Squirrel Removal in Durham Region: How to Get Squirrels Out of Your Attic

Hearing something running through your attic can be unsettling. In Durham Region, squirrels are one of the most common wildlife species to find their way into homes, along with raccoons, particularly when they’re looking for a safe place to nest and raise their young.

One of the biggest clues is the sound they make. Squirrels in an attic typically sound like quick running or scurrying across the ceiling, often during daylight hours. If you’re hearing this type of activity, particularly in the morning or during the day, a squirrel may have found its way inside.

Affordable Pest Control provides professional and humane squirrel removal throughout Durham Region, including squirrel removal in Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, Bowmanville, Courtice, Clarington, Uxbridge and surrounding areas. We offer free quotes and same-day service and have been a family-run pest control business for over 15 years.

How Do Squirrels Get Into Your Home?

Squirrels are excellent climbers and can access surprisingly small openings around a roof. In our experience, two of the most common entry points are soffits and roof vents.

A squirrel may find an existing weak point or damage an area enough to create an opening. Once inside, your attic provides a warm, protected location away from predators and weather.

Common squirrel entry points include:

• Damaged or loose soffits

• Roof vents

• Gaps along rooflines

• Fascia boards

• Openings where different sections of the roof meet

• Existing holes or damaged areas

Simply getting the squirrel out isn’t enough. Unless the entry point is properly identified and sealed, the squirrel, or another animal, may get back inside. In other instances, squirrels can simply chew their way in through the roof and nest in your attic.

What Does a Squirrel in the Attic Sound Like?

Homeowners often call us because they hear something moving above their ceiling but aren’t sure what it is.

Squirrels generally produce a distinctive quick running or scurrying sound. You may hear rapid movement from one side of the attic to another, scratching, or activity near the soffits and roofline.

The time of day can also provide a clue. Squirrels are primarily active during daylight hours, whereas mice, rats, and raccoons are more likely to become active at night.

If you’re hearing fast running in your attic during the morning or daytime, it’s worth having the attic and exterior of the home inspected.

Humane Squirrel Removal Using a One-Way Door

The best and most humane way to remove squirrels from a home is typically through the use of a one-way door.

Rather than trapping a squirrel inside or attempting to chase it out, we identify the primary entry point and install a specially designed one-way door. The squirrel can leave the attic normally but cannot get back inside.

This approach allows the animal to exit on its own while preventing it from coming back in.

Once we’re confident the squirrel is no longer inside, we return to remove the one-way door and permanently seal the entry point. Other vulnerable areas can also be identified so homeowners know where additional preventative work may be beneficial.

Why You Shouldn’t Simply Seal the Hole

If you discover where a squirrel is entering, it can be tempting to immediately close the opening.

That’s not always a good idea.

If the squirrel is still inside, sealing the hole can trap it in the attic. The animal may then cause additional damage while trying to find another way out or can die inside.

There can also be situations where young squirrels are present, making proper inspection particularly important before exclusion work begins.

Can Squirrels Damage an Attic?

Squirrels aren’t just noisy. Once inside, they may damage insulation and other materials while moving around or building a nesting area.

Their constant gnawing can also create additional concerns around wood and other building materials. The longer squirrels have access to an attic, the greater the opportunity for damage. In very rare instances, we have observed squirrels chewing wiring inside the attic which poses severe risk of fire.

Early squirrel removal can help prevent a small wildlife problem from becoming a more expensive repair.

Professional Squirrel Removal Across Durham Region

If you’re hearing quick running in your attic or have noticed damage around a soffit or roof vent, Affordable Pest Control can help.

We provide squirrel removal in Whitby, squirrel removal in Ajax, squirrel removal in Oshawa, squirrel removal in Pickering, squirrel removal in Bowmanville, squirrel removal in Courtice, squirrel removal in Clarington, and squirrel removal in Uxbridge, as well as surrounding communities.

As a family-run business serving homeowners for over 15 years, we focus on effective, humane solutions rather than simply removing an animal and leaving the entry point unaddressed.

We provide free quotes and same-day service, so if you suspect squirrels are living in your attic, contact Affordable Pest Control to have the problem assessed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if I have squirrels in my attic?
Listen for quick running or scurrying sounds, particularly during daylight hours. You may also notice activity around your soffits or roof vents.

How do you remove squirrels humanely?
We typically use a one-way door that allows the squirrel to leave the home but prevents it from getting back inside.

What happens after the squirrel leaves?
We return to remove the one-way door and seal the entry point to help prevent squirrels from re-entering.

Where do squirrels usually enter a house?
Soffits and roof vents are two of the most common entry points, although squirrels can also exploit gaps and damaged areas along the roofline.

Do you offer same-day squirrel removal?
Yes. Affordable Pest Control offers free quotes and same-day service for squirrel removal throughout our service area.