Why do squirrels chew the siding and fascia of your own home? Throughout the breeding season, pregnant females are trying to find a comfy place inside your attic to lift their infants. To get in, they solely want an area about two inches extensive. Nonetheless, there are different causes for squirrel chewing behaviour which are unrelated to nesting. Skedaddle explains the particular attract that siding holds for rodents and why squirrels really feel the urge to chew within the first place.
Why Do Squirrels Chew Siding or Fascia?
Nesting Behaviour
Squirrels have two breeding seasons every year, one in spring and one other in late summer season. Throughout these instances, females seek for a heat and dry nesting spot that’s secure from predators. In pure areas, a gap in a tree would finest match this description. In cities, nonetheless, the attic of a human dwelling looks like the proper place to lift a household. As soon as squirrels understand it’s accessible, they may use their sharp enamel to realize entry to this prime location.
Dental Well being
Squirrels and different rodents have a pair of higher and decrease incisors that develop repeatedly. If the squirrels don’t gnaw on arduous objects to put on them down, the enamel will turn into misaligned, and the squirrel will be unable to eat. Ultimately, the decrease enamel might even develop up via the cranium.
Diet
Squirrels achieve vitamin via their incessant gnawing. Apart from cracking into nutritious nuts, in addition they complement their diets with minerals from bones, rocks, and even tree bark. For instance, it’s common to search out outdated deer bones within the woods with rodent enamel marks on them. Researchers have additionally documented rodents chewing on sure rocks that comprise calcium, magnesium, and different minerals the animals want.
Emotional Nicely-Being
A ultimate cause that squirrels chew on the siding, fascia or roof of homes is that they merely can’t assist themselves. The urge to chew is instinctual and is a method they cope with stress. When caretakers deprive captive rodents of chewing supplies, they undergo from stress-related diseases together with ulcers, bone loss, and cognitive dysfunction. Like canine, rodents lead happier, more healthy lives after they have one thing to gnaw on. Sadly, they’re utilizing your home as a chew toy.
Regardless of the motivation for a person squirrel to begin chewing on the skin of your home, it’s unlikely to cease the behaviour as soon as it has begun. A squirrel’s enamel are extraordinarily sturdy, so supplies reminiscent of plastic, aluminum, and copper aren’t any match for them. They might additionally try to chew on concrete or glass however can do little injury to those more durable supplies.
How Do Squirrels Get On the Roof?
Leaves and Particles
Clogged gutters could make the sting of your roof susceptible to squirrel entry, so it’s best to clear them repeatedly. If you enable eavestroughs to fill with water, they have an inclination to sag underneath the load and create openings. Extra water within the eaves can hold wood roof parts moist and promote rotten areas which are simpler for a squirrel to chunk into.
Ice Dams
Below-insulated attics are liable to ice dams and enormous icicle formations on the roof edge. These conditions happen when heat air from inside the home rises via the attic and melts the snow on high of the roof. As melted snow flows downward, it contacts decrease temperatures and refreezes underneath shingles and the fascia on the roof edge. The added weight of all that ice places stress on the eaves, inflicting them to peel away from the home.
Improper Roofing
It’s unlucky that the fascia and eaves troughs of many properties are poorly constructed. This space of the roof is essential as a result of it’s the place all of the water that hits the roof ultimately finally ends up. These constructions fail most frequently after they lack a correct drip edge to deflect water away from the fascia and into the eaves troughs. The result’s moist wooden that shortly deteriorates.
Remember to examine your roof regularly for injury. Any gaps or openings on the roof edge, irrespective of how small, are an open invitation for opportunistic squirrels. With Ontario’s harsh winters, you will need to ensure that to wash your gutters and eavestroughs repeatedly, absolutely insulate your attic, and conduct any crucial roof repairs. If animals have broken your insulation, Skedaddle can take away and substitute it after disinfecting the realm.
How Can You Inform Whether or not a Squirrel Has Been Chewing?
Figuring out whether or not squirrels are the culprits behind your broken fascia or siding requires a little bit of detective work. Rodent enamel will depart a lot of little parallel marks. When they’re chewing to realize entry, they typically make a semicircular gap 4 to eight cm in diameter. In case you are not snug climbing a ladder to examine the realm your self, Skedaddle technicians are blissful to carry out this service for you after they assess your own home.
It’s simpler to determine whether or not squirrels live inside your home than it’s to establish enamel marks. Listed below are some clues to search for:
- Unusual sounds – It’s possible you’ll hear tiny toes working, squirrels scuffling, or acorns rolling throughout the ground.
- Brown stains on the ceiling – Squirrels, like different furry creatures, urinate a number of instances per day. Liquid coming from a complete household of them initially soaks into nesting materials, however it will possibly ultimately seep into the ceiling beneath.
- Nuts and acorns – Squirrels eat and retailer an enormous amount of meals. Discovering complete nuts or shells across the roof or within the attic is an indication they might be dwelling there.
How Skedaddle Helps With Squirrel Elimination
Skedaddle will not be like different squirrel elimination companies that merely lure and relocate wildlife. As a substitute, Skedaddle technicians first consider your own home to find out the place squirrels are getting in. They may discover and take away any animals, permitting the mom to take her infants to a extra applicable den.
As soon as the squirrels are gone, Skedaddle will seal each level of entry in order that the scenario doesn’t happen once more. Retaining them out is essential as a result of squirrels pose a security threat. As they assemble nests, squirrels will shred insulation and wiring, which might trigger {an electrical} brief that in the end ends in a fireplace.
Why do squirrels chew fascia? It’s possible you’ll by no means know for positive. But when squirrels are chewing on your home or have already gotten inside, then it’s best to contact Skedaddle instantly for assist with squirrel management.