Perhaps the most common wildlife problem facing Raleigh homeowners involves the gray squirrel. As a leading Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company, we understand that these animals are persistent and very adaptable. They typically have two litters a year in early spring and late summer in North Carolina. According to wildlife management experts, female squirrels will have anywhere from one to about eight young, with the average being around four babies per litter. The baby squirrels will open their eyes in about four to six weeks and become mobile by 8 weeks.
We use humane wildlife relocation methods to remove squirrels from homes, with traps that effectively allow us to safely capture and relocate these animals. Gray squirrels feed on acorns, grasses, leaves, and hard mast. These animals are frequent visitors to bird feeders and are common sights throughout Raleigh neighborhoods from North Hills to Brier Creek, and from downtown near the State Capitol to suburban areas along I-440.
Squirrel Removal Service Areas
Our Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company serves communities throughout the Triangle, including:
Removal Service Areas
We provide squirrel removal services along major corridors including I-40, I-440, Highway 70, Capital Boulevard, and Wade Avenue, where squirrels commonly travel between wooded areas like Umstead State Park, Crabtree Creek greenways, and residential neighborhoods.
Understanding Squirrel Behavior and Activity
Gray squirrels are diurnal, which means homeowners will notice these animals are most active in early morning and late afternoons. This is different from many other wildlife species that are nocturnal. If you hear scratching, running, or chewing sounds in your attic during daylight hours, squirrels are the likely culprit. Properties near wooded areas along the Neuse River, Lake Johnson, and Falls Lake communities experience particularly high squirrel activity.
Common Entry Points
You can normally find squirrels in attics, which they enter through breaches in the roofline, gable vents, attic fans, ridge vents, and gaps in construction joints. The determined squirrel will also chew through fascia boards, soffits, and aluminum gutters if persistent enough. Older homes in historic Raleigh neighborhoods like Cameron Park, Boylan Heights, and the Oakwood Historic District are especially vulnerable due to aging construction materials and natural settling that creates gaps.
Property Damage Caused by Squirrels
Once inside the attic, squirrels will continue to gnaw on rafters, joists, wiring, and pipe insulation in order to keep their teeth worn down. Gray squirrels are in the rodent family and have four front teeth that never stop growing, meaning they will constantly chew anything they can in your home. This is why it is important to contact a Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company as soon as possible to avoid costly damage repair.
Electrical Fire Hazards
One of the most serious concerns with squirrels in attics is their tendency to chew on electrical wiring. This creates a significant fire hazard for your home or business. The combination of exposed wiring and flammable insulation material can lead to dangerous situations. Sometimes squirrels will also gnaw on aluminum skylight frames on roofs and lead pipes on plumbing stacks.
Insulation Damage
Squirrels compress and contaminate attic insulation with their droppings and urine. They also tear up insulation to create nesting materials. This damage reduces the insulation’s effectiveness, leading to higher energy bills and uncomfortable temperature fluctuations in your home.
How Many Squirrels Can Be in Your Attic?
Gray squirrels are very territorial animals. It typically will be a female with her latest litter that occupies an attic space. Sometimes there will be a bachelor group where only young males live together. The average number of squirrels removed from an attic will be one to about four total. Our experienced Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company technicians will remove all squirrels from the attic and then seal all necessary entry points to prevent future problems.
Our Squirrel Removal Process
Our wildlife professionals start by inspecting your property for signs of squirrel activity.
Step 1: Thorough Inspection
Common indicators include scratching or running sounds during daylight hours, visible entry holes (often with chew marks around the edges), scattered insulation, droppings in the attic, and damaged soffits or fascia boards. We examine the entire roofline and identify all potential entry points.
Step 2: Humane Trapping and Removal
We use proven trapping methods designed specifically for squirrels. Our traps are checked regularly to ensure captured animals are removed promptly. All squirrel removal is conducted according to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regulations. We handle each animal humanely throughout the entire process.
Step 3: Complete Exclusion Work
After removing all squirrels, we seal every entry point and potential weak spot. Squirrels can squeeze through openings as small as 1.5 inches, so thorough exclusion is critical. We use durable materials including heavy-gauge screening, metal flashing, and secure fasteners that squirrels cannot chew through. This step is essential to prevent new squirrels from entering.
Step 4: Damage Repair
We repair all damage caused by squirrels, including replacing chewed fascia boards, fixing damaged soffits, repairing roof vents, and restoring gutters. If electrical wiring has been damaged, we recommend consultation with a licensed electrician for safety reasons.
Step 5: Attic Cleanup and Restoration
Squirrel droppings and urine-soaked insulation must be properly removed. We clean affected areas, remove contaminated insulation, sanitize surfaces, and can install new insulation to restore your attic to proper condition. This step improves your home’s energy efficiency and eliminates odors.
Step 6: Prevention Recommendations
We provide guidance on keeping squirrels away from your property, including trimming tree branches that touch or overhang your roof, installing proper attic vent covers, and maintaining your home’s exterior to prevent gaps and openings.
Flying Squirrel Removal Services
In addition to gray squirrels, our Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company also handles flying squirrel problems. Flying squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels and are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. These animals can glide from tree to tree using a membrane that stretches between their front and back legs. Flying squirrels often live in larger groups than gray squirrels, so infestations can involve a dozen or more animals.
Signs of flying squirrels include soft scurrying sounds at night, small droppings about the size of a grain of rice, and distinctive entry holes that are often perfectly round and about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Properties near mature hardwood forests around areas like Durant Nature Preserve and Schenck Forest commonly experience flying squirrel activity.
Why Choose Our Raleigh, NC Squirrel Removal Company
With more than two decades serving the Triangle area, we understand squirrel behavior patterns specific to our area. We know which neighborhoods experience the highest activity, what times of year are busiest, and the most effective removal techniques for both gray squirrels and flying squirrels.
Comprehensive Wildlife Services
While we specialize in squirrel removal, we provide complete wildlife control for everything from attic cleanup and raccoon trapping to damage repair and animal exclusion. We are one of the longest-standing wildlife control companies in the Raleigh area, trusted by homeowners and businesses throughout Wake County.
Guaranteed Results
We stand behind our exclusion work. If squirrels return to sealed entry points, we come back to address the problem. Our goal is to provide lasting solutions, not temporary fixes.
Seasonal Squirrel Activity in Raleigh
Understanding when squirrels are most active helps homeowners know when to be vigilant:
Late Winter/Early Spring (February-April): Female squirrels prepare nests for their first litter of the year. This is a peak time for attic invasions as pregnant females seek secure, warm locations to give birth.
Late Spring/Summer (May-August): Young squirrels from the spring litter become active and exploratory. Activity levels in attics increase as baby squirrels grow more mobile. This is when homeowners most often notice squirrel problems.
Late Summer/Fall (August-October): Female squirrels prepare for their second litter of the year. Squirrels also become very active gathering and storing food for winter. This creates another peak period for new attic invasions.
Winter (November-January): While squirrels do not hibernate, they seek warm shelter during cold weather. Attics provide ideal protection from winter temperatures, and squirrels already established in structures remain active inside throughout the season.
Contact Triangle Wildlife for Squirrel Removal
Call Triangle Wildlife Removal professionals today if you need help removing gray squirrels or flying squirrels from your business or home in Raleigh NC, Cary NC, Holly Springs NC, Garner NC, Durham NC, and Chapel Hill as well as other nearby areas within 150 miles of the Triangle.
As your trusted Raleigh, NC squirrel removal company, we provide fast response times, effective solutions, and guaranteed results. Call us today at (919) 661-0722 for professional squirrel control services.
