If you have a squirrel in your home, you may have far more problems than you had bargained for. Not only do these animals leave a ridiculous mass inside your house, whether it be in the attic, the walls of your home, or the basement, but they are the carriers of a number of diseases that pose a risk to you as well. Being bitten or scratched by this animal or coming in contact with its feces or urine can pose a serious risk to the health of any member of your family, including your dog or cat.
It Starts There, But…
If that was all you had to worry about, then you may feel that there wasn’t as much of a need to act quickly to eliminate this animal from your house, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Squirrels are rodents, which means they like to chew on things. It’s the way that they maintain their teeth, ensuring that they are strengthened to be able to chew through knots or other hard materials so they have access to food. If you have ever seen the front teeth of a squirrel, then you know what is being talked about here. They are far larger than the other teeth in their mouth, and need a great deal of care and maintenance to protect them.
How a squirrel strengthens these teeth is true chewing. This is usually accomplished by gnawing on wood or other similar material, but a hard surface will do in almost all cases. What is so worrisome about that is that the hard plastic or rubber coating around the outside of your electrical wiring could be the perfect material for the squirrel to chew on to help maintain its teeth.
The Danger Lurks
Many will read this and think that it is no big deal at all. It doesn’t matter whether a squirrel is trying to strengthen their teeth, but you must consider that squirrels can easily get inside your home. These animals have been known to set up residence in a person’s attic, the walls of their home, or in the basement. Once inside, they need to let their natural instincts continue for them to grow stronger, and that can mean chewing up your electrical wiring to strengthen their teeth.
This can cause several different kinds of emergencies, including creating a short in the wiring, or even causing a fire. Surprisingly, this has been the case in numerous incidents. The squirrel has gnawed its way through the wiring, opening part of the line. The squirrel either became electrocuted, causing it to light on fire, or it opened up the electrical circuit that allowed materials around the wiring to catch on fire. It is totally crazy, but it does happen.
If you have a squirrel that has gotten into your home, you need to act quickly. The house you may be saving could be your own. So, make sure you get rid of this animal as quickly as possible.
Go back to the Shelby County wildlife removal home page.