Squirrels in the Attic, Walls or Bird Feeder: How to Get Them Out and Keep Them Out

You hear scampering and rolling sounds over the bedroom ceiling, or the bird feeder is empty by noon every day. Squirrels are rodents, and like their smaller cousins they gnaw, nest in insulation and squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. This guide helps you figure out which squirrel you have, time the eviction so you do not trap babies, seal the house and protect feeders and gardens.

Tree squirrels or flying squirrels?

Flying squirrel activity is often mistaken for mice. If the attic noise is at night, also check for droppings and gnawing that point to rodents; our rodents hub can help. Southern flying squirrels are protected in some states, so check the rules before doing anything to them.

Signs of squirrels in the attic or walls

• Scurrying, scratching and rolling sounds in the ceiling or walls, at the times listed above.
• Chewed holes at roof edges, eaves, gable vents and where roof sections overlap. Squirrels can get through a hole about 1 1/2 inches across and will gnaw smaller holes bigger.
• Shredded insulation, leaves, twigs and nut shells in the attic.
• Droppings near nesting material.
• Squirrels running along power lines, gutters and branches to the roof.

Why squirrels get in, and the damage they cause

Squirrels look for warm, dry, protected places to raise young. An attic with a gap at the roofline is ideal. Gray squirrels usually have a litter in spring and sometimes a second in late summer. Fox squirrels breed in midwinter and sometimes again in early summer.

Once inside, they gnaw. They can cause extensive damage to insulation and electrical wiring, in homes as well as vehicles and power lines. That alone is reason to deal with attic squirrels promptly. Outdoors they strip bark from trees, clip twigs and raid gardens and feeders.

How to get squirrels out, step by step

1. Check the timing. Young may be in the nest from roughly February through August. Evicting during that window risks orphaning babies, which then die in the attic or bring a frantic mother chewing back in. If you can, wait until the young are old enough to leave on their own.
2. Find every opening. Inspect roof edges, eaves, vents, chimneys, soffits and gaps where roof sections meet. Cover vents and cap the chimney first so squirrels cannot just move to a new opening.
3. Encourage them to leave. Adults can be urged out with a bright light left on in the attic, a radio playing and rags soaked in cider vinegar near the nest.
4. Use a one-way door on the main hole. A spring-loaded one-way door lets squirrels out but not back in. Mount it over the main entry with a wide apron of mesh or metal around it, since squirrels may chew a new hole beside it. Use one only when you are confident no young are inside, and only on a building in good repair.
5. Confirm they are gone. Stuff the hole loosely with newspaper. If it stays undisturbed for several days of good weather, the squirrels are likely out.
6. Seal the openings. Close holes with metal flashing or heavy 1/4 to 1/2 inch hardware cloth, not foam or wood alone. Use sturdy screens on vents and a chimney cap.

Never seal a squirrel inside. A trapped squirrel will chew new holes trying to escape, and babies left behind will die in the attic. If you see a squirrel frantically trying to get back in after sealing, open the patch and let the mother return to her young.

Keeping squirrels off the roof

• Trim branches so they are at least 8 feet from the house. A squirrel can leap about 8 feet sideways.
• Band trees that lead to the roof with a metal collar about 2 feet wide, mounted 6 to 8 feet off the ground. This only helps if squirrels cannot reach the roof from another tree or line.
• Ask your utility about guards on service lines. Do not install anything on power lines yourself.

Squirrel-proofing bird feeders

• Mount the feeder on a metal pole with a baffle, at least 5 feet off the ground and 10 feet from branches, fences or roofs squirrels can jump from.
• Do not hang feeders from tree limbs.
• Enclose the feeder in 2-inch wire mesh so small birds get in and squirrels do not, or use a weight-activated feeder that closes under a squirrel’s weight.
• Offer seed squirrels like less, such as safflower or nyjer.
• Clean up spilled seed. Squirrels that are well fed fill every available nest site, including your attic.

Protecting gardens and trees

• Fence small garden areas with wire mesh no larger than 1/2 inch. Squirrels climb, so a mesh enclosure or an electrified top wire works better than an open-top fence.
• Do not feed squirrels on purpose. Well-fed squirrels multiply and look for more nest sites.

Legal notes

Tree squirrels are game animals in many states, and rules vary on trapping, killing and moving them. Nebraska allows trapped problem squirrels to be released only within 100 yards of where they were caught; California prohibits relocation without a permit and requires a permit to control gray squirrels. Poison baits are illegal for tree squirrels in California and are not appropriate around homes anywhere. Some flying squirrels are protected. Check your state wildlife agency before trapping.

When to call a professional

Many outdoor squirrel problems are DIY jobs. Inside the house, a licensed wildlife control operator is often worth it. Call one when:

• Squirrels are in the attic or walls, especially during baby season.
• Entry points are high on the roof and need ladder work.
• Squirrels have chewed wiring. Have an electrician check it too.
• You have flying squirrels, which can use many small gaps and may be protected.
• Squirrels keep chewing back in after you seal.

Ask how they handle young, whether they use one-way doors and whether sealing and repairs are included. Our guide to choosing a pest control company has more to ask, and rodent-proofing covers sealing the smaller gaps mice use. For other animals, see the wildlife hub or our raccoon guide.