Gray · Fox · Flying squirrels
Thumping over the ceiling at sunrise, a chewed hole in the soffit, nuts rolling in the attic. With this many pines and oaks around town, squirrels in the attic are common. A local pro can get them out with a one-way door and repair the roofline so they don't chew back in.
Yes. Squirrels belong to the same order as rats and mice, Rodentia, and they share the same habit of constant gnawing. That's why a squirrel can turn a small gap at the roofline into a fist-sized hole, and why squirrel removal is part of rodent control rather than a separate wildlife service.
Listen to when the noise happens. Gray and fox squirrels are active by day, so attic noise right after sunrise and again in the late afternoon points to squirrels. Rats are loudest after dark. The one exception is the southern flying squirrel, which is small and active at night.
Squirrels in East Texas usually raise young twice a year, with litters in late winter and again in late summer. Those are the times attics see the most activity. If you hear high-pitched squeaking in the attic, there may be babies, and the removal plan needs to account for them.
| Squirrel | Look | Active | Attic behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern gray squirrel | Gray coat, white belly, bushy tail | Day | Common in wooded neighborhoods; chews soffits and vents to nest |
| Fox squirrel | Larger, rusty-orange to brown coat | Day | Likes oaks and pecans, more common in open, park-like yards |
| Southern flying squirrel | Small, soft gray-brown fur, gliding skin | Night | Can live in attics in groups, often mistaken for rats |
Gray and fox squirrels are classified as game animals in Texas, and Texas Parks and Wildlife sets rules for them. Professional providers know how those rules apply to nuisance squirrels on your property, which is one more reason to let them handle removal.
Squirrels are bigger and stronger chewers than rats, and an attic gives them plenty to work on. They gnaw electrical wiring, tear into flex ducts and pull insulation into nests. Their entry hole at the roofline lets rain in, which can rot the decking and fascia over time, and an open hole invites other animals to use it next. Droppings and urine build up around the nest, adding to the cleanup.
Squirrels in the attic?
Talk to a local squirrel removal pro about an inspection.
Because squirrels are active in daylight and leave the attic to feed, a one-way door is usually the cleanest way to get them out. Here are the steps.
The roofline, soffits, fascia, gable and roof vents and the chimney area are checked for the active hole and any spot squirrels could chew open next.
In nesting season, the attic is checked for a nest with young before anything is closed, so none are left behind.
Other openings are closed with metal, and a one-way door goes over the main hole so squirrels can leave but not come back.
Activity is watched over the next several days. Once the attic is quiet, the door comes off.
The hole is repaired with sheet metal or hardware cloth, limbs are trimmed back from the roof, and nests and droppings are cleaned out.
The repair is just as important as the removal. Squirrels remember where their nest was and will test the old hole and the area around it. Wood patches or foam won't hold. Metal-backed repairs, done the way the rodent exclusion guide describes, are what keep them out for good.
Closing a hole while young squirrels are still inside is the most common mistake people make. The mother will chew a new hole to get back to them, often causing more damage, and if she can't, the young die in the attic and create an odor problem.
If it's late winter or late summer and you hear squeaking or see a squirrel making repeated trips, assume there may be young inside. A provider can plan the timing, check for the nest and handle it so the family leaves together.
Huntsville's tree cover is a big part of why squirrels end up in attics. Pines, oaks and pecans planted close to the house let squirrels jump straight onto the roof. A few changes make your home less inviting:
Want to know if a hole is still in use? Loosely stuff a sheet of newspaper into it from outside. If it's pushed out or torn within a day or two, squirrels are still going in and out. Don't leave it more than that, and don't use this in nesting season.
Squirrel nests can be large, and the area around them is usually full of droppings, urine-soaked insulation and debris. After removal, the attic should be cleaned and the insulation near the nest replaced if it's soiled. The attic cleanup page explains the different levels of cleanup.
If a squirrel gets out of the attic and into your living space, keep pets and kids away, close interior doors to that room and open a window or exterior door if it's safe. Then call for help. Our emergency rodent removal page covers what to do while you wait. For every service in one place, see rodent control across Walker County.
This site doesn't list prices because every roofline and attic is different. A provider inspects first and gives you a quote. Ask whether it includes the one-way door, the hole repair, sealing other weak spots and attic cleanup.
Squirrels are regulated in Texas, and moving wildlife can come with rules. Relocated squirrels also often don't survive, and if young are left behind, the problem gets worse. One-way doors avoid most of those issues.
Once a one-way door is up, most squirrels leave within a few days. The full job, including confirming they're gone and repairing the hole, often takes about a week.
Sometimes they leave after their young are grown, but they often come back the next season to the same spot. Until the entry hole is repaired with metal, the attic stays open to them and to other animals.
They rarely work for long, and mothballs aren't meant to be scattered in attics. A one-way door and a solid repair are far more reliable.
The main risks are chewed wiring, roof leaks from the entry hole and droppings in the insulation. A squirrel that's cornered inside the home can also bite, so don't try to catch one by hand.
Squirrel removal in Huntsville
Open Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Huntsville, TX and nearby towns
