A gray squirrel outdoors, leaning against a log and looking curiously at the camera. Squirrels are mostly harmless, but sometimes appear in numbers that require professional squirrel control.

Many people think squirrels are cute and relatively harmless. While this is usually the case, squirrels can be a real nuisance if they get too comfortable in your yard. They may not be as notorious as rats and mice when it comes to property damage, but they can still do their fair share.

Many wildlife experts recommend that you don’t feed wild squirrels in your yard. Read on to learn a few reasons why this is, and how professional squirrel control from Springer Professional Home Services can help you keep your home safe.

Dangers of Feeding Squirrels

The biggest potential problem with feeding squirrels in your yard is that they will eventually lose their natural fear of humans. While it might sound appealing to make friends with your local squirrel population, it’s important for wild animals to be wary of humans, both for their safety and our own.

Hazards Caused By Squirrels

While squirrels aren’t harmful to people most of the time, they may bite under certain circumstances. The biggest health threat caused by squirrels is actually caused by the parasites they carry with them. Like their fellow rodents, they can carry ticks and fleas, which in turn can carry diseases like Lyme disease and plague. Squirrel droppings can also cause diseases like leptospirosis and salmonellosis.

Squirrels can also cause property damage when they gnaw on building materials. They’ll chew on wood, insulation, drywall, and even electrical wires – which, as you can imagine, can get very dangerous, as it presents a fire hazard.

What Do Squirrels Eat in the Wild?

The foods that squirrels like to eat are conveniently located in your average birdfeeder; nuts, seeds, and grains. They’ll also eat fungi, fruits, and sometimes insects.

Squirrels like to live near humans because they see us as an easy food source. Even if you don’t intentionally set food out for squirrels, they’ll find it somewhere. Easy sources include garbage cans and bird feeders. Basically, they’ll eat anything they can get their paws on – whether it’s good for them or not.

Can Squirrels Eat “People Food”?

Squirrels can and will eat “people food,” but that doesn’t mean it’s good for them. Some of our common foods, like avocados, can be deadly for squirrels. They’ll also chow down on plastic or foil wrapped around food, which can cause deadly gut blockages.

How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Yard

If you want to protect your property from the damaging habits of hungry squirrels (and protect the squirrels from themselves) there are a few things you can do.

Keep a locking lid on your outdoor trash cans.
Invest in a squirrel-proof bird feeder.
Sweep up food spills outdoors promptly.

Basically, your strategy to keep squirrels out of your yard is very similar to preventing any other rodent problem; remove their food source or make it harder for them to get to it. And if your problem just isn’t going away, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Call Springer Professional Home Services to Take Care of Squirrel Control Services

Feeding squirrels in your yard can lead to a lot of unforeseen issues. Squirrels may seem completely harmless, but if they get too comfortable, they can be a real menace to your home’s safety. For cases like this, squirrel control from Springer Professional Home Services is your best bet. We have 35 years of experience that we’re ready to put to work keeping your home safe.

Give us a call to get started with a free quote!