WILDLIFE CONTROL SERVICES - SQUIRREL REMOVAL & EXCLUSION

The Greater Toronto Area is home to two squirrel species that regularly enter structures: the Eastern Grey Squirrel and the smaller American Red Squirrel (nicknamed the 'Red Devil' for their aggressiveness). Both are active year-round, both cause significant structural damage, and both require professional removal and permanent exclusion to resolve permanently. Guard More Pest Control provides humane squirrel removal and professional-grade exclusion across the GTA — backed by a lifetime guarantee on all coverings installed.

What is the difference between Eastern Grey Squirrels and Red Squirrels? Eastern Grey Squirrels (the larger, grey species and most common in GTA neighbourhoods) typically enter through gaps of 4 cm or larger and prefer attic spaces for denning. American Red Squirrels (smaller, reddish-brown, and are more common near mature conifer trees) can enter through gaps as small as 3 cm and are particularly aggressive. A red squirrel will defend its territory vigorously and may attempt re-entry repeatedly. Our technicians identify the species during the initial inspection as exclusion gap specifications differ between the two squirrel species.

Why Squirrels Enter GTA Homes

Squirrel intrusion are driven by two biological needs at different times of year:

- Denning for litter-raising — Eastern Grey Squirrels breed twice per year - once in late winter around January–February with young birth around March–April and second time in midsummer around May–June with young birth around July-August. In both breeding cycles, the pregnant squirrels actively seek enclosed, protected cavity sites for their nests. That is why Attics, wall voids, and chimney spaces are significantly preferred over hollow trees because they offer stable temperature and predator protection.
- Fall caching and winter denning — September and October mark an intense food-caching phase during which squirrels probe and test potential den sites simultaneously with their foraging activity. This is the highest-risk season for new attic intrusions. Unlike raccoons, squirrels that establish in an attic in fall remain active and present through the entire winter.
- Site fidelity and offspring return — Squirrels maintain strong home ranges and juveniles raised in a structure frequently return to the same den site as breeding adults. An untreated squirrel entry point that produces one litter per season will see the local squirrel population increasing pressure within the structure year over year.

Common Squirrel Entry Points in GTA Homes

Squirrels are agile climbers and persistent chewers. They require a gap of only 3-4 cm depending the species and will actively enlarge small gaps by gnawing. These are the most common entry points found during inspections performed by Guard More pest technicians:

Eastern Grey Squirrels use overhanging tree branches as a direct bridge to your roofline. A branch within 3 metres horizontal or vertical of your roof eliminates the barrier between the tree canopy and your attic. In established GTA neighbourhoods with mature trees (such as Annex, Leaside, Rosedale, Forest Hill, Sunnybrook area), the need for trimming overhanging branches is the single most important prevention step before exclusion work is installed. Guard More can advise on branch clearance requirements as part of every inspection.

Our Step-by-Step Squirrel Removal Process

Squirrel removal requires a careful sequence of inspection, exclusion door installation, monitoring, and permanent sealing. The rushing of any step especially the baby assessment in spring and summer is the most common reason squirrel jobs fail or create a worse problem than they started with.

• Full Roofline & Attic Inspection: Our licensed technician inspects the complete exterior roofline covering every vent, every soffit section, all fascia, gable ends, roof-wall junctions, and the full perimeter plus the attic interior via the hatch. We identify all active entry points (typically recognizable by chew marks, staining, and wear on surrounding material), all potential secondary entry points, and any evidence of nesting or young animals before any work begins.
• Baby Season Assessment (March – April and July – August): Before installing any exclusion device, our technician confirms whether kits are present in the nest using a Borescope camera. Kits in their first 6–7 weeks are not yet mobile and cannot exit through a one-way door. Installing an exclusion door with immobile kits inside seals them in the structure and if they will die, it will result in an extreme odour and secondary pest problem. If kits are present, we schedule return visits when the young are mobile enough to exit.
• One-Way Exclusion Door: Once the structure is confirmed clear of immobile young, we install a one-way exclusion door at the primary active entry point. Squirrels are strictly diurnal so they are active from shortly after sunrise to before sunset. The exclusion door allows the squirrel to exit during its normal activity period but prevents re-entry. We monitor for 3–5 days minimum or longer if cool weather reduces squirrel activity.
• Permanent Sealing of Primary Entry Point: After confirming the structure is clear, we remove the one-way door and permanently seal the primary entry point using galvanized steel mesh or flashing rated for squirrel resistance. Squirrels are persistent chewers so standard foam sealant, aluminium mesh, and wood repair alone are not adequate. All materials used are squirrel-resistant and warranted for the life of the structure.
• All Secondary Entry Points Sealed: Every additional vulnerability identified during the initial inspection is sealed in the same visit. Sealing the primary entry while leaving secondary gaps open guarantees that the squirrel (or a new one) will find and use the next weakest point within days. Complete exclusion means every gap is addressed and not just the one the squirrel is currently using.
• Attic Assessment & Wiring Inspection Recommendation: After the exclusion work is complete, our technician assesses the attic for insulation damage, nesting material accumulation, and wiring. Any home with a confirmed squirrel history in the attic should have its attic wiring inspected by a licensed electrician.

Incompleted Sealing is the Most Common Squirrel Job Failure: The overwhelming majority of squirrel re-infestations occur within 2 weeks of an incomplete exclusion job meaning a job where the primary entry was sealed but secondary vulnerabilities were left open. Squirrels are persistent creatures and a squirrel that has lost access to its den will systematically probe every other weakness in the structure. The only permanent solution is sealing every gap on the entire roofline and not just the one the squirrel(s) is currently using today.

What and Why We Install Exclusions

The difference between a squirrel exclusion that lasts and one that fails within a season comes down to material specification. Squirrels can chew through foam, aluminium, wood, and plastic. Every exclusion installed by Guard More Pest Control uses squirrel-rated materials and every covering is backed by a lifetime guarantee (if not tampered with by humans).

*Lifetime guarantee is valid provided coverings are not removed or modified by human activity. Guard More Pest Control stands behind every installation for the life of the structure.

Why We Don't Recommend Using Foam or Aluminium as Standalone Seals? Consumer grade expanding foam sealant and standard aluminium window screen are the two most commonly used and end up failing as squirrel exclusion materials. A squirrel can bite through expanding foam in under 60 seconds. The standard aluminum screen mesh tears under sustained chewing pressure within minutes. All Guard More Pest Control installed primary seals use minimum 16-gauge galvanized steel mesh or 20-gauge steel flashing. These materials are physically impossible for a squirrel to chew through.

Squirrel Removal & Exclusion Costs in the GTA

Squirrel removal and exclusion pricing depends on the size and complexity of the property. These factors include the number of entry points identified, whether young are present (requiring the baby season protocol), and the scope of exclusion work required. The following pricing reflects typical GTA market rates for 2025–2026.

The Hidden Cost of Incomplete Exclusion: Choosing the cheapest squirrel removal quote often means paying for the same job two or three times. A service that seals only the primary entry point without addressing secondary vulnerabilities will result in squirrel re-infestation within weeks. The cost of a second removal and partial exclusion quickly exceeds the cost of a complete exclusion on the first visit. Guard More Pest Control provides itemized written quotes covering all identified entry points to tackle.

Does Home Insurance Cover Squirrel Damage? Standard Ontario home insurance policies do not cover squirrel removal, exclusion costs, or the damage squirrels because these acts are classified as gradual and preventable maintenance issues under typical policy exclusion language. However, if squirrel gnawing on electrical wiring causes a fire to breakout, the resulting fire damage may be covered as a sudden accidental loss. By addressing confirmed squirrel activity promptly protects both your property and your insurance position.

What Squirrel Damage Actually Costs And Why Speed to Act Matters

Many homeowners delay squirrel removal because the problem seems manageable like a bit of noise in the morning and some marks on the fascia. The cost of that delay compounds quickly:

✔  Electrical wiring damage — squirrel incisors grow 15 cm (6 inches) per year and must be continuously worn down; attic wiring is among the most commonly gnawed materials. Arc faults from gnawed wiring causes attic fires.
✔  Insulation compression and contamination — squirrels flatten and burrow through blown insulation, reducing R-value and creating nesting cavities saturated with urine. With a serious infestation, a full insulation removal and replacement is required at $2,000–$10,000+.
✔  Structural framing damage — persistent gnawing on rafters, joists, and sheathing weakens structural members; Old House Borer beetles frequently follow squirrel gnawing as a secondary pest.
✔  HVAC and plumbing interference — squirrels gnaw on PVC supply lines and HVAC ductwork in attic spaces. A chewed supply line can cause a concealed leak for weeks before detection.
✔  Second litter compounds damage — each 6-week litter cycle means new kits who begin their own gnawing behaviour as a squirrel that enters in October with one season of damage becomes a multi-animal infestation by August.