Wildlife Removal Photo Album: Point Pleasant Squirrel Removal and Control
Squirrel feces in a home in Point Pleasant, NJ
It was time to do some detective work and figure out what type of wildlife I was dealing with. I immediately located some droppings. With rodent and insects, droppings often help identify the pest and, almost like a trail of breadcrumbs, provide a roadmap of their activity. For example, raccoon fecal matter is tube-shaped like dog feces, about 2-3 inches long, and slightly smaller than the diameter of a hot dog. With raccoon feces, you'll usually see undigested food remnants such as berry seeds. Squirrel droppings are completely different. Their fecal matter is similar to other rodents. Squirrels produce oblong pellets, cylindrical in shape, slightly bulging in the center, with rounded ends. They're a shade under a quarter inch long and 1/8 inch in diameter. Fresh squirrel pellets are soft and dark; if they have been there awhile, the pellets get hard and start to fade with age and exposure. I always have one big warning with any wildlife or bird feces. This material is toxic and dangerous. It often contains parasites and anyone around it must wear proper protective equipment to avoid touching or inhaling any pathogens. Although this homeowner had a raccoon problem in the past, based on the droppings, there was no issue with what he was dealing with today: a squirrel infestation.
How the squirrels entered the home in Point Pleasant
After talking with the homeowner, it was time to conduct a thorough inspection of the residence. With any wildlife infestation, it is critical to find the entry points and seal them; otherwise, the problem will never be permanently resolved. So I turned my attention to the roof and soffit area of the home to determine how the wildlife was gaining access to the attic. Whatever was going in and out of the attic wasn't discreet about it. There was a massive entry point big enough for virtually any wildlife capable of climbing to the roof to enter.
Squirrel door in Point Pleasant, New Jersy
2nd squirrel entry point
Sealing off one of the entry points in Point Pleasant
Once I identified the type of wildlife, I knew exactly how to solve the problem. I sealed off the one vent with screening in order to force the squirrels out of only one hole. By directing their access, it is easier to trap and exclude the animals. I then installed a one way door over the remaining entry point, and set three humane box traps in strategic locations on the roof. Wildlife removal is more than setting traps. An experienced wildlife technician is able to identify the movement of the animals, and strategically set traps in appropriate locations. Also, once captured, wildlife can be vicious. There is always the potential for serious injury from bites or clawing when capturing or transporting animals for relocation. In short, nuisance wildlife removal is dangerous business. It's not a DIY project for homeowners and should it be attempted by someone who is inexperienced with wildlife behavior. And it's not just risk of injury. More often than not, the traps are not set correctly and the outcome is unsuccessful.
Properly set squirrel traps in Point Pleasant, NJ
With this job, the traps were properly set. Once any squirrels are trapped, I'll safely relocate them. When done, I reported back to the home owner and explained exactly what I did, and the next steps. The homeowner will keep a close eye on the traps and will immediately contact me once an animal is trapped. I'll also stop by periodically to check the traps until they are removed. While the homeowner was surprised that he had different wildlife invading his attic, he was pleased with the result. Once again, an experienced Cowleys wildlife technician was able to quickly determine his wildlife problem, and take the appropriate steps to solve it.