It starts with scratching and scampering overhead early in the morning, then rolling sounds like someone playing marbles in the ceiling. Squirrels in the attic are common in fall, when they look for warm, dry places to nest, and they can chew wiring, shred insulation and damage your roofline if you let them stay.
This guide explains how to confirm you have squirrels, why you need to check for babies before doing anything, how humane exclusion with a one-way door works, how to repair entry points so they cannot return, and when to bring in a licensed wildlife control operator. It also covers why trapping and relocating is usually a bad idea and why local wildlife laws matter.
Quick answer: Confirm it is squirrels by the daytime noises, chewed entry holes near the roofline and nests of shredded insulation and leaves. Check for babies first, since litters are common in late winter to spring and again in late summer to fall. Once young are mobile, seal every secondary gap, install a one-way exclusion door on the main hole, wait until the squirrels are out, then seal the opening with heavy metal mesh or flashing. Hire licensed wildlife control if babies are present, the entry is high on the roof or your state restricts handling squirrels.
Signs you have squirrels in the attic
Sounds and timing
Tree squirrels are active during the day, so you usually hear them in the early morning as they leave and in the late afternoon as they return. Listen for quick scampering, scratching and the sound of nuts rolling. Scratching inside a wall can mean a young squirrel has fallen into a wall cavity and cannot climb out.
| Animal | When you hear it | What it sounds like | Other clues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray or fox squirrel | Early morning and late afternoon | Running, scratching, rolling nuts | Chewed holes near roof edges, squirrels on the roof |
| Flying squirrel | At night | Light scurrying, gliding thumps | Small droppings near vents, several animals sharing a nest |
| Mice or rats | Mostly at night | Light scratching and gnawing inside walls and ceilings | Small droppings in cabinets and along walls |
| Raccoon | Night | Heavy thumps, growling or chattering | Torn shingles, vent covers or soffits; large droppings |
If the clues point to mice instead, see our guide on how to get rid of mice, since the approach is quite different.
Entry holes and chew marks
Squirrels often get in at a weak spot and chew it larger. Look for round holes from golf-ball to baseball size at roof corners, along the gutter line, in soffits and fascia, around roof vents and plumbing vent pipes, at gable vents and where an addition meets the main roof. Fresh chew marks look light and raw, and the edges may be stained dark from body oils.
Nests, droppings and damage inside
In the attic, look for flattened or tunneled insulation, nests built from insulation, leaves and cardboard, scattered nut shells and droppings near the entry. Check any exposed wiring for chewed insulation.
Check for babies before you do anything
This step matters more than any other. According to the Humane World for Animals guide to squirrels, babies are very likely present from February through May and from August through October. Most attic squirrels are nesting mothers, so late October is still a common time to have young in the attic.
If you seal the hole while babies are inside, they will starve and the mother will chew a new hole, often through your roof or siding, to get back to them. Signs of a litter include faint chirping or squeaking from one spot and a mother who keeps returning to the same area of the attic. If you find babies, the best option is usually to wait a few weeks until they leave with their mother, or hire a wildlife professional who knows how to reunite mothers with their young.
Pro tip: After you install an exclusion device, watch the outside of the hole. A squirrel frantically trying to get back in usually means babies are still inside. Remove the device, let her return and give her time to move the litter.
How to evict squirrels with a one-way door
Penn State Extension recommends exclusion as the long-term fix: let the squirrels leave, then close the openings so they cannot return. A one-way door, or a homemade excluder made from an 18-inch section of 4-inch plastic pipe angled down over the hole, lets squirrels out but not back in.
- Find every entry point. Walk around the house with binoculars in the morning and watch where squirrels come and go. Check the roofline, vents, chimney and soffits.
- Seal secondary openings first. Close every hole except the main one the squirrels use, using heavy wire mesh or metal flashing.
- Install the one-way door. Mount the exclusion door or pipe excluder over the main hole, following the product instructions so it fits tightly and opens outward only.
- Wait and confirm. Leave it in place for several days. Listen for activity in the attic, and watch for squirrels trying to get back in.
- Seal the final hole. Once activity stops, remove the door and permanently close the opening with heavy 1/2-inch metal mesh or sheet metal, fastened securely and extending well past the damaged area.
- Check again. Penn State suggests placing a live trap inside the attic as a precaution after sealing, in case a squirrel was closed in. Check it at least twice a day.
Repair entry points and prevent a repeat
Squirrels remember where they nested, and new squirrels will test the same weak spots. Permanent repairs and a few changes around the house keep them out.
- Trim tree limbs back 6 to 8 feet from the roof, as Penn State recommends, so squirrels cannot jump onto the house.
- Replace chewed fascia, soffit boards and roof edge trim, and cover vulnerable corners with metal flashing.
- Cover gable and roof vents with sturdy metal screening, and install a chimney cap.
- Keep gutters clean and in good repair, since rotted trim behind clogged gutters is a favorite entry point. Our guide to cleaning gutters safely covers ladder setup.
- Move bird feeders well away from the house, or switch to squirrel-resistant models.
- Inspect the roofline each fall, and fix any loose or damaged roofing promptly. Small repairs such as replacing a damaged shingle remove easy targets.
Tools and materials
- Binoculars and a bright flashlight
- One-way squirrel exclusion door, or 4-inch PVC pipe for a homemade excluder
- Heavy 1/2-inch galvanized wire mesh (hardware cloth) and metal flashing
- Tin snips, cordless drill and exterior screws with washers
- Extension ladder with a stabilizer, and a helper to hold it
- Live cage trap as a backup inside the attic
- Heavy gloves, safety glasses and an N95 or better respirator for attic cleanup
Safety note: Most squirrel entry points are at the roofline, so ladder safety comes first: set the ladder on firm, level ground, extend it 3 feet above the roof edge and keep three points of contact. Never handle a squirrel with bare hands. In the attic, step only on joists, wear a respirator and gloves around droppings and nesting material, and have an electrician check any chewed wiring, which can be a fire hazard.
What not to do
- Do not seal the hole without checking. Trapped squirrels and orphaned babies die in the attic, cause odors and push the mother to chew a new hole.
- Do not trap and relocate on your own. Humane World for Animals considers relocation inhumane, since moved squirrels often do not survive and babies left behind starve. It may also be illegal where you live.
- Do not use poison. Penn State notes that no toxicants are federally registered for squirrels, and poisoned animals often die inside walls.
- Do not use mothballs or ammonia. Mothballs are pesticides that may only be used as their label directs, and fumes in an attic can reach living spaces.
- Never smoke an animal out of a chimney. Use a chimney professional or wildlife operator instead.
State wildlife laws vary
Gray and fox squirrels are generally classified as game animals, and rules for trapping, relocating or killing them depend on your state and sometimes your city. Some states allow homeowners to remove nuisance squirrels from their property, while others require a permit, ban relocation or limit when and how animals can be trapped. Flying squirrels and some regional species have extra protections.
Before you trap a squirrel, check your state wildlife agency’s rules on nuisance wildlife. Licensed nuisance wildlife control operators know the local regulations and can legally handle animals that you might not be allowed to.
When to hire wildlife control
Hire a licensed wildlife control operator if:
- You suspect babies are in the attic and cannot wait for them to move out.
- The entry points are on a steep or high roof, or you are not comfortable on a ladder.
- Squirrels are inside walls, the chimney or living spaces.
- Insulation is heavily soiled or wiring has been chewed.
- Your state requires a permit or license to trap or relocate squirrels.
According to Bob Vila’s squirrel removal cost guide, professional squirrel removal typically costs $200 to $600, and more for large or complicated jobs. Inspections run about $75 to $300 when they are not free, attic deep cleaning about $200 to $470, and insulation repair or replacement about $1,000 to $2,150. Ask whether a quote includes exclusion, entry point repairs and a warranty against re-entry.
Frequently asked questions
Will squirrels leave the attic on their own?
Rarely. A dry attic is ideal nesting space, and mothers return to the same spot. Mild harassment such as a bright light and a radio in the attic can encourage adults without young to move out, but you still need to seal the entry once they leave.
How long does it take to get squirrels out with a one-way door?
Often a few days, since squirrels leave daily to feed. Keep the door up until you hear no activity for several days in a row, then seal the hole permanently.
Can squirrels in the attic cause a fire?
They can. Squirrels chew constantly to keep their teeth worn down, and Penn State notes that chewed wiring can cause fires. If you find gnawed wires, have a licensed electrician inspect and repair them.
Is it squirrels or rats in my attic?
Timing is the best clue. Daytime noise, especially at dawn and late afternoon, usually means squirrels. Nighttime scratching points to rats, mice or flying squirrels.
When is the best time to remove squirrels from an attic?
Ideally outside the main baby seasons, which run from about February through May and August through October. If you are unsure whether young are present, have a wildlife professional inspect before you exclude.
The bottom line
Squirrels in the attic are a fixable problem if you follow the right order. Confirm what you are hearing, check for babies, use a one-way door to let the squirrels leave, then seal every opening with heavy metal mesh or flashing and trim back nearby trees. Check your state’s wildlife rules before trapping, skip poisons and relocation, and call a licensed wildlife control operator when babies, high roofs or chewed wiring are involved.
