Squirrel removal and exclusion

Squirrels are the most common animal I find in north Georgia attics. They are active in daylight, so the classic sign is scratching and running overhead at sunrise and again late in the afternoon. A squirrel's teeth never stop growing, and wiring is one of the things they chew.

Signs of squirrels

• Scratching, scurrying or rolling sounds in the ceiling or walls in the morning and late afternoon
• Chewed holes at roof returns, gable vents, soffits or where the roof meets the siding
• Squirrels running along limbs that hang over the roof
• Nesting material or chewed insulation in the attic

How I handle it

1. Inspect the roof line

   Squirrels can get through a surprisingly small gap. I look for the hole they are using and every other one they could use.

2. Get them out

   Usually with one-way exclusion doors over the active hole, so the squirrels leave and cannot get back in. Trapping is used where it fits the job better.

3. Seal the house

   Once they are out, every gap is closed with metal, not foam or screen they can chew through.

4. Cut off the highway

   If limbs overhang the roof, I will tell you which ones need trimming so the next squirrel cannot jump straight back on.

What customers say

★★★★★ 4.9 on Google · 80 reviews

• ★★★★★

  By far one of the BEST services we have ever received! We had squirrels and bats getting into our home, and this company responded quickly and took care of everything efficiently. The owner truly goes above and beyond to make sure you and your family are safe. He was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely cared about getting the problem resolved the right way. Not only did he remove the animals quickly and effectively, but he also repaired the areas of our home where they were getting in and made sure everything was properly secured to help prevent future issues. If you are dealing with any kind of wildlife or animal control issue, I cannot recommend this company enough! Quick, effective, responsive, and truly cares about their customers. Five stars all the way!

  Heather B. · September 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  Chose Total Animal Control over 2 other companies to remove squirrels from attic and seal roof line .. Brandon is a straight shooter and quoted a fair price without adding a bunch of extras . Was so happy with his service , He is now replacing my old gutter guards with new ones , which I’ve been wanting to do for years . Definitely recommend Brandon and Total Animal Control

  Liz R. · April 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  Had squirrels in our attic. Brandon was able to get them out and seal up all the entrances

  Tanner H. · April 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  Brandon was punctual, knowledgeable, kind and friendly. He arrived promptly, described the process of catching (and releasing) the squirrels that had entered our attic. He went into the attic and confirmed their existence while quickly finding their exterior, entry ways. He caught all the squirrels within a few days and repaired the holes. He also provided advice regarding roof gutters. I highly recommend him! He knows his business of rodent removal and it was a pleasure working with him.

  Kim P. · February 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  We had a squirrel break through the roof and contacted them. Fast response. He sealed up the hole thy created and shielded off vulnerable areas on the roof. Great service. Worked fast. I would recommend.

  N. D. · January 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  A Squirrel had made a nest in my chimney and birthed babies there. Brandon successfully removed the babies and mama.He is very personable, was on time, and very thorough with his work. I would highly recommend using this business!

  Miriam T. · August 2025 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  Brandon at Total Animal Control was great! He came out, did an assessment of the squirrel situation in my attic, FOUND baby squirrels! He removed them for rehabilitation, and found the entry points where the squirrels were coming in. Set a one way trap so the could get out but not back in. After all we’re out, he sealed the holes and repaired the damage! AWESOME CUSTOMER SERVICE!

  Teresa J. · March 2025 · Google review

Reviews are copied word for word from Google. Older ones mention Total Animal Control, the company’s former name. Read all 80 reviews on Google

Is it a gray squirrel, a fox squirrel or a flying squirrel?

The gray squirrel is the most common squirrel in Georgia and the one most often found in attics. Adults weigh from about 12 ounces to a pound and a half, and although there is some color variation, most look very similar. Gray squirrels live statewide, in towns as well as woods, and they can be very numerous in suburbs.

The fox squirrel also lives statewide but is less common and patchier. It is larger, from one pound to nearly three, and its color varies wildly, from pure black to pure blond with every mix in between. In Georgia it is most often found in mature pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands.

Flying squirrels are smaller and are active at night. If the noise overhead starts after dark, a flying squirrel is one possibility, along with mice and bats. Georgia's rules for licensed operators treat gray and flying squirrels the same way for removal purposes.

How do I know it is squirrels and not rats or a raccoon?

Timing is the best first clue. Gray squirrels are active by day, so attic noise in daylight usually points to them. Raccoons are night animals, and night noise can also be mice, bats or flying squirrels. Damage that shows up during the day, such as a new chewed hole, comes from a daytime animal.

Droppings help too. Rats and mice leave droppings about the size of a grain of rice. Fresh droppings of any kind are dark, shiny and moist; old ones are dry and brown or gray.

If you still are not sure, a motion-activated trail camera aimed at the suspected entry will usually settle it. University of Georgia Extension suggests setting one about 8 to 15 feet from the spot and facing north to avoid sun glare.

What does a squirrel's year look like in Georgia?

Squirrels are active all year, so there is no season when the problem takes care of itself. In fall and early winter, gray squirrels live largely on acorns and hickory nuts. In spring they eat the flowers of those same trees, along with buds, and through the warm months they take dogwood fruit, mulberries, blackgum fruit and other plants.

Breeding season brings more trouble to houses. During mating season, males search openings looking for females, which is how many squirrels end up exploring vents and chimneys. One UGA Extension agent in Forsyth County wrote that the chewing heard overhead during the winter breeding season was the point where the squirrels in her gutter stopped being tolerable.

Food on the property shapes all of this. A yard full of oaks and hickories, plus a bird feeder, keeps squirrels nearby year-round, which is why the roof line has to be sound rather than relying on them losing interest.

How long do baby squirrels stay in the nest?

Georgia litters are usually two or three young. They are born blind and helpless but grow fast, and gray squirrels are weaned at around 8 to 10 weeks. Until then they cannot follow their mother out of an attic.

Gray and fox squirrels in Georgia have two breeding peaks, one in late winter and one in late summer. Whether a female raises a second litter depends heavily on food, so years with plenty of food can mean more second litters. National wildlife damage guidance flags February through August as the window when young may be present; with Georgia's late-summer peak, I keep checking for young into fall as well.

Getting this wrong is costly. A mother squirrel cut off from her young will chew hard to get back to them, and wildlife damage specialists have photographed half-inch plywood gnawed through by a gray squirrel doing exactly that.

Why do squirrels nest in attics instead of trees?

Squirrels use two kinds of nests: leaf nests built in the branches, and cavity nests inside hollow trees. Which they use depends largely on what cavities are available. Many mature oaks have hollows in the trunk or limbs that provide protected cover for raising young.

An attic is, in effect, a large, dry, protected cavity. Squirrels gnaw their way in and build nests of dry leaves to raise their young. Fox squirrels tend to use leaf nests more than gray squirrels do, which is one reason the gray squirrel is the usual attic tenant.

Gutters can attract them too. A Forsyth County Extension agent described a pair of squirrels squeezing under a gutter cover to nest, which brought noise on the roof and a blocked downspout before the chewing began.

How do squirrels get onto the roof and into the house?

Squirrels are forest animals that use tree canopies as highways, and a house with branches near the roof is simply part of the route. Limbs, vines such as ivy and overhead wires all give them a way up. In one Forsyth County case, the starting point was a cherry tree planted too close to the house.

Taking away one route does not always solve it. In the same Forsyth County account, when the overhanging tree was removed, the squirrels found a new way onto the roof within a day by climbing a porch post and crossing the porch screen.

Once on the roof, squirrels gnaw through siding, soffits and roof materials. Common entry points include openings where the siding meets the roof and the gable ends. University of Georgia Extension notes that gable ends are a frequent entry for both gray and flying squirrels.

Is the fire risk from squirrels in the attic real?

Yes. A squirrel's front teeth keep growing, so it gnaws on whatever is handy, and that includes the insulation on electrical wires. University of Georgia Extension points out the combination that makes this dangerous: bare wires can spark on contact, and a squirrel nest of dry leaves is highly flammable.

If squirrels have been in the attic for any length of time, look for chewed wiring along their travel paths. If you find bare copper or chewed sheathing, have a licensed electrician look at it. Repairing wiring is not wildlife work, and I will tell you if I see damage that needs one.

The nest itself should come out once the squirrels are gone. Leaving a pile of dry leaves and chewed insulation in place keeps the fuel there and gives the next squirrel a ready-made nest.

Can I get sick from squirrels in the house?

Rabies is rare in small rodents, and the Georgia Department of Public Health lists squirrels among them. In the United States, rabies occurs mainly in wild mammals such as skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and bats.

The more realistic risk is a bite. Wildlife damage specialists name being bitten as the biggest danger when handling squirrels, especially frightened ones trapped in a chimney or a room. Do not try to pick one up, even a young one.

If you are bitten or scratched by any wild animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water right away and call your doctor. Your doctor can consult the Georgia Poison Center, which handles rabies questions around the clock, and decide whether any treatment is needed.

What does Georgia law say about trapping, shooting or relocating squirrels?

Squirrels are a game animal under Georgia law, with a defined hunting season and daily bag limit. In the current regulations the statewide season runs August 15 through February 28, with a limit of 12 per day. The state's trapping season table lists raccoon, opossum and several furbearers, but not squirrels.

For a squirrel causing damage, Georgia's wildlife agency says trapping or shooting is effective and advises contacting a Wildlife Resources Division Game Management office to find out whether a permit is required. Under Georgia Code section 27-2-31, the state can issue a wildlife control permit when wildlife is damaging buildings or other property.

Those permits go only to the property owner or legal resident, cover a specific property and species, and last up to 90 days. Under them, animals may be killed, or trapped and relocated and released into suitable habitat with the landowner's permission. If shooting is involved, the agency considers whether it is accepted in the local area, and local ordinances on firearms still apply.

What rules does a licensed operator follow with squirrels?

Running a nuisance wildlife business in Georgia requires a Nuisance Wildlife Control permit from the Department of Natural Resources, which means passing a state exam and holding a valid Georgia trapping license. The permit spells out which methods are allowed for each species.

For gray and flying squirrels, the allowed methods are a box or cage trap, or exclusion. Squirrels caught this way are to be relocated into suitable habitat and released unharmed, with the landowner's permission, and never on state property. They may be held for less than 72 hours for that purpose.

Other conditions apply to every job. Traps must be checked and captured animals removed at least once every 24 hours. When dependent young are found, every reasonable effort must be made to remove them with the adult. Chemicals and poisons are not authorized. I work within all of these on every squirrel job.

Do one-way doors work on squirrels, and when do they fail?

A one-way door lets a squirrel leave through its hole but not come back. When young are not a concern, it can be an effective tool. When young are in the nest, it is the wrong tool, because the babies cannot follow their mother out.

Even in the right season, a door only works on a sound house. Squirrels that want back in will sometimes chew a new hole beside the door, and some fight harder than others. Wildlife damage specialists recommend a spring-loaded door with a wide metal apron, at least a foot square, around the hole, and securing every vent and the chimney before the door goes up.

Weather matters too. Freezing rain can freeze a door shut or open. That is why I check the whole roof line first, seal the secondary gaps, and only then put a door over the active hole.

• A simple check for activity: stuff loose newspaper in a hole and see whether it is pushed out.
• After sealing, a trap inside the attic is a sensible backup in case a squirrel was missed.
• Never seal a squirrel inside. A trapped squirrel can do a great deal of damage trying to chew out.

Do mothballs, ultrasonic devices, strobe lights or pepper sprays keep squirrels away?

The evidence is weak across the board. Wildlife damage specialists say no frightening device has been proven effective on squirrels, though strobe lights show some promise. University of Georgia Extension goes further on sound: research strongly suggests, and in some cases has clearly shown, that ultrasonic and similar devices do not deter animals, and it does not recommend them.

Mothballs (naphthalene) may discourage squirrels for a short time in an enclosed space, but they are not recommended in the attic of an occupied home because they can cause severe distress to people. UGA Extension says the amount needed to work may sicken most people and should never be used or recommended.

Taste repellents exist, but they are meant to stop chewing on surfaces, not to empty an attic. Capsaicin, the hot-pepper compound, is registered for use on maple sap collecting equipment. Sticky polybutene products can stop squirrels climbing a downspout or railing, but they are messy. Using any commercial repellent may require pesticide certification.

Why is trapping squirrels harder than it looks?

Trap placement matters more than bait. Specialists advise setting traps near den holes or along travel routes, securing them firmly since most are off the ground, and using at least three traps for gray squirrels. Cage traps should be at least 5 by 5 by 18 inches, with a 2- to 3-inch ledge in front of the door for the squirrel to stand on.

Bait choice changes with the season. Orange or apple slices, shelled walnuts or pecans, and peanut butter all work, but nuts rarely work in fall when natural nuts are everywhere. Competing food, such as a nearby bird feeder, should be removed while trapping.

Then comes the legal part. Squirrels do not appear in Georgia's trapping season table, so check with a Wildlife Resources Division Game Management office about a permit before you set a trap. Permit holders may release squirrels only into suitable habitat with the landowner's permission. Glue traps and foothold traps are not recommended for squirrels at all.

What do I do about a squirrel stuck in the chimney or loose in the house?

Many squirrels end up trapped in chimneys, often males exploring openings in mating season, because they cannot grip the smooth flue tiles to climb back out. A squirrel trapped in a chimney rarely survives more than about three days, and the noise fades as it weakens. Do not wait for it to stop.

Before anyone opens the damper, close off the fireplace opening, move breakable items and shut nearby doors. A squirrel that gets into the room will be covered in soot and will run toward daylight, so if one does get loose, open an outside door and give it a clear path out.

A frightened squirrel bites, so I wear heavy gloves, eye protection and a dust mask for this work. Depending on the chimney, I either set a trap at the fireplace opening or hang a thick rope down the flue so a healthy squirrel can climb out on its own, then cap the chimney.

How do I keep squirrels off my roof?

Denying squirrels access to the roof is the best way to keep them out of the attic. Trim limbs and trees back 6 to 8 feet from the house so squirrels cannot jump across, and cut back ivy or other vines that give them a ladder.

For an isolated tree, a band of sheet metal about 2 feet wide, wrapped around the trunk about 6 feet off the ground, stops squirrels climbing it. Hold it with encircling wire and springs so the tree can grow. One Forsyth County Extension agent stopped squirrels climbing porch posts the same way, wrapping the posts in sheet metal starting about 6 feet up.

Squirrels also travel along wires. A 2-foot section of lightweight 2- to 3-inch plastic pipe, slit and slipped over a wire, spins and dumps them off. Only do this on non-electrical lines such as phone or cable. Never put anything on or near power lines; that is a job for the power company.

• Watch where squirrels try to leap from. Their failed attempts show which limbs to cut.
• Move bird feeders away from the house, deck rails and tree limbs, or put them on a slick pole with a baffle.
• Cap the chimney so it cannot be a way in or a trap.

What materials actually keep squirrels out?

Gray and fox squirrels have strong jaws, so repairs need to be in materials they cannot chew through. Wildlife damage specialists recommend heavy half-inch wire mesh, aluminum flashing or equally sturdy repairs.

Vents and gable openings need a barrier that still lets the attic breathe. Hardware cloth over a gable vent keeps squirrels out without cutting off airflow. Flying squirrels are easier to exclude because they lack the jaw strength of the larger species.

The whole roof line has to be done, not just the active hole. A squirrel shut out of one hole will test the rest of the house, and any soft spot it finds becomes the next entry.

What affects the cost of a squirrel job?

I price each squirrel job after inspecting the house, because the work varies a great deal from roof to roof. These are the main factors.

• How many active holes there are, and how many other weak spots need sealing.
• Whether young are in the nest, which can change the method and the timing.
• Whether the job is done with one-way doors, traps or both, and how many trap-check visits that takes.
• The height, pitch and layout of the roof, and how many gables, returns and vents it has.
• How much chewed fascia, soffit or vent needs repair before it can be sealed.
• Whether a chimney cap is needed.
• How much nest material and soiled insulation has to come out of the attic.

What should I expect on a squirrel removal visit?

I start on the outside, walking the roof line and looking at gables, returns, soffits, vents, the chimney, and the trees and wires that give squirrels a way up. Then I look in the attic for the nest, signs of young and any chewed wiring. You see what I see before any work starts.

If there are no young, I usually seal the secondary gaps and put a one-way door or trap over the active hole. If there are young, I plan around them so mother and young come out together. Any trap I set is checked at least once every 24 hours, as Georgia requires.

Once the squirrels are out, the remaining hole is sealed with metal, the nest is removed, and I show you which limbs need trimming. I also point out anything else on the house, such as an uncapped chimney or a weak vent, that a squirrel could use next.

When is a squirrel problem urgent?

Most squirrel problems should be handled soon rather than tonight. A few situations call for faster action.

• A squirrel is loose in the living space: close interior doors, open an outside door, keep pets away and let it find the daylight.
• A squirrel is trapped in the chimney: it rarely survives more than about three days, so call before the noise stops.
• You find chewed or bare wiring, smell burning or see a flickering circuit: call an electrician first.
• Someone has been bitten or scratched: wash the wound well with soap and water and call your doctor.
• A squirrel has been sealed inside, or a mother is chewing to get back to her young: a trapped squirrel can do a great deal of damage chewing its way out.

Common questions

Where I do this work

Squirrel Removal across Bartow County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Paulding County, Floyd County and Fulton County, Georgia.