Squirrels are normally active during the day and are predisposed to omnivorous tendencies. These pests feed on a number of things, but most commonly they choose to feed on seeds, nuts, eggs, and even insects. Regardless of their preference for natural food, they also have a taste for food prepared by humans, so from time to time they invade homes to comb for food. They usually do this to store up food for the colder fall months and harsh winter, when food is much more difficult to find.
If your home is invaded by squirrels every year, you may have noticed that their presence and numbers become a concern at certain times. These pests reproduce twice a year. They reproduce once between December and February, and a second time between the months of March and May. Their gestation lasts seven weeks and they litter twice a year with an average of one to eight young.
Threats posed by the gray squirrel and some conventional ways to control them
The gray squirrel is one of the UK’s most formidable pest species. These pests not only represent serious threats to forests but also to human settlements. In the forest, they are known to strip bark from trees and compete with native species, while in towns and settlements, they have been known to cause considerable damage, and it is not uncommon to find them chewing on electrical wires and gnawing on attics. When they invade a home, these pests will no doubt chew through external fixtures, such as fascia boards, or work their way under shingles. Once inside, they will take shelter and even create nests.
There are quite a few ways to control gray squirrels. Traditionally, homeowners would use poison or place squirrel traps in strategic locations. You must select the most appropriate type of poison for these pests. Also, keep in mind that if you set traps, you are required by law to check them several times a day. Sometimes you will be asked to contact the pest control agency that set the trap. Alternatively, you can also prime them with poison that is placed at entry points near the loft or ceiling spaces. Once the treatment has been carried out with considerable results, you need to carry out repairs and block the access points.
Use of appropriate roofing materials to deal with squirrel invasion
Previous traditional ways of dealing with the perennial threat of squirrels, namely bait and trap, offer no lasting solutions to annual invasions. This means that your home will remain susceptible to future attacks unless you install the proper roofing coatings and protective materials. You will come to realize that using boards to protect areas such as joists and beams becomes desirable when dealing with the elements and pests. Besides which, this enterprise is a crucial part of the architecture.
You should be aware that a wooden soffit board is prone to decay. Also, they wear out over time due to exposure to bad weather and this weakens the foundation of your roofing. Such damage can also open up loft areas and make them accessible to pests. Therefore, you will be forced to make replacements from time to time when they become damaged. Unfortunately people often use wood because it looks attractive but there are pitfalls with this as stated above and this is why you should not use wood for siding. On the other hand, a plastic fascia is a stronger protective material, being much less susceptible to decay and damage. In addition, it will offer the best protection against more tenacious and intelligent pests such as the gray squirrel.
If you want to undertake a siding project, you should avoid using wood or wood. It is always important to make sure to include the protective layers and barriers. To reduce the amount of work, be sure to use uPVC siding material. This unplasticized material is made from a calcium organic PVC compound that provides protection against environmental hazards. The good thing about this material is that it doesn’t require a lot of long-term care and maintenance, and it doesn’t rot or weather like wood, which becomes prone to pest invasion. Where wood might in fact exacerbate the problem, in other words PVC siding alone is beneficial.