How do I know if I have squirrels or mice in the attic?

Squirrels are much louder and active during the day (especially morning/evening). Mice are mostly nocturnal and make very faint scratching sounds.

Squirrel Removal & Control Services

Q: What should I do if a squirrel is in my chimney?

Do not start a fire. Call a professional. We can safely remove the squirrel and install a chimney cap to prevent future entry.

Q: Do squirrels leave the attic in the winter?

No. Squirrels do not hibernate. They seek the warmth of your attic specifically during the late fall and winter to survive the harsh Canadian elements.

Grey and Red squirrels are common across the Greater Toronto Area, but they become a significant threat when they choose your attic or chimney as their next nesting site. While they may seem harmless, squirrels are members of the rodent family, meaning they have a biological “need” to gnaw on hard materials including your home’s structural beams and electrical wiring.

Pestisect provides expert, humane squirrel removal and permanent roofline sealing to protect your home from these high-climbing pests.

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Squirrel

The Danger of Squirrels in the Attic

Squirrels are surprisingly destructive once they bypass your roofline.

Fire Risk

Like mice and rats, squirrels chew on electrical wires to keep their teeth filed down. Exposed wires in the dry, dusty environment of an attic are a primary cause of house fires.

Moisture Damage

Squirrels often enter through soffits or by chewing through fascia boards. These holes allow rain and snow to enter your attic, leading to mold and wood rot.

Internal Destruction

They shred attic insulation to build nests, reducing your home's ability to retain heat and driving up energy bills. 4. Noise & Stress: Squirrels are most active at dawn and dusk. The loud scurrying, scratching, and nut-rolling noises can be extremely disruptive to your sleep and peace of mind.

What is a One-Way Wildlife Door? A one-way door is a humane exclusion device mounted directly over a wildlife entry hole. It features a spring-loaded flap that allows an animal, like a squirrel, to exit the attic to forage for food, but mechanically prevents them from pulling the door back open to re-enter.

Industry Fast Facts:

Unlike many other wildlife species, squirrels actually have two distinct breeding seasons in Ontario: early spring (March) and late summer (August).
A squirrel’s front incisor teeth never stop growing. They must chew on hard materials (like wood, plastic, or wires) to grind them down up to six inches per year.
Squirrels do not hibernate. They remain active all winter, making your heated attic a highly sought-after winter survival den.

Squirrel Remove Process

Our Squirrel Exclusion Protocol

We do not use poison for squirrel control (it is ineffective and often illegal for wildlife). Instead, we use “Exclusion Sealing” — a permanent solution that uses the squirrel’s own behavior to remove them.

Comprehensive Roofline Audit

Our technicians inspect your entire roofline, paying close attention to soffits, fascia, roof vents, and "junctions" where two roofs meet. Squirrels are excellent climbers and can find weak spots 30 feet in the air.

One-Way Door Installation

Once we find the entry hole, we install a specialized one-way door. When the squirrel leaves in the morning to forage for food, the spring-loaded door allows them out but locks them out of the attic.

Steel Mesh Reinforcement

Squirrels can chew through wood, plastic, and even thin aluminum. Pestisect uses heavy-duty, galvanized steel mesh to seal both the active entry point and any vulnerable "secondary" spots around your roof that a squirrel might try to attack next.

Baby Check (Seasonal)

During spring and late summer baby seasons, we perform a diligent check for nests. If babies are present, they are safely removed and placed in an exterior "Reunion Box" for the mother to retrieve.

Service Areas for Squirrel Control

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Squirrel Removal Toronto

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Squirrel Removal Brampton

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Squirrel Removal Mississauga

Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrels

Can I just use a squirrel repellent spray?

Most store-bought repellents (based on pepper or predator urine) have a very short-lived effect. Once a squirrel has built a nest and has a litter of babies, a bad smell is not enough to make them abandon their “home.” Permanent physical exclusion with steel is the only reliable method.

Do squirrels leave the attic in the winter?

Actually, squirrels are most likely to enter your attic *during* the late fall and winter. They seek the warmth provided by your home’s heating system and the protection from the harsh Ontario elements. They do not hibernate; they remain active all winter.

How do I know if I have squirrels or mice?

Noise is the biggest indicator. Mice are very light and make quiet scratching sounds, usually at night. Squirrels are larger and heavier; you will hear “thumping,” heavy scurrying, and “rolling” sounds (from them burying nuts), usually at sunrise and sunset.

What should I do if a squirrel is in my chimney?

Do not start a fire. This will not “smoke them out” — it will likely kill them, leading to a terrible odor and a permanent blockage in your chimney. Call Pestisect. We have specialized tools to safely remove animals from chimney flues and can install protective chimney caps to prevent them from coming back.

Book a Squirrel Inspection

Don’t let squirrels invade your home or business. Contact our expert wildlife control specialists today for a detailed inspection and a safe, customized removal plan.