restoration – We will clean and disinfect any contaminated areas and repair any damages the squirrels left behind.

Your Greater Pittsburgh Area Humane Squirrel Removal Experts

The experienced squirrel removal technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance rodents and other invasive wildlife from your Pennsylvania property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our humane and efficient squirrel removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.

Squirrels usually do not pose a major threat in nature; however, they can be a damaging nuisance to your home if given the opportunity to nest and breed inside. Therefore, the presence of squirrels on your property must be swiftly addressed at the first sign of an infestation. Here are a few ways to get rid of squirrels.

Eliminate Food Sources to Get Rid of Squirrels

There are several spots in your yard that a squirrel can feed from. The quickest and best way to get rid of squirrels is to cut out any potential sources of food.

1. Don’t Feed Squirrels – This one may seem obvious, but feeding squirrels on occasion will reinforce the idea that they can always come back for more.
   
2. Trim or Don’t Plant Trees – Large trees that drop nuts are a prime target. Squirrels will dig up yards to find or bury them as well. Trim the large trees in your yard or consider not planting them altogether.
   
3. Keep a Clean Yard – Squirrels will eat any sort of yard debris. Rake up fallen seeds, nuts, or fruit to keep your yard free of any potential food.
   
4. Secure Bird Feeders – Bird feeders will attract more than just birds. Squirrels can easily jump anywhere from eight to 10 feet to steal seeds. If you don’t want to take down open-air birdfeeders, consider adding a special hood, called a baffle. It’s possible to make your own baffle out of mixing bowls or funnels.
   
5. Get Rid of Squirrels Professionally – If none of the above techniques work, your best move is to call a professional. Squirrels are usually harmless but can bite if they feel threatened. Trying to remove squirrels without the proper expertise can increase the risk of a squirrel attack. Various diseases, including salmonellosis, Lyme disease, and even rabies, can be spread through a squirrel bite.

Professional Squirrel Removal Services

Don’t put yourself and your family at risk from squirrels. The professionals at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh are experienced and equipped to practice safe removal techniques that humanely get rid of squirrels on your property.

Critter Control® of Pittsburgh’s team of licensed technicians is highly trained in the removal of squirrels and any other pests on your Pennsylvania property. To schedule your inspection and receive your free squirrel removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.