My husband and I often joke about how watching squirrels frolic in our yard is more entertaining than watching prime time TV; there’s action, flirtation, silly antics etc. However, when the weather turned cold this fall and we discovered that we had squirrels in the attic of our Mooresville, North Carolina home we were not amused.

A few days before my husband and I confirmed that the furry little rodents were nesting in our home, I was talking to my friend Jeanie who lives in Davidson, North Carolina about the scampering, scurrying, and scratching sounds emanating from my attic during the day. Ironically, she said she heard similar sounds in her home and she suspected she had squirrels in her attic as well.

Determined to find out the cause of the sounds, I put on my detective hat and began doing a little research online. I found that according to the Humane Society of the United States, the sound of scampering during the day could be one of the first signs of squirrels nesting within the home since they are active as they enter and exit the attic to forage for food. According to Paws.org, squirrels don’t hibernate during the winter, but they build warm, cozy nests where they can rest and where mother squirrels can potentially give birth. Evidently, a house with openings near the attic and eaves is like hanging a “We Have Vacancy” sign and the little rodents will build a den in one’s home.

As I continued to read about squirrels in attic, I realized that there were two major problems with having these critters in the home. My heart sank when I scrolled through the Humane Society’s site and read that squirrels, especially juvenile squirrels, can fall into wall cavities and may die if they can’t scratch their way out.  I couldn’t stand the idea of the little cuties dying in our home and I didn’t want the odor of a deceased animal infiltrating our house. The second factor that alarmed me is the likelihood that squirrels will chew through the wiring of one’s home, which is a fire hazard!

At this point, I realized that we needed to do something about the squirrels living in our attic. My research made me realize that I needed to find a reputable animal removal company to help us with our squirrel infestation. A friend who lives in Denver, North Carolina suggested that I call Animal Solutions Inc.  This company humanely removed the squirrels that were nesting in our attic and sealed the openings to our home.  Now my husband and I can enjoy the playful antics of the squirrels without worrying that they will nest in our attic.