Category Archives: Squirrel Control

News, Pest Animal Removal, Pest Control, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

The Eastern Gray Squirrel – What to Know About Their Breeding and Habits

What to Know About Squirrels
What to Know About Squirrels

The gray squirrel has a large home base as it enjoys the many forests in the eastern portion of North America and those located in southern Canada. They prefer old-growth hardwoods where they build their nests, which are usually constructed with a combination of twigs, bark, twigs, and leaves. They also make their nests inside tree cavities.

Breeding Habits

The breeding habits of the gray squirrel are in many ways the same as those of a red squirrel. This means you’ll see close to a dozen male squirrels engaging in what is referred to as the “mating chase.”

The mating season takes place twice a year, once in the latter part of the winter season and again during the mid-summer season. Females ages two years or older are likely to have more than one litter. Younger females usually have just one litter.

Females average 2-3 babies per litter where they remain in the nest or den for around 49 days before attempting to leave the nest, and around 70 days before they’re weaned.

Squirrel Removal

Squirrels may get in the attic where they can do damage to electrical wiring due to their propensity for chewing. A NJ pest control expert will need to be called to remove the squirrel(s) safely. This could include her babies.

If squirrels are wreaking havoc in your attic, Stern Environmental is your go-to NJ pest control specialist. Call us today.

Animal Control, News, Nuisance Wildlife Control, Pest Animal Removal, Pest Control, Residential Services, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

Be Careful: Squirrels Will Eat Just About Anything!

Be Careful: Squirrels Will Eat Just About Anything!
Be Careful: Squirrels Will Eat Just About Anything!

A New Jersey household recently discovered the ostentatious appetites of an area, tree-faring rodent. The Maplewood family never suspected the area squirrel of burglary, but the furry felon was caught on tape red-handed, wreaking havoc on neighborhood cheer.

Smooth Criminal
When expensive gourmet chocolates and lip balm, intended as holiday treats for area delivery drivers, started disappearing, the family went to work, worried an area Grinch had plans to steal their Christmas gifts. Setting out a surveillance camera, they were shocked at the culprit. It seemed they didn’t need law enforcement after all, but local NJ squirrel removal services!

Picky Pest
The portly rodent was so overweight, he appeared to be packing the pounds away for a decade of winters, and was caught-in-the-act pocketing choice chocolates and lip balms. The Maplewoods said discovering the bold-faced bandit brought them a mountain of joy. They tried to redirect the stout squirrel to nuts, seeds, and popcorn, repackaging the chocolate into a jar that required opposable thumbs, but the cheeky culprit could not be swayed, tossing the seeds in lieu of other flavors.

Serious Shenanigans
The Maplewoods were not alone. Officials in nearby Sea Girt discovered the area’s annual Christmas lighting thwarted by tattered wiring. Rushing to rectify the situation, police quickly uncovered another rascally rodent.

NJ squirrel removal needs? No matter the reason or the season, the humane services of Stern Environmental have you covered.

Animal Control, Pest Animal Removal, Residential Services, Squirrel Control, Squirrels, Wildlife Control

Don’t Poison Squirrels – Use Catch and Remove Instead

While squirrels may be fun to watch as they scurry from tree to tree or maybe you enjoy feeding them peanuts or sunflower seeds, they can become a nuisance and do damage to your home.

This is especially true during the winter when they prefer the attic in someone’s home where it is relatively warm versus facing the cold elements of the outdoors. They also look for cozy places to build nests and raise their young until they’re old enough to move outside.

Removing Squirrels

NJ squirrel removal is best left to the professionals who know how to find entry points and then trap the squirrels to be moved to another location. It’s best to remember that squirrels are wild and very agile. If cornered, they have the ability to jump, which may be on you, as well as bite and scratch.

Do not attempt to remove squirrels yourself as it could be dangerous and you should never use a poisonous substance as it isn’t effectual or humane. With a catch and remove approach, squirrels can be safely trapped in specially designed cages and removed by experts.

When NJ squirrel removal is necessary for the protection of your home, contact the professionals at Stern Environmental Group. Our services provide fast and efficient humane squirrel trapping and removal. Call us today about squirrels in the attic and let us take care of making your home squirrel-free.

 

Pest News, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

What to Know About the New Jersey Eastern Gray Squirrel

What About the Eastern Grey Squirrel?

The eastern gray squirrel is getting a bad reputation as an invasive species not only in the United States, but in Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Britain. Unfortunately, their reputation is well-earned as the gray squirrel invades other areas and displaces native species such as the red squirrel.

Description

Chances are you’ve seen a gray squirrel in your backyard, cruising tree branches, sitting on the roof, or squirreling away food in a secret stash.

The squirrel’s coat is predominantly gray fur with a brownish tinge and a white underside. A fox squirrel has a brownish-orange belly, which is a good way to tell them apart.

One of the gray squirrel’s attributes is its large bushy tail. The squirrel’s body can range between 9 to 11 inches and it can weigh from 14 to 16 ounces. Also, there’s no size difference between the male and female.

Habits

Gray squirrels are extremely adaptable and are always on the hunt for food. They’ll have temporary caches and permanent caches of food at all times. If you have bird feeders, that’s a handy food source. Gray squirrels also set up housekeeping in the attic to make a nest for their babies. This can cause a lot of damage.

NJ pest control is at your service if you have a gray squirrel problem that needs to be taken care of. At Stern, our NJ pest control method is humane trapping. Call us today.

Rodent Control, Squirrel Control, Squirrels

The Real Risk of Squirrels In Your Home – Disease, Smell, and Damage

Squirrels Can Cause Much Damage to Your Home.
Squirrels Can Cause Much Damage to Your Home.

No matter how much we enjoy watching the antics of squirrels running willy-nilly through the trees, the fact is, these clever cuties cause damage.

Health and Home

Health-wise, squirrels can pose a problem such as spreading ticks and fleas, salmonella, and Leptospirosis. Rabies is not a known issue with squirrels but it’s better to be safe than sorry and take precautions to keep squirrels out of your home, garage, or shed.

Because squirrels are usually heavily infested with fleas and ticks, if they set up housekeeping in your attic, for example, you can plan on dealing with a flea and tick infestation. If you have pets, an infestation in your home will have an adverse effect on them too. When an infestation occurs, you need a NJ squirrel removal specialist for the job.

Squirrels are adept at finding entrances into a home’s attic. This is a great place to get away from winter weather and to build a nest and have babies.

As the babies grow and become more mobile, they’ll begin to chew on whatever is available as well as make poop messes throughout the attic. These droppings are the cause of Leptospirosis and salmonella. Both pose a health risk: Leptospirosis causes flu-like symptoms and salmonella is defined as food poisoning.

If you need squirrels trapped and removed, contact Stern and we’ll send a trained NJ squirrel removal expert to handle the job. ?????