Determining if Squirrels or Raccoons are the Problem
Which is it…Raccoons or Squirrels?
Maybe it was the noise of something scurrying around in the attic or soffit that first got you investigating.
You looked around a little and found a hole in the soffit or roof edge.
You’ve seen squirrels all around your house and on your roof. So, you’re pretty sure they are the little invaders of your attic.
But…the other night you heard a sound indicative of something much bigger than a squirrel.
Could the problem really be raccoons?
Often times, the problem is squirrels with a raccoon bonus.
Differentiating Between Squirrels and Raccoons
Sometimes it is easy to differentiate whether squirrels or raccoons are using a particular hole.
In general, squirrel holes are:
- Small (2 to 4 inches diameter)
- Round to oval-shaped
- Have chew marks around them
- Have squirrels going in and out of them during daylight
In general, raccoon entrances are:
- Larger
- Can be any
shape - Usually have loose building materials like siding or roofing out of place
- Nothing moving in or out during daylight hours
shape
Sounds easy to tell the difference, right?
Here’s a true confession: We’ve been fooled before.
We know, it’s hard to believe!
But, even we’ve been trapping for squirrels and found a raccoon squeezed into an undersized trap.
Generalities are a starting point and are often correct. BUT, you must always remember one of the golden rules in the nuisance wild animal removal business: Expect the unexpected!
The truth of the matter is that, sometimes, raccoons and squirrels explore and use the same places.
Above all things, wild animals are opportunistic; survival demands it. So, it is not unusual to find raccoons taking advantage of an opportunity squirrels had originally provided or vice versa.
Here are some pictures from a game camera monitoring a hole on a recent job.
Grey squirrels were captured on film multiple times going up into the soffit via this access point. They were filmed at multiple times throughout the day as expected.
But, this small raccoon was also captured on film investigating this area.
Can that raccoon fit through that hole? Probably. Can a raccoon problem occur at the same time a squirrel problem exists? Absolutely.
Pictures like this illustrate the point of this blog: Sometimes raccoons and squirrels are present at the same holes at the same time and telling the difference can, on occasion, be tricky.
Don’t be surprised if your squirrel problem turns into a raccoon problem or your raccoon problem turns into a squirrel problem.
Most of the time, the offenders are obvious. But, there have been many instances of mistaken identity or a dual species problem.
Removal. Exclusion. Solution.
In the end, whether it is squirrels or raccoons, the same steps need followed.
- The offenders need removed
- A quality repair is required.
When squirrels and raccoons are both present to some degree, species specific traps for the main offenders should be employed and the repair should take care of future problems.
Do you need help?
- Identifying an animal problem?
- Dealing with nuisance squirrels?
- Dealing with nuisance raccoons?
- Need help repairing animal damage to your home?
If you do and you live in the Akron/ Canton / Kent, OH area, contact Frontline Animal Removal.
Whether the offenders are squirrels or raccoons, we have the experience to remove the offending animals and fix the damaged area up right.
