Can Squirrels Chew Through Aluminum?
Aluminum siding, aluminum roof vents, aluminum gutters & downspouts, aluminum flashing…as this list indicates, aluminum is a super common building product.
And, it should be.
Aluminum is strong but light. It is corrosion resistant. It is waterproof and durable. It is energy efficient and sustainable. Really, what’s there not to like about aluminum as a building material?
Aluminum’s only drawback that we can think of is that it is not squirrel proof.
Does this come as a surprise? If it does, you’re not alone. Many people mistakenly believe that squirrels don’t chew through any metals. And while some metals like stainless steel and galvanized steel are hard enough to stop squirrels, sheet aluminum is soft enough for the squirrels to chew through.
In this post we have video of plate aluminum a squirrel went through.
Take a look.
Aluminum Chewing Squirrel
Ryan was called for squirrels in a building recently.
When he inspected the building he found a hole in an awning over an entry door. This hole was pretty impressive because it was through some 1/8th inch thick aluminum plating.
We know that squirrels chew through aluminum, but when this sort of chewing is put on display it still impresses us.
Typically, squirrels will find easier places to chew in than through thick aluminum. But, because there was a gap covered by some rubber membrane it really drew their attention.
Construction gaps draw the attention of lots of animals. Nuisance wildlife loves to exploit weaknesses in construction!
In this video, Ryan shows you the situation and at the end you can see the removal process in action.
Stop Metal Chewing Squirrels
Capturing the squirrels that found this spot and then sealing it up is the best resolution to this squirrel problem. A thorough, systematic removal of the offending squirrels is necessary.
Repair/Reinforcement is an important second step. This step gives the best chance of stopping future squirrels but only after this group of offending squirrels is no longer present.
Another Metal Chewing Video
In this older video Ryan shows an aluminum vent that squirrels chewed right through.
The moral of this story is that squirrels are tough to stop!
They’ll chew through wood, vinyl, plastic, asphalt shingles, and even soft metals like aluminum to get where they want to go.
Squirrel Removal and Building Repairs for Akron, Canton, Kent
If squirrels have taken advantage of a situation on your home’s exterior and moved in give Frontline Animal Removal a call today.
We have the skills and experience to remove the squirrels and fix the issue that gave them an advantage.
