How to Identify Gray Tree Squirrels

Gray squirrels invade attics and occasionally walls of structures and are found in a wide area of the United States and Canada. They vary in color from gray to a reddish mixture and all black so sometimes it can be difficult to identify these tree squirrels.

Gray Tree Squirrel Control

Gray tree squirrels are rodents and can nest a couple of times a year, having 4-6 young. Commonly living in nests in trees, they invade structures (usually the attic) to nest, rear their young and possibly over winter. When gray tree squirrels invade homes, tree squirrel control and removal is necessary.

Gray Tree Squirrel Damage & Other Problems

Gray squirrels feed on a wide variety of plants. These tree squirrels can damage trees by chewing on bark, and they eat flowers, fruits and vegetables. Inside structures gray tree squirrels can chew on wiring and nest in insulation, damaging the insulting factor and leaving droppings and urine contaminating the insulation. Damage to wiring can interfere with electrical components as well as being a fire danger.

It is important to contact a Critter Control professional when handling gray tree squirrels and implementing effective gray tree squirrel control solutions. Call us today for more information on how to get rid of gray tree squirrels.

How to Identify Fox Tree Squirrels

Fox squirrels are tree squirrels similar in appearance to Gray squirrels but are slightly bigger. They are found in several areas of the United States and Canada. Fox tree squirrels can be reddish and gray in color. They have similar habits and cause tree squirrel promlems as other tree squirrels but are usually not cause as much tree squirrel damge to structures.

If you are experiencing fox tree squirrel problems, contact a Critter Control expert to get rid of the tree squirrels and aid in tree squirrel control.

Flying Tree Squirrel Problems

Flying squirrels are found in wooded areas and in urban neighborhoods. They cause tree squirrel problems when they enter structures like attics and live in colonies there, have young, over winter and cause tree squirrel damage. They are primarily nocturnal animals and feed on a wide variety of food sources, including eggs and fledglings of nesting birds.

Being such a little squirrel, they can cause tree squirrel damage by entering small openings or chewing and enlarging any small hole. Once inside they cause tree squirrel probblems, contaminate insulation, can chew on wire and damage ventilation systems. Their latrines can become attractive to insect and other pests, and odors and stains may result from continued use over time.

Tree squirrels are not associated with rabies, but they do carry a variety of parasites like fleas and ticks. If nesting in structure the nests can attract insects and become a infestation problem for the rest of the house.

Pine Tree Squirrels

Pine tree squirrel problems occur across northern North America south into the Appalachians and Rockies, and on the west coast.

Red tree squirrels are often associated with coniferous forests. The Douglas squirrel is restricted to the west coast from southwestern British Columbia south through the Sierras to northern Baja California.

Pine squirrels are often heavily dependent on coniferous forests for cones and buds but will also eat a variety of other foods common to gray and fox squirrel diets. Douglas squirrels depend largely on Ponderosa pine for food.

Pine squirrels cause tree squirrel damage to Ponderosa pine, jack pine, and paper birch.  These species and others may eat cones and nip twigs to the extent that they interfere with natural reseeding of important forest trees. This is a particular tree squirrel problem in Ponderosa pine forests where pine squirrels may remove 60% to 80% of the cones in poor to fair seed years.  In New England fruit orchards, pine squirrels cause tree squirrel problems when they eat ovaries of cherry blossoms and destroy ripe pears. Pine, gray, and fox squirrels may cause tree squirrel damage when they chew bark of various orchard trees.

In residential areas, tree  squirrels sometimes travel powerlines and short out transformers. They cause tree squirrel damage, gnaw on wires, enter buildings, and build nests in attics. They frequently chew holes through pipelines used in maple syrup production.

Squirrels occasionally damage lawns by burying or searching for and digging up nuts. They will chew bark and clip twigs on ornamental trees or shrubbery planted in yards. Often squirrels take food at feeders intended for birds. Sometimes they chew to enlarge openings of bird houses and then enter to eat nestling songbirds.

If you have a tree squirrel problem and need help getting rid of tree squirrels, call your nearest Critter Control expert. Critter Control tree squirrel removal professionls can help identify tree squirrels, get rid of tree squirrels by tree squirrel trapping and assist with tree squirrel removal and tree squirrel control.

Image from http://wdfw.wa.gov.