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Conflicts with squirrels

These are general concerns with squirrels. For other problems where you are not entirely sure about the species involved, see specific problem, i.e. Animal in my attic, Animal in my chimney, etc.

Q: Squirrels are burying peanuts in my lawn and garden. What can I do?

A: A neighbour is, no doubt, feeding squirrels peanuts perhaps without knowing the problem this creates for other neighbours and the squirrels themselves. Those that feed wildlife do so because they like animals and would almost certainly be motivated to stop if they knew it could bring harm to the animal. You might not be aware of who in your neighbourhood is feeding the squirrels or you might be aware but uncomfortable raising the issue. We recommend you download copies of Don’t Create a Risk for the Squirrels in Your Neighbourhood and place it in mail boxes in the vicinity. This way, the message is coming from a knowledgeable third party, the Wildlife Centre, and is being delivered in the best interests of the animals.

Q: I’ve seen a squirrel regularly jumping from a tree onto my roof. What is the attraction?

A: It generally means it is a female with babies nearby. Females move closer to human habitation during the birthing season because they need to find safe shelter for their babies when they are very tiny and subject to being preyed upon. The leaf nests (dreys) high up in trees afford the babies no protection from crows and other predators, particularly in early spring when there are no leaves on the trees. Females select tree cavities, sheds and attics during March and April when there is little activity outside our homes. It is a temporary situation. As soon as the babies are weaned and coming out regularly with the mother, she moves them to a more natural area as the young are bigger and less vulnerable and our properties are no longer safe due to people and pets being outside more. To speed up the process, see Animal in my attic.

Never trap and relocate a squirrel around your property as it is likely a female with babies nearby nor should you barricade an adult from a hole in your soffit or attic when her babies are too young to leave the nest. Abandoned young will move around when hungry and could fall between walls requiring expensive drywall removal or leaving very bad odours if they die in inaccessible areas.

The birthing season for squirrels is generally between March and June. They can have a second litter in late July with dependent young still in the nest until September so it is best to relax, let the female raise her young - she is your best insurance for getting them out - during these periods and then do your animal-proofing so the problem doesn’t recur.

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