Strange noises in Neptune City turn out to be squirrels- Squirrel removal, exclusion, & control in Neptune City, NJ
Challenge
I was dispatched to a Neptune City residence that happened to be a stone’s throw away from our office to resolve a possible nuisance wildlife infestation problem. The homeowner’s daughter was cleaning up her mother’s house in preparation for the home to be listed for sale. She immediately contacted Cowleys after hearing some strange noises coming from the attic. According to her, “there was something up there with claws that was running around.” Upon arrival, I talked with the homeowner’s daughter to get a better understanding of the type, timing, and location of these animal noises. Everything she said pointed toward a squirrel infestation, especially considering the time of year and my own observations of squirrel activity around our office and throughout Neptune. If a small animal is not entering a residence at ground level, the usual suspect is a squirrel. These wily little creatures are adept tree climbers that can easily maneuver themselves over to rooftops. Also, mating season for the eastern grey squirrel takes place twice per year. So, if you find them in the attic during the spring or fall seasons, there is a high likelihood that a female is inside of your home caring for her young.
While squirrels are enjoyable to watch outside of a home, once inside, they pose many dangers. With their strong teeth and razor-sharp claws, they can turn insulation into confetti and destroy expensive duct work. Also, squirrels are not “housebroken.” Soon, the foul odor of squirrel urine will permeate your home. Squirrels can pose a health risk for a home’s occupants. They are carriers diseases including rabies, and squirrels often don’t come into your home alone. They bring with them many parasites like ticks and mange mites. Also, squirrels are rodents, and like mice and rats, they continuous gnaw. The damage can create access routes for bats, insects, and other pests to enter your home and they can cause roof leaks, leading to significant property damage.
Solution
With this Neptune residence, I first inspected the attic to see if there was evidence of wildlife. Fortunately, the damage was minimal, there were not yet any baby squirrels, and all of the adults were busy outside of the home, likely foraging for nuts in preparation for winter. I then inspected the roof to identify potential entry points and set up one-way traps. I’ll periodically check them over the coming days, and if any squirrels are caught, I’ll safely relocate them to an area away from human habitats where they can live their lives in peace.
The best preventative measure is to exclude squirrels from entering your home in the first place by keeping your home to keep your roof and supporting structures in good repair. I talked with the daughter about possible entry points into the attic from the roof, how they were gaining access to the roof, and the exclusion work that needed to be done on the home. The homeowner’s daughter was happy to know that there were not any squirrels in the attic, that traps were in place, and that the squirrels would not be able to regain access inside the attic. The daughter and mom were anxious to get the house listed, so they were pleased that I was able to quickly resolve the infestation. For me, it’s a great feeling to take care of a squirrel or other wildlife problem and see the welcome sigh of relief from once-worried homeowners who now feel that they have their home back.
