Despite Winter Weather, Mother Nature Knows Spring is Coming
First squirrel babies of the year found in home
For release: March 12, 2008
Despite another blast of winter weather over the weekend, Mother Nature is still looking ahead to spring. Four baby squirrels were found Monday in a chimney wall cavity of a split-level home in Guelph, Ontario. The homeowners reported hearing babies crying over the weekend and heard sounds in the chimney and walls for several months.
“This is a typical situation for homeowners with an urban wildlife problem,” says Humane Wildlife Control President Bill Dowd. “After the mother gives birth, there is an increased level of activity and homeowners will often hear scurrying or babies crying,” he adds.
Humane Removal Works the Best
Humane Wildlife Control technicians are trained to assess each situation and determine if it’s wise to move the family or keep them intact for a few more days. Stress on the animals, location of the nest and age of the babies are all factors to consider.
We use several proven techniques to keep the families together and allow them to find alternate den or nest sites in the area. In the case of these squirrel babies, we left them with their mother on the roof and she relocated them to a backup nesting site. Raccoon, squirrel and skunk mothers always have backup sites they can use.
Damage to Property Can be Significant
Dowd stresses: “It’s best to seek help as soon as homeowners detect a problem. In the case of these homeowners, they left it for several months knowing they had a squirrel problem. As a result, the damage was more significant and costly.”
Mothers and babies can inflict significant damage on building materials if left in an attic, chimney, roof, wall or foundation. Specific damage can include:
- Chewing of electrical wires that can be a serious fire hazard
- Contamination of insulation from feces and urine that can lead to growth of mould and spread of diseases as well as higher energy bills
- Ripping or chewing of vents, soffit and flashing that can cause further weather damage as well as rot and decay
Different animals exhibit unique behaviours as they care for their young, but homeowners should check for the following signs of animals in the house: chewing or scurrying in the roof, attic, walls, chimney, vents or basement; damaged building materials; feces around entry holes or gathering in certain areas; and increased activity of animals around the area.
Contact with Animals Not Recommended
The public are not advised to attempt to remove, trap or kill animals. Mothers can be very aggressive and these animals carry several diseases. Trapping is illegal in Ontario and inhumane, as babies separated from their mothers will die.
Humane Wildlife Control has been an industry leader since 1989, and has pioneered several humane removal and exclusion techniques for a wide variety of urban animals.
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For more information:
Bill Dowd, President
1-877-222-3459 ext 220