Squirrels come in many varieties, but the types of squirrels referred to as “tree squirrels” are the most common in the Illinois and Missouri area. Tree squirrels include Fox Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, Flying Squirrels, and Pine Squirrels.
These creatures are extremely common. If you haven’t seen them around your home, you’ve likely spotted them at public parks. Sometimes you’ll even see them being fed by passersby on walking trails.
Though it can be a lot of fun to sit back and watch these boisterous little creatures chase each other and play in the grass, it is important to remember that they can quickly become a nuisance to you and your property.
Squirrels cause a broad spectrum of damage to your property. On the outside, damage may be easily seen. Squirrels damage trees for nests and scavenge for nuts like walnuts and pecans before they can be harvested. They also dig out flower bulbs from gardens and eat sweet corn, tomatoes, and other common garden vegetables.
Squirrels who have found access into your home are even more damaging. These critters like to nest in attics and under loose floorboards, and both nesting environments are dangerous for both you and the squirrel. Nesting squirrels may chew on wiring causing a fire hazard, and their feces and urine damage the structural materials of your home. They can also become trapped in areas like chimneys and flues, which can results in their death and the health risk that goes with the cleanup.
Squirrels are often depicted in media and online as being sweet yet mischievous, that doesn’t negate the risk of them carrying dangerous diseases. Like most rodents, squirrels can harbor and spread leptospirosis, plague, tularemia, and more. All these diseases are quite severe and require immediate medical attention.
Beyond directly causing disease, squirrels also carry ticks and fleas that can spread their own devastating diseases like Colorado Tick Fever, La Crosse Encephalitis, Lyme Disease, Powassan Virus, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Identifying a squirrel infestation can be difficult, and proper removal even more so. Laws and guidelines regarding squirrels can differ and preventing bites during removal is vital. That’s why it is essential to find an expert in wildlife removal.
At Veteran’s Pride Wildlife Control, we offer 24-hour service to serve best the communities in which we work. Family and veteran-owned, we strive to help you not only identify and remove nuisance wildlife, but we focus on prevention so you and your family can rest easy.
We know all the places to look for squirrel nests and how to correctly trap and remove them without hurting the squirrels or causing additional damage to your property. Don’t risk at-home removal. Trust in our highly trained experts to solve your wildlife problems.
If you have an issue with squirrels or any other wildlife removal, contact Veteran’s Pride Wildlife Control today. We are licensed and insured servicing the Metro East and St. Louis areas.