Squirrels

How can Squirrels be a nuisance?

Squirrels are known to den in your attics, walls, sheds, barns and chimneys. They tend to chew and scratch on wire which makes your home a fire hazard. Squirrels are also known to do damage to attic vents, screens, bird feeders, siding, insulation and air ducts.  They eat right out of your garden, crops and bird seed. They can damage bark on your trees.

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel: is a slender rat-sized rodent 10 inches long and weighs about 8 ounces. They have thirteen stripes that run the length of their bodies and broken lighter lines which form spots. These ground squirrels have four toes on their front paws with long slender claws for digging and five toes on their hind feet. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are omnivores, their diet consists of insects such as wireworm, cutworm, caterpillars, ants, also mice, small birds, and are cannibalistic. Strictly diurnal and do hibernate.

Damage Control and Prevention Methods: Call C.R.N.A.C. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels will damage cemeteries, parks, lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, and grazing pastures, causing aesthetic damage and major economic stresses.

Exclusion: Call C.R.N.A.C.

Zoonoses:  Diseases that can be passed from this animal are numerous internal and external parasites.

Tree Squirrels: There are three groups of squirrels, Large tree, Pine, and flying squirrels. Large tree squirrels include:

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger): They are 18-27 inches and weigh 1.75-2.25 lbs.

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis):  They are 16-20 inches and 1.25-1.75 lbs.

Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Griseus): They are similar in size to the Eastern Gray.

Tassel-Eared Squirrel (Sciurus Aberti): They are similar in size to the Eastern Gray.

Pine Squirrels include:

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus): They are 10-15 inches and weigh 1/3-2/3 lbs.

Douglas Pine Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Douglasii): They are similar in size to the Red Squirrel.

Flying Squirrels include:

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucom ys Volans): They are 8-10 inches long.

Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucom ys Sabrinus): They are 10-12 inches long.

Squirrels eat a variety of native foods such as acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, and pecans.  In the summer they eat fruits, berries, fungi, corn, and cultivated fruits.  Pine Squirrels however, depend on coniferous forests for cones and buds.  Douglas Squirrels depend largely on Ponderosa Pine for food.

Damage Control and Prevention Methods:  Call C.R.N.A.C. Squirrels can damage power lines and short out transformers.  They gnaw on wires, enter buildings, and build nests in attics.  They can be devastating to nut and fruit orchards. Squirrels can damage lawns by burying or digging up nuts.

Exclusion:  Call C.R.N.A.C. for the most up-to-date trapping techniques and methods.

Zoonoses:  Diseases that can be passed from squirrels to humans are numerous parasites and diseases from ticks, mange mites, fleas, and bot fly larvae.

 

 

Make an appointment for squirrel removal with your wildlife and pest management professionals online or by phone today!

Now serving Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

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