How to Fix a Squirrel Hole in an Attic

Squirrels aren't so cute when they're feeding on your electrical wires.

Squirrels aren't so cute when they're feeding on your electrical wires.

The most important thing you can do before fixing a squirrel hole in your attic is to make sure all the squirrels have left the attic. More often than not, a mother came there to give birth, and there may be one or more babies still in the nest. If you block all the holes before the baby can get out, either it will die or the mother may gnaw a new hole.

Squirrels in the Attic

Squirrels thrive in hardwood forests, where nuts and acorns are plentiful, but they are inquisitive and resourceful, and can establish nests in various parts of your house, including the chimney and the attic. They often enter the attic by climbing through holes in the soffit or siding that either weren't properly sealed or were created by rotting wood. There is often more than one such hole. Squirrels breed twice a year, from late winter to early spring and from late summer to early autumn. These are the times when you're most likely to have squirrels in the attic.

Establishing the Main Entrance

Getting rid of squirrels is a multistep procedure that ends with sealing the main hole they use. Once you know you have an infestation, you may be able to visually establish the main entrance by actually seeing one or more squirrels using it. Squirrels are active during the day, so that scenario isn't as farfetched as it sounds. Another way to establish the main entrance is to spread flour around all the holes, and after a day or two, note where the tracks are. It's important to know which is the main entrance because it is the last one you should cover.

Patching the Small Holes

Once you've established the main entrance, you can safely cover the other holes. The sounds you make while doing this may be enough to drive the squirrels away, but a number of methods may aid in encouraging them to leave: play a radio on a talk station in the attic, spread used cat litter or ammonia-soaked rags close to their nest and keep a light shining. You can repair many smaller holes with foam insulation or caulk, but to repair larger ones, you may need to cut out some rotted wood and replace it. You should attach wire mesh to the interior framing as an extra deterrent.

Sealing the Main Entrance

Once all the auxiliary entrance routes are covered over, patch the main one. Before you do, however, it's important to be sure the squirrels are gone. Listen for the sounds of scrambling feet or chewing coming from the attic, and spread flour around the hole. Look for tracks in the flour over a period of a few days. Once you're sure they're gone, go ahead and do what you need to do to close the hole. After you're done, form a wire mesh barrier around the inside of the hole, and nail or staple it to the framing.

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