Even if squirrels don't look the part, they can be quite the menace. One problem is squirrel droppings. If not taken care of on time you may have even more company from these little fellas in the near future.
So what do squirrel droppings look like? How to remove them and what problems can they bring? These are some of the questions this article will help answer.
So which are the most common places where you can find squirrel droppings?
Most likely, you will find squirrel poop near trees and bird feeders. But outside your house is not the only place you can find them.
If squirrels are able to go through a gap or a hole, they will use it as an entry point to get inside. You can find them in the shed, the pest-friendly basement, or high areas such as attics and lofts providing them with shelter or easy access to food. Squirrel droppings will be scattered around the place as they can poop while they are on the move.
How can you recognise squirrel droppings? Let's start with the comparison between the rats' and squirrels' feces.
They look quite alike as they both are smooth and dark brown in colour, the difference being that the squirrel ones are slightly bigger.
Squirrel droppings size is around 9mm. cylindrical and with rounded edges. The diameter is about 8 mm. They tend to get lighter with age, and their colour changes to red or brown.
The main thing that differs from other animals is the unique smell based on their diet, which is not as diverse as other pests.
Squirrel droppings and urine can cause odour problems which can bring mould into the loft and, with that, health risks. Pheromones from the unpleasant smell of squirrel poop can attract even more squirrels and, with that, even more problems.
Squirrels themselves can often bring fleas and ticks, diseases, allergic reactions from their fur and issues for those with asthma.
To clean up the squirrel droppings, you must remove them first. You can do that on hand or with a vacuum.
If you decide to do it by hand, don't touch the squirrel poop directly. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves and a mask for protection. Use the vacuum to pick up the squirrel droppings if you want to do it faster and easier but with the right accessories.
After finishing that, you must sanitise the area to eliminate the bacteria completely. Bleach and water will do the trick. Of course, if possible, you'll need to let in some fresh air. If not, be very careful not to suffocate yourself.
Just remember there will be no point in cleaning if you haven't dealt with the main problem—the pest itself.
Red and grey squirrels are the most common species in London and across the UK. It's good to know that red squirrels are in danger of extinction, so be careful not to harm them.
Once squirrels are nesting inside the house, it will be hard not to hear them or even see them entering the premises when they look for food.
Once winter comes, they will start searching for shelter. Inside they quickly get comfortable and get possessive, making it even harder to get rid of them. They can be quite problematic as they start chewing and ripping things like the ceiling and electrical wires.
Did we mention the squirrel droppings? They can contaminate the cold water tanks. This might be the best time to call squirrel pest control services and remove pesky rodents safely and humanely.
Safe to say squirrels can cause a lot of problems. That doesn't mean you should look at them as something terrible. They're still cute and fluffy, and you can enjoy their company in the park, but it's always good to be informed and ready if they decide to become your roommates.