-- Grab EHS RSS FeedWe often see many of our clients unsuccessfully attempt to solve the squirrel problem in their attic by performing tree pruning and even removing a valuable shade tree! Not only can this be expensive, but it very rarely works. While it’s good to trim back branches and vegetation that may touch your home to prevent some moisture and insect invasion, especially Carpenter Ants I have never seen it keep squirrels from accessing the openings at the roofline.
Tree squirrels are very good climbers and quite adept to solving access obstructions. Elizabethan style collars installed around electric and utility lines (with the owning companies permission) does work in some instances to keep them from “Running the Wires” to enter but I have personally witnessed a Gray Squirrel tip the upper portion of a collar down enough to jump over the collar to the wires on the other side. Squirrels can gain easy access to the roof by climbing on your gutter downspouts, utility and A/C lines. These adept climbers can also run directly up the wooden shingled siding, easily obtain grip to brick and stucco to run directly up any side unaided by gutter downspouts, conduits, vines, etc.
While it IS possible to prevent these expert climbing rodents from getting to the roofline, the process and cost of modification may far exceed the expense associated with simple evacuation and reinforcement to vulnerable areas with stainless steel mesh or other permanent materials.
John Stellberger
President - Environmental Health Services, Inc.
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