Category Archives: Squirrel Control

Animal Control, News, Nuisance Wildlife Control, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

Penn State New Kensington – What to Know About Our Eastern Gray Squirrels

The Squirrels Are In My Attic

Are eastern gray squirrels taking over your yard? NJ squirrel removal specialists get quite a few calls this time of year to remove these pests. Are you inadvertently enticing them onto your property?

What You Need to Know About Eastern Gray Squirrels

• They’re everywhere. 

According to the eastern gray squirrel page on Penn State University’s Virtual Nature Trail website, this rodent frequents a variety of habitats including parks, forests, suburban and urban settings.

• They’re not really gray.

They’re a mix of black, white, and brown fur blended together. Whitish tips on the ends of fur create the illusion of gray coloring. Varying in hue, each rapidly expanding squirrel family can be lighter/darker by nature.

• A predictable abundance of food.

Squirrels require the caloric load of the nuts of trees such as oaks, beeches, hickories, and the like for breeding and to survive the winter. Grounds with these trees are the ideal foraging places for overwintering squirrels. In other seasons, squirrels also enjoy feasting on plant shoots, tree flowers/buds, mushrooms, and caterpillars.

• They may draw other pests to your yard.

Though hawks and owls are most apt to target gray squirrels for food, they are also prey to snakes, skunks, raccoons, weasels, and foxes.

Are eastern gray squirrels invading your space? Prevent squirrel infestations with the help of the fast and humane NJ squirrel removal services of Stern Environmental today.

Animal Control, News, Pest Animal Removal, Squirrel Control

Squirrels Have Two Breeding Seasons – What to Know

Squirrels Have Two Breeding Seasons - What to Know
Squirrels Have Two Breeding Seasons – What to Know

Squirrels driving you nutty? It could be breeding season antics. During certain times of the year, urban wildlife may move into your home in search of a safer place to raise their young, putting you in dire need of NJ squirrel removal services.

When Do Squirrels Breed?

Grey squirrels breed twice per year, once in the early spring, then again in the middle of the summer. Born in March-April, or July-August, each litter of about 3-5 babies takes about 8 weeks for their mothers to rear.

Why Did Squirrels Move into My Home?

Because trees leave young squirrels exposed to predators, squirrel mothers move into homes and outbuildings during breeding season, noisily taking up residence in attics, chimneys, and behind walls.

What to Do if You’ve Found a Nest

If you’ve come across a nest of baby squirrels, chances are they haven’t been abandoned. With no fear of humans, they may approach you while their mother is out searching for food. Leave them be, as mothers are aggressive and may attack if they feel their babies are threatened.

Moving Squirrels Out

Squirrels are tough to eradicate once established, returning to nests annually. Contacting a NJ squirrel removal specialist is best for lasting results. Avoid blocking entries and trapping babies inside. Mothers will cause damage attempting to regain access and their babies will die and decay.

Stern Environmental specializes in fast, humane, permanent removal. Learn more about our trusted services today.

Squirrel Control, Squirrels

Facts About the Eastern Gray Squirrel – They Breed More Often Than You’d Think

Facts About the Eastern Grey Squirrel
Facts About the Eastern Grey Squirrel

The eastern gray squirrel is an animal everyone who lives in New York and New Jersey is aware of. In fact, most of us see them every single day. While they’re cute, they can be a real menace too. Still, there’s a lot that you probably don’t know about them. As your NJ pest control specialists, we’d like to fill you in.

Breeding Habits of Gray Squirrels

Because squirrels hibernate during the winter, most people assume that they probably breed only once per year. However, as long as their food supply is good, most females will have two litters every year. When the females give birth, they can have as many as eight babies. This means that they multiply much faster than a lot of people realize.

In as little as eight months, those babies are adult size, and ready to have babies of their own. That spells trouble for anyone who already has a serious gray squirrel problem in their home, or on their property.

When to Contact NJ Pest Control Specialists

If you think you hear squirrels in your attic, or elsewhere in your home, it’s important to have a professional inspect the space right away. These pests can do a lot of damage in a very short period of time and, as we mentioned previously, they multiply quickly.

Please contact us at Stern Environmental for help right away!

Pest Management, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

How do Squirrels Find Their Way Into Your Attic?

Squirrels and Other Wildlife Can Destroy Your Attic
Squirrels and Other Wildlife Can Destroy Your Attic

Squirrels are creative, inventive, wily, and smart and finding ways into your attic is a piece of cake. Even the tiniest opening is an invitation to enter and if it isn’t, they’ll chew until the hole is large enough to gain entry.

Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of the Attic

One of the first lines of defense is ensuring your home is sealed by doing a visual inspection for any entry points. As noted, what may seem too small to you is not a problem for a squirrel to slip through. Find and seal all entry points.

Traveling through the treetops is second nature for squirrels. Another preventative measure is trimming all tree branches that may be overhanging the roof line. This cuts off their avenue of travel into your home.

If you find any cracks or crevices in the foundation wall they will need to be repaired.

Last but not least, set squirrel traps to catch the acrobatic critters. This is one of the safest bets for keeping squirrels out of the attic. Once they’ve been captured, release them several miles from your home into a wooded area where they have food and water sources. Repair any entry points to prevent new residents.

NJ pest control services are the professional way to handle squirrel removal. Contact Stern Environmental and we’ll schedule an experienced NJ pest control expert to remove your unwanted house guests.

Animal Control, Green Pest Control, News, Pest Animal Removal, Residential Services, Rodent Control, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

Tips for Humane Removal of Squirrels from Your Attic

Tips for Humane Removal of Squirrels from Your Attic
Tips for Humane Removal of Squirrels from Your Attic

Maybe you’re hearing the pitter-patter of little feet running across the ceiling or there’s scratching sounds emanating from the attic. If so, this could only mean one thing: squirrels.

Getting Rid of Squirrels in the Attic

There have always been bats in the belfry and right along with them are squirrels in the attic. Whether they’ve moved in for warmth during the cold season or to have their babies in a safe environment, the fuzzy-tailed critters can cause damage to your home.

Tips for NJ Squirrel Removal

Consider these do-it-yourself tips to help alleviate the problem.

– Place wire mesh over exterior ventilation vents leading to the attic.

– For homes with a chimney, cover the chimney cap with wire mesh or a chimney cap.

– If there are holes leading into your home large enough for a squirrel to squeeze through, repair them.

– Secure any openings that may exist between the attic and any and all rooms in the home.

– If squirrels are present in the attic, they need a way in and out. When sealing potential entry spots, leave a hole open to lure the squirrels out; then seal it to prevent reentry.

When unwanted critters invade your home, you need the services of a professional NJ squirrel removal service. That’s where Stern Environmental can help. With humane removal techniques, we’ll take care of getting your home squirrel-free. Call us today for a home inspection.