THREAT FILE #013 // WILDLIFE

Squirrels Control

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

The native tree squirrel of the Inland Northwest is the American red squirrel, a rust-red, white-bellied pine squirrel that Washington's own wildlife agency places squarely in the conifer forests and semi-open woods of the northeast corner. The eastern gray squirrel named on the old page is an introduced species here; the red squirrel is the regional native doing the attic damage. Red squirrels are extremely territorial and loud, chattering and tail-flicking at anything that crosses their turf. In late summer and fall they cut green pinecones and cache them in middens, sometimes in gutters and downspouts, which clogs drainage. They reach the attic through any gap the size of a golf ball, nesting in insulation and gnawing wood and wiring, and spring litters from February through May make that the prime attic-invasion season. Tiny, loud, and extremely territorial: the neighborhood watch with teeth.

Regional Threat Level50%

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⚠ Signs of Activity

Loud daytime chattering and rapid scurrying in the attic, loudest in the morning (squirrels are diurnal; night noise points to rats)
Chewed entry holes at eaves, gable vents, or fascia, often with gnawed wood around a golf-ball-sized opening
Pinecone scales and debris piles, the squirrel's midden, in gutters or near the den
Nests of shredded insulation and leaves in the attic, with gnawed wiring nearby

🎯 Our Treatment

We install one-way doors on attic entries after confirming no dependent young are inside, then seal the chewed entries with metal flashing and hardware cloth. Squirrels chew straight through wood and plastic patches but give up on steel.

🛡 Prevention

Trim branches at least 8 to 10 feet from the roof so squirrels cannot bridge the gap
Cover gable and roof vents with 1/2 inch hardware cloth
Repair fascia and soffit damage promptly before it becomes a doorway
Keep bird feeders away from the house or use squirrel-proof feeders to stop luring them to the eaves

🛡️ 90-Day Warranty: if squirrels return between scheduled visits, we re-treat at no additional cost. Licensed, bonded, and insured across Washington, Idaho & Oregon.

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