Congratulations to these little guys! It’s Squirrel Baby Season

Last Updated: June 2016

Brown little furry, bushy tailed mammal. Faced paced, and great climbers, squirrels have been a common resident to all over the GTA for many years and this season, is squirrel baby season! Congratulations to the expectant mothers out there who are about to be giving birth to a litter of adorable baby squirrels. From time to time, squirrels find their way into homes and business places and they use these spaces for a place to live, sleep and take care of their young. While the idea of baby squirrels seems sweet, having a family of squirrels living in your attic or garage isn’t as pleasant as it seems. Hearing both the mother and the babies crawling around upstairs, making messes, leaving droppings and potentially damaging the property will soon be a problem. This is why, during this baby squirrel season that you keep an ear out and an eyes peeled for evidence of squirrels in your home.

About Squirrels

Squirrels are part of the family of mammals called Sciuridae which also include chipmunks, prairie dogs, woodchucks and more! There are over 265 different species of squirrels worldwide. The species that reside the most in Ontario is called the Eastern Grey Squirrel. They have small bodies with a bushy tail and large eyes. They are great climbers with a unique ability to climb down trees head first.  Squirrels usually live in wood areas in trees with hollowed out spaces, but in some cases, they find shelter in a house attic or in the walls. Squirrels feed on nuts, seeds, fungi and more and sometimes exhibit behavior where they store or hide food in different locations for later use.

Interesting Facts about Squirrels

  • Sometimes squirrels pretend to bury their food to trick thieves from taking it
  • Squirrels can find their food even if its buried in the snow
  • Squirrel don’t hibernate
  • Squirrels will eat more during the winter to keep themselves warm

Now that it is quickly approaching squirrel baby season, as previously mentioned, it is important to be aware of the possibility of hosting a family of squirrels in your home! Female squirrel reach sexual maturity at around 1 year and 1-2 years in male squirrels. Squirrel baby season occurs 1-2 times a year, giving birth to a litter of kits after a gestation period of 33-46 weeks. Baby squirrels are born as small as 1 inch. They are born toothless, with no fur, blind and dependent on only their mother for the first two to three months of their life and weaned off. The times vary depending on environmental factors but squirrels generally give birth as early as March. The litter consists of about 2-8 offspring but with a low chance of survival the first year.  Once they reach adulthood, their life span ranges about 5-10 years.

Baby Squirrel Removal

In the event where you find yourself faced with a family of squirrels on your property (squirrel baby season or not), call for a professional to help you remove it. Trying to manage the situation yourself puts the babies, the mother and yourself at risk of injury. Baby squirrels, like all babies are very fragile and extremely dependent on their mother. In some cases, people only remove the adult squirrel, leaving the babies alone with no support. Professional wildlife removal companies evaluate the entire situation before taking any action. When a company like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated conducts baby squirrel removal, the technicians take precautions that minimize the chance of injury. This is why calling for a professional is the best solution for baby squirrel removal. Avoid using ‘DIY’ methods and contact a licensed wildlife removal company like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated who can take care of it humanely, effectively and professionally. If you do find an injured squirrel, call for a rehabilitation center like Procyon Wildlife or Toronto Wildlife Center for instructions on what to do.

If you notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior squirrel baby season services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated at 1.800.981.0330 !

 

 

How to Safely Handle Baby Squirrel Removal

Last Updated: June 2016

It’s almost that time of year again where we welcome new batches of baby squirrels into the world. Spring time is the season where mother squirrels give birth, so get ready and read up, because you probably don’t want to get yourself in a baby squirrel removal situation this year!

Ontario is home to many different types of wildlife, and as you’re probably aware, one of the types you are more likely to see are squirrels. It is not uncommon to be walking down the street to see a squirrel run by right past you across the street, or another climbing up the tree right by the park. Squirrels have long inhabited in both the rural and urban areas of Ontario multiplying year after year around the spring season. While the miracle of birth is always a wonderful thing, there are certain things to be aware of when it comes to wildlife, because although its nice sharing the space outside being neighbors with them, you probably won’t want them inside the house as your new roommates.

Dealing with baby squirrel removal can be a nuisance, so it’s doesn’t hurt to learn about them and what to do when you find yourself with one in or around your home!

Toronto is home to the Eastern Grey Squirrel – a quick footed, 14-20 inch mammal who likes to eat seeds, fruits and sometimes even eggs.  Female squirrels can give birth up to two times a year with breeding season being around either January to February or around the month of June. In the mating process, the female omits a scent that attracts the male squirrels. Several male squirrels then compete for the female and the most dominant male will be selected. During pregnancy, these female squirrels will usually take shelter in a hollow tree where the gestation period lasts about 45 days resulting in a litter of about 5 baby squirrels.  Squirrels are maternal and territorial creatures. Once the babies are born, the mother squirrel will care for them and start weaning them around the age of 8 weeks. They will then continue to nurse the babies for several more weeks. On about the 11th week, the baby squirrels will be taking strides further from their mother until they are completely matured.

Baby Squirrels

Once baby squirrels are born, they appear very pink and hairless. They weigh approximately 14-16 grams and are incapable of sight. As they age, at about 4-5 weeks the baby squirrels fur has already begun to grow and is beginning to thicken. Their eyes are also beginning to open and their incisors are developing allowing them to eat some solid foods.  By the time baby squirrel are 7 weeks old, they’ve almost taken the appearance of a miniature version of a fully developed squirrel. The fur thickness and color is just about the same of an adult squirrel and their tails are getting furry. The eyes of a 6-7 week old squirrel are open with better vision allowing them to see and focus more clearly. Once the squirrel has reached the age of 8 weeks, they are almost fully grown and are showing more independent behavior as they have already begun weaning off their mother.  Baby squirrels are still considered immature at 11-18 weeks but will have gotten used to venturing away and around the nest.

What sometimes happens during the baby squirrel development process is that the mother squirrel gets separated from her young. This can happen for a number of different reasons. It may be due to the nest failing due to weather conditions such as wind, snow or rain. A predator may have gotten between the squirrel and her babies or perhaps the squirrel has been removed. These instances may leave the baby squirrels orphaned. There are several options and steps you can take if you encounter a baby squirrel with no mother. Always be sure to check with your city or province regulations before handling any wild animal. In certain instances, hiring a professional may be required for baby squirrel removal to help handle the situation on your property.

How to help care for an orphaned baby squirrel

These steps are meant as a last option. Always consult with a professional wildlife rehabilitation center before taking any action. 

  1. Attempt to reunite the baby squirrels with its mother. If there is a chance that you can help them get back together then do so. You can help this process by ensuring that the baby squirrels are warm and uninjured. If the baby is cold or injured, you can help warm the baby by using a hot water bottle. Handling a baby squirrel will not keep the mother squirrel from reuniting the baby, so picking the baby up will not be an issue. If there is no sight or trace of the mother squirrel, you can help care for the baby squirrels yourself.
  2. Once you’ve determined that the baby squirrel is indeed an orphan and you would like to take matters into your own hands, call a squirrel rehabilitation center first. After receiving instructions from them, check to see if there are any injuries. If there are, then see a veterinarian and do not try to deal with serious injuries on your own.
  3. Ensure that the baby squirrels are warm. You can do this by setting up a hot water bottle or heating pad to help keep them heated. Baby squirrels cannot produce their own heat.
  4. Try to attempt to reunite the baby squirrel with its mother again. You should not try to keep the squirrel as a pet. This process is to help rehabilitate the baby squirrel not to raise it domestically.
  5. If the mother is still absent, continue to help the baby squirrel. Once the baby squirrel has matured, release the squirrel back into the wild at a safe distance away from pets or another animals.

Although the steps stated can be an option (if approved by your city or province), handling wild animals on your own is not best way to take care of the situation. If you can, try to seek out a professional for these types of services including baby squirrel removal or squirrel control if they are on your property. When looking for baby squirrel removal or squirrel control, consider SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated. We provide superior wildlife removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. If you’re looking to prevent squirrels from coming in, and proof your home instead, we can do that to. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for Baby Squirrel Removal!

 

Removing Squirrels

Last Updated: May 2016

Our Squirrel Removal technicians are ready to help in Toronto, Richmond Hill and the GTA. Removing squirrels can be costly if you don’t act fast. Coming into winter these critters will be looking for somewhere warm and dry to spend the cold winter months. The ideal space is your attic but keeping them out is the best option. Trim the trees from your house to reduce roof access. Remove rotten pumpkins that will attract them. Don’t overfill bird feeders and keep your pet bowls inside. Squirrels can cause a lot of damage if they enter your home. Some homeowners / business owners know they have squirrels and choose to do nothing about it, as they see no immediate problem. However it is. Squirrels teeth constantly grow and to keep them short and sharp squirrels gnaw on objects. This may be branches or nuts outside but in your home it will be your house structure, wires or whatever you have in the squirrels immediate space. Holes in the structure of your house will be costly to fix and increase your energy bill. Chewed wires are a fired hazard. It is common in Ontario for Squirrels to be blamed for power outages, one squirrel got electrocuted and knock out the whole power of Toronto’s Financial Sector for two hours. Generally animals play a large part in outages outside of the downtown area and cause house fires. Removing squirrels immediately will help avoid costly wildlife damage. The amount of damage depends on how long they remain in your attic.They will not cause a lot of damage if they have been in your attic for less than 2 weeks. If it has been a few months though the damage may be substantial. Attic Insulation can be compromised. Squirrels trample the insulation running back and forth, use it for nests and areas will be covered in urine and feces

Additional side effects to the physical damage is the noise they cause. We get many early phone calls from homeowners woken by the squirrels running back and forth the attic. They are quite noisy and irritating. If squirrels die in a unreachable area in your home the smell of their decay can be quite strong and can last for a few weeks. Removing squirrels immediately will help avoid this. With so many dangers in working at heights and possible parasites from the squirrel feces and getting bit or scratched by the squirrel itself, it’s best to call someone who knows the dangers of the job.

Baby Squirrel Removal

Please read further on our baby squirrel removal method. Squirrels have babies twice a year, spring and fall. With babies involved, it is a different removal procedure as mother and babies need to be reunited outside. Read our article Baby Squirrel Removal.

Amazing Squirrel Fact:

Although squirrels rarely interact, they learn who their nearby relatives are by hearing their unique calls. If they fail to hear a relative’s calls for a few days, they may investigate and rescue orphans.

Removing Squirrels

SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated removes squirrels with the use of one-way doors and occasionally live trapping to ensure squirrels do not get trapped inside, causing more unnecessary damage. Our experienced technicians will then seal all entry points with gauge screening, preventing the return of nuisance pests. If requested we will determine any other vulnerable areas of your home and secure these areas using rust proof screens to prevent them from getting back in. By Ontario law the squirrels are then released one kilometer away. A squirrel nest, called a “drey”, is usually built high up in the trees but if no tree is available, the squirrel will build it in the next best thing: your attic. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated always release the animal in the best possible area for the squirrel to easily adapt to. Squirrels have oil in their fur that can leave a scent behind for years in your home, so even if that animal is removed, if another comes around it could smell the scent and make itself at home. Ensure all the weak areas of your home are reinforced and all holes are covered – wildlife proofing your property.

SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated has plenty experience removing squirrels in attics, squirrels in businesses, removing squirrels from walls, removing squirrels from soffits.

Removing Squirrels? Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated at 1.800.981.0330

Baby Squirrel Removal

Last Updated: May 2021

Two species of squirrels found in Ontario are the grey squirrel and the red squirrel. The grey squirrel and the red squirrel produce babies twice annually. Most squirrel litters are born in February or March, and July or August. A litter comprises of one to eight babies but five or six are most common.  The baby squirrels are naked, blind and deaf. The mother feeds them every two to four hours for several weeks. At 7-8 weeks, they start to follow their mother around within the den site. If the den is inside your attic this is when you will hear noise if you haven’t already noticed the cries.

Noise in your attic is usually caused by an unexpected guest, often a squirrel. Squirrels are one of the most common wildlife pests to be in your attic. One common complaint is the hearing of “scratching” noises, which usually ends up being a mother squirrel in the attic. The young squirrels begin to eat solid food and are weaned at 10-11 weeks of age. A month later, they start to leave the den. If there are not too many squirrels in the area, the young will build nests nearby. Otherwise, they will be chased away to less crowded feeding areas. Typically some of the squirrels will continue to use the birthing den, thus it is important to have baby squirrel removal conducted as they will keep returning to your attic.

Professional Baby Squirrel Removal

SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated will arrive at your home, inspect the area and provide you with a thorough outline of what the problem is, the main entry points and the squirrel removal options you have. The next step (upon hire) is an attic inspection. This is a hands on approach and allows us to invade the animals space. We can identify if there are babies involved or if it’s only adults. During the search of the attic, the technician must be aware that the mother squirrel may be lurking in the dark. It is her instinctive nature to protect her young and may be provoked when they approached. The mother squirrel needs to be chased out of the attic through the one-way door or kept at bay in order to get to the babies. The standard humane method for baby squirrel removal is by sealing all the entry points except one, and installing a one-way door at the main entry hole. This ensures the mother squirrel leaves and cannot re-enter. This method keeps squirrels from being locked inside a building and it greatly reduces the possibility of property damage. The technician will then be able to seek out the babies and remove them from the property. Once the technician have the babies, they are placed in an insulated heated box close to the one-way door installed. When the mother feels that it is safe, she will come back and relocate the babies one by one to the pre-established den.

Do-it-yourself Baby Squirrel Removal

Baby Season is the time squirrels and other wildlife start to have their babies. It is important during baby season if you hear or see any signs of wildlife in your home to check straight away for babies. Precautions must be taken with conducting baby squirrel removal, as it involves dependents which becomes more complicated. Never conduct baby squirrel removal on your own, contact an experienced technician. Ontario has strong animal welfare legislation, enforcing strong laws and tough penalties. Throughout the  GTA, Richmond Hill, Markham, Scarborough etc. it is an offence to cause or permit distress to an animal.

“Their goal is to ensure Ontario’s animals are protected and treated in the humane manner that our society expects”.

                                                                                           Ministry of Natural Resources, 2015.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recommends hiring a licensed professional like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated to trap them and remove the animal especially during baby season. The MNR have issued licenses to professionals like ourselves with certain protocols must be followed. Please do not try and remove the babies yourself.

First thing you do is locate where the noises are coming from. Second thing you need to check, is if there are babies. Babies are usually noisy, you can hear them chirping, as they cry for their mother to be fed. The mother will be in and out of the nest to get food and water, so you may not hear the thuds of their paws at certain times of the morning and daylight hours.

Tips to help Identify Wildlife

  • Squirrels jump around a lot – day and night! Squirrels like to hide their food, but they have a very short memory, so they scurry around looking for the food they hid. They are very noisy.
  • Raccoons are larger than squirrels and you will hear sliding while it moves around slowly or fixes up its Raccoons are a lot louder than squirrels.
  • Mice are harder to hear, small mice don’t make too many loud noises and the evidence they are there is when they walk out in the open of your home. However larger mice, who feel they are safe may get loud and you will probably need the assistance of experts.
  • Birds in your attic you may occasionally hear scurrying or if there is babies you will hear chirping.

Within a couple weeks, the babies will start to move around and squeak and thump.  By about 4 weeks of age, they begin to explore the attic – especially when the mother is not there. The mother comes and goes from the attic during the day and the babies spend a lot of time running around at night!

Mothers are very protective of their young and do not let any animal near them. As mother wildlife are very protective, they can be quite vicious. If you find the babies watch out for the mother as she may be lurking not too far.

If you have any over laying branches onto your roof you should cut these away, reducing access to you roof. Any loss shingles or broken timber should be fixed as raccoons/squirrels etc. can gnaw and claw at weak areas very quickly. We offer wildlife removal and prevention. Please call us for more information and free advice on your wildlife problems.

Call SOS Wildlife for Baby Squirrel Removal at 647-994-9453

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