Damage Identification

Although tree squirrels seldom pose a problem in rural areas, this is not the case in urban settings. Occasionally, fox and gray squirrels enter attics and chimneys, damaging wiring and siding of urban dwellings. Squirrels get in by traveling along electrical lines, cable TV wires, or by jumping from nearby tree limbs and entering holes in siding, unscreened vents or chimneys. Once inside, they often damage insulation, wiring or household contents. Most complaints involve tree squirrels in attics or adjacent knee-walls. Squirrels can also damage sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables or flower bulbs and freshly planted seeds in urban gardens. They are often a nuisance around bird feeders, frightening desirable birds and scattering seeds.