What Memphis Property Owners Need To Know About Squirrel Control

10/30/2020

You might not expect squirrels to be a problem rodent in Tennessee, but squirrel infestations happen more often than you’d think around here. Before squirrels start harming your home and family health, learn about what attracts these pests and how to prevent a squirrel problem.

Identifying Squirrels In Memphis, Tennessee

Squirrels are a serious problem when they move indoors. Many people find these outdoor rodents to be cute – and from a distance, they certainly can be! However, homeowners often don’t pay them any mind, and they might even feed squirrels with bread or birdseed. When you realize the problems squirrels can cause, you’ll hopefully rethink this.

Squirrels range from gray to brown and have long, furry bodies. The average squirrel grows anywhere between 6-15 inches long, with white and dark brown stripes running along their backs. A squirrel’s fluffy tail can grow an additional 6-10 inches in length, and a squirrel’s head has two small triangular ears. Squirrels are often seen running on all fours as well as standing on their hind legs.

As the weather cools down, rodents will want to move inside – including squirrels. Indoor heating is much more preferable to stocking up on food and hibernating for the winter, so if a squirrel sees a window of opportunity to move inside, it gladly will. Don’t let a squirrel’s cute face fool you – they can cause serious problems to Memphis residents. 

What Makes Squirrels So Dangerous?

Like other rodents, the dangers presented by squirrels are twofold: home damage and health problems.

Squirrels will absolutely cause damage to your home. These pests love to chew and will chew through almost anything – from furniture to the floorboards. If left untreated, squirrels can cause thousands of dollars in home damages.

What’s worse, squirrels are also natural vectors of a variety of diseases. If a squirrel runs around your house, gets into your food, or touches you, it can spread any of the following:

• Tularemia
• Lyme Disease
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella
• Rabies
• Bubonic Plague
• Typhus
• Ringworm

Memphis homeowners should do everything they can protect themselves from squirrel-related damages and diseases. Here’s how you can prevent a squirrel infestation.

Squirrel Infestation Prevention Tips

Squirrel prevention coincides with other kinds of rodent protections. For starters, make sure your home doesn’t provide them with food: keep your pantry secure, don’t leave food sitting out, and always bring your trash indoors.

Additionally, it’s important to make sure your home is well sealed against any infestation. Double-check the caulking around your windows, the sealant around your doors, and make sure that your vents, pipes, and masonry are secure.

Finally, try not to attract squirrels to your property. Never feed a squirrel, or else others are sure to come looking for food as well. Also, keep your birdseed secure, and either use a squirrel-safe feeder or avoid using one entirely.

Squirrels don’t want to stay outside for the winter, so sometimes, they find a way in regardless. When this happens, don’t risk exposing yourself to deadly diseases. Rather, let the pest experts at Dart Pest, Lawn & Wildlife keep your home safe. Reach out today, and we’ll remove your squirrel problem before they can cause any more damage.

Tags: squirrel dangers | squirrel identification | squirrel infestation