When people find squirrels in their attics, it can be annoying and even cost them money. These fast-moving animals can damage your property and make noise in your home. One successful and humane way to get them out of your attic is to use doors that only open one way. This guide will show you step-by-step how to use one-way doors to get rid of squirrels in your attic.
How to Understand the One-Way Door Idea
There are special doors called “one-way doors” that let animals leave your attic but not come back in. The way they work is simple: if a squirrel goes out through the door to get food or water, it can’t come back in because the door only moves outward. It works well and won’t hurt the squirrels, so you can get them to leave your attic.
The Step-by-Step Method
Inspection: First, look through your attic to find the places where squirrels are getting in and out. Look for holes or chew marks, as well as holes or chew marks around vents, soffits, and roofs.
- Choosing the Right Door: Choose a one-way door that is made to keep squirrels out. Most of the time, these doors are made of stainless steel or other materials that don’t rust.
- Installation: Put the one-way door securely over the main way the squirrels are getting out. Make sure the lid is on tight and the rats can’t open it.
- Keep an eye on the one-way door to make sure that squirrels are using it to get out of the attic. You may need to wait because it could take them a while to get used to the new exit.
- Seal Off Other Possible Entry Points: While the one-way door is in place, make sure that no other possible entry points are left open. This will stop rats from finding other ways to get into your attic.
- Taking Down the Door: Carefully take down the one-way door when you’re sure that all the squirrels have left the attic.
- Sealing the Exit Point: Once the door is gone, completely seal the exit point to stop anyone from getting in again. Make things that will last, like steel mesh or heavy-duty sealer.
As a result of the invasion, the squirrels may have left behind poop, damaged insulation, or chewed wires in your attic. Clean up and fix any damage in your attic to get it back to normal.
How One-Way Doors Work
There are several good reasons why one-way doors work:
- Humane: They don’t hurt squirrels when they let them out of your attic, which is in line with ethical wildlife removal methods.
- Stop Re-Entry: Once squirrels leave, they can’t come back. This stops the infestation loop.
- Low upkeep: Compared to other ways to get rid of things, like traps, one-way doors are pretty low upkeep.
- Durable: They last a long time and can be used again if needed for future outbreaks.
Getting help from a professional
Some people can install one-way doors on their own, but there are times when you should really get professional help:
- Large Infestations: If your attic is home to a lot of squirrels, you should get professional help to get rid of them quickly and completely.
- Complex Attic Structures: If your attic has a complicated layout, you may need to hire a professional to help you find all the entry spots and make sure they are properly sealed.
- Legal Considerations: Depending on where you live, there may be rules about how to get rid of wildlife on your land. Professionals know all of the rules and laws in their area.
In conclusion, one-way doors are a good and reasonable way to get squirrels out of your attic. If you follow the steps carefully and think about getting professional help if you need to, you can safely get rid of squirrels and keep them out of your home in the future.
At Squirrel Control Lindsay we have many years of experience dealing with squirrels. We focus on safe and ethical wildlife animal extractions from residential and commercial properties with proven methods in accordance with federal and local rules and regulations