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Squirrel Removal & Control

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Professional Squirrel Removal in Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin

Squirrels are excellent climbers and can find surprisingly small openings into attics, soffits, rooflines, and other parts of a home. Once inside, they can damage insulation, chew electrical wiring, and create nesting areas.

 

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides professional squirrel removal and exclusion for homeowners dealing with squirrels in attics, walls, soffits, and other areas of the home.

 

Hearing squirrels in your attic? Contact us to schedule an inspection.

 

Signs of Squirrels in Your Home

Squirrels are primarily active during the day, which can help distinguish them from some other wildlife species.

 

Common signs include:

  • Scratching or running sounds in the attic or walls, particularly during daylight hours

  • Squirrels seen entering or leaving the roofline

  • Chewed openings around soffits, fascia, vents, or other exterior areas

  • Nesting material in the attic

  • Damaged insulation

  • Chewed electrical wiring

  • Acorns or other food items stored inside the structure

  • Repeated squirrel activity around the same area of the home

 

If you are hearing activity during the daytime, squirrels should be one of the possibilities considered.

 

Squirrels in the Attic

An attic provides squirrels with shelter from weather and predators and can become a nesting site.

Squirrels may enter through an existing weakness or enlarge a small opening by chewing through roofing materials, wood, vents, or other building components.

 

Once inside, they can move through insulation and nesting areas and may chew on materials throughout the attic.

 

A professional inspection can determine:

  • Where the squirrel is entering

  • Whether the opening is currently active

  • How the squirrel is accessing the structure

  • Whether young may be present

  • What damage has occurred

  • What needs to be done to resolve the problem

 

Learn more about squirrels: Visit our Squirrel Species Profile to learn more about squirrel behavior, activity, breeding, entry points, and other useful information.

 

Common Squirrel Entry Points

Squirrels can exploit relatively small openings and are capable of chewing through some building materials.

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Soffits & Fascia

Damaged or deteriorated soffits and fascia can provide access to attic spaces.

 

Roof Vents

Squirrels may damage or chew through vent materials to gain entry.

 

Gable & Attic Vents

Broken screens or damaged vents can allow squirrels into the attic.

 

Roof Edges

Gaps along rooflines and areas where roofing materials meet can provide access.

 

Chimney Areas

Open or damaged chimney areas can sometimes provide access to protected portions of a home.

 

Tree-to-Roof Access

Branches close to the roof can provide squirrels with an easy route to the structure.

 

Squirrels With Young

Squirrels may establish nests inside structures when a protected location is available.

 

If young are present, simply sealing an active opening can leave animals trapped inside or separate a mother from her young.

 

Before exclusion work is performed, the situation should be evaluated to determine whether young are present and whether the entry point is currently being used. This is an important part of determining the appropriate removal approach.

 

Squirrel Damage

Squirrels can cause more than just noise inside an attic.

 

Potential damage includes:

  • Chewed electrical wiring

  • Damaged insulation

  • Chewed wood and building materials

  • Damaged roof vents

  • Damaged soffits and fascia

  • Nesting material accumulation

  • Contamination from feces and urine

 

Electrical damage is particularly important because damaged wiring can create a potential fire hazard.

 

Addressing squirrel activity early can help prevent additional damage.

 

How We Handle Squirrel Problems

1. Inspect

We locate the suspected entry point, look for signs of current activity, inspect accessible areas, and determine whether young may be present.

 

2. Remove

We determine the appropriate wildlife-control method based on the location, activity, and circumstances of the problem.

 

3. Exclude

Once the squirrels have been properly addressed, active entry points can be secured to prevent re-entry.

 

4. Repair & Sanitize

If squirrels have damaged or contaminated the structure, additional repairs or sanitation may be recommended.

 

5. Prevent

We identify other vulnerabilities around the structure and recommend practical measures to reduce the likelihood of future wildlife entry.

 

What Should You Do If You Hear Squirrels?

If you suspect squirrels are inside your home:

-Don't seal the opening immediately.

-Don't assume the squirrels will leave on their own.

-Don't ignore repeated activity.

 

Instead, have the situation inspected to determine where the squirrels are entering, whether the opening is active, and whether young may be present.

 

Taking care of the problem early can help limit damage and prevent squirrels from becoming established inside the structure.

 

Squirrel Removal Service Areas

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides squirrel removal and exclusion throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

 

We commonly service communities throughout:

McHenry County • Lake County • Northwest Cook County • Boone County • Kenosha County • Walworth County

For more information, visit our Service Areas page to see the communities we commonly serve.

 

If you don't see your town listed, contact us anyway. We service additional surrounding communities.

 

Have a Squirrel Problem?

Whether you're hearing squirrels in the attic, seeing them entering your roofline, or have discovered damage from squirrel activity, the first step is determining exactly what's happening.

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Contact Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention to schedule a professional squirrel inspection.

Wildlife Removal • Exclusion • Damage Repair • Sanitation • Prevention

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