Squirrel Removal and Facts

The California Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi is common through the western United States. The California Ground Squirrel is a member of the rodent family. The squirrel measures 12-18 inches from noes to tail and weighs approximently one pound. Ground squirrels are active year-round and primerily live in burrows. They feed on a great variety of foods, such as nuts, seeds, fungi, fruits, and of course the seed in your birdfeeder. Ground squirrels breed year-round, but there are two peak seasons, winter and summer months. After six weeks, two to four young are born and raised in the nest. California Ground Squirrels are frequently preyed on by rattlesnakes. They are also preyed on by eagles, raccoons, foxes, badgers, and weasels.

Nuisance Concerns

Squirrels have easily adapted to humans. They frequently use structures as nesting areas and love living in warm attics. Squirrels usally find a small hole not sealed when the home was built, a screen that is off, or chew straight through to gain access. They bring nesting material into the home and can be very noisy running through the attic. Squirrels can be an extreme fire hazard in homes by bringing in nesting materials and chewing on wires. They often fall down the oven flue or chimeny flue and gain acces to the fireplace. Squirrels can leave behind great ammounts of droppings and urine in the attic. The droppings not only smell bad, but they pose a biohazardous risk, and the smell attracts new squirrels. I highly recommend attic decontamination services if you've had squirrels living in your attic.