Pesky Flying Squirrels
Say the word ‘squirrel’ to someone here in Northeast Ohio, and the likely picture to pop into that person’s head is one of a gray or black squirrel.
It’s true because gray and black squirrels are visible during daylight hours and are in all our neighborhoods.
Mention ‘flying squirrel’ to someone, however, and it’s fair to expect a quizzed look.
This is true because most people are not too familiar with the Southern Flying squirrel, a common species of squirrel in Ohio. And, most people have never seen one around their home. This is true because they are mainly tree-dwelling, small, and nocturnal.
Like their gray cousins, flying squirrels do take up residence in people’s homes here in the Akron, Canton, and Kent area and make a nuisance of themselves.
Two ways they do this are chewing and poohing.
We’ve got some video to share in this blog post along with more information about these less understood squirrels.
Flying Squirrel Chewing
Flying squirrels are very small and are able to take advantage of small gaps in a home’s exterior to gain entry.
Because of their size, typical opportunities on which they seize to get into our homes are things like:
- No screens in a gable vent
- A gap where a chimney has moved over time
- Some siding that has come loose
- Flashing not properly caulked
- A missing or loose piece of soffit
They often don’t have to chew their way in like grey squirrels do. But, that doesn’t mean they aren’t great chewers.
Flying squirrels are small but mighty chewers when they have the need to be.
In the following video, Ryan shows a ridge vent that he is replacing. He is replacing the ridge vent because the squirrels chewed through both sides of it. They were using this spot as their main entry/exit into an attic.
Flying Squirrel Pooping
A second trait of flying squirrels that makes them pesky is that they don’t go outside to do their excreting, especially through the winter.
Flying squirrels often live communally and use common toilet areas. These areas accumulate large build-ups of feces and urine.
When an unsuspecting homeowner finds the evidence of the squirrel latrines, the homeowner knows it is not good. But, if a person is not familiar with flying squirrels and their habits it could be confusing.
In this video, Ryan shows an example of a latrine found atop some window screens stored in an attic.
Removal and Exclusion of Flying Squirrels | Akron, Canton, Kent
Flying squirrel management is a two step process of removing the animals living in the house and sealing it up to make sure there are no more opportunities for others to move in.
Removing the flying squirrels is accomplished by trapping them as they exit structure.
Repairing and preventative steps are accomplished by addressing problem areas.
Obvious issues like the damaged ridge vent described above are repaired. Other areas are found through inspection. Sealing a home is accomplished through caulking, replacing loose siding pieces, screening, etc. The sealing of a house with flying squirrel problems is methodical process of going around the home’s exterior from top to bottom and addressing any little gaps that exist. This can be time consuming as most homes have multiple small gaps where tiny flying squirrels can get in.
In fact, most of our homes are not flying squirrel proof. We’re just lucky enough that the flyers haven’t found our homes’ vulnerabilities.
But, for the unlucky home that has become a favorite of flying squirrels, it needs to be made squirrel-proof.
Flying Squirrel Management | Removal & Trapping | Akron, Canton, Kent
We want to be your choice for professional flying squirrel management in Stark, Summit, and Portage counties. If you believe you are having flying squirrel problems and are located in the Akron, Canton, Kent area give us a call.
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