Facts About Washington Squirrels
Food and Feeding Habits
- Tree squirrels feed mostly on plant material, including seeds, nuts, acorns, tree buds, berries, leaves, and twigs. However, they are opportunists and also eat fungi, insects, and occasionally birds’ eggs and nestlings.
- Squirrels store food and recover it as needed. Hollow trees, stumps, and abandoned animal burrows are used as storage sites; flowerpots, exhaust pipes, and abandoned cars are also used.
- Scientists credit flying squirrels with helping forest health by spreading species of fungi that help trees grow.
- Tree squirrels construct nursery nests in hollow trees, abandoned woodpecker cavities, and similar hollows. Where these are unavailable, they will build spherical or cup-shaped nests in trees, attics, and nest boxes.
- An alternate nest may be constructed in a tree for summer use. In areas with prolonged periods of cold weather, red squirrels may construct a winter nest underground, often in or near a food storage site.
- In urban areas, squirrels mostly nest in buildings and other structures.
- Nests contain leaves, twigs, shredded bark, mosses, insulation, and other soft material.
- Depending on the species, tree squirrels mate from early winter to late spring. One litter of two to four young is produced from March to June.
- All except flying and western gray squirrels may produce second litters in August or September.
- At about 30 days of age, the young are fully furred and make short trips out of the nest. At about 60 days of age, they begin eating solid foods and venture to the ground.
- At about three months of age, juvenile squirrels are on their own, sometimes remaining close to the nest until their parent’s next breeding period.
- The second litter may stay with the mother in the nest through the winter until well after the winter courtship season.
- In trees, squirrels are relatively safe, except for an occasional owl or goshawk.
- On the ground, large hawks and owls, domestic cats and dogs, coyotes, and bobcats catch squirrels.
- Vehicles, disease, and starvation also kill squirrels.
- Most squirrels die during their first year; if they survive that, they live three to five years.
Squirrel Removal.
Squirrel Control is one of the top 5 calls we get from our clients in Western Washington. We have a few different varieties of Squirrel in Western Washington. The two most prevalent are Gray Squirrels and Douglas Squirrels. Our Squirrel Control and Squirrel removal pros know all the rules and regulations pertaining to Squirrel removal and can positively identify what type of Squirrel is occupying your home to develop a plan to get rid of squirrels from your residence. It is important to be able to identify what species you're handling before attempting any Squirrel removal. Some species of animals are protected in Washington state and our Douglas squirrels are one of them. The best way to control a squirrel issue or get rid of them is to live trap and remove the Squirrel from the property completely. Depending on the species we may be able to relocate the animals and release them unharmed. Our squirrel removal technicians in WA take care in handling all animals. When a Squirrel is trapped, we will pick up the animal as soon as possible to minimize the stress on the Squirrel. Squirrel often take advantage of gaps or cracks in the home to achieve entry into our wall voids and attic spaces building Squirrel nests in structure with our insulation and other debris. Before getting rid of squirrels or repairing any Squirrel damage and sealing holes. Our Squirrel control and Squirrel damage repair experts need to be sure all the target animals have been safely removed from the property before its sealed. If the squirrels are left to remain in the area, they often just chew their way back in causing more damage. especially if the squirrels have young in the attic space. Our Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators have all the skills, abilities, and licenses needed to find and identify squirrel entry exit points, repair and seal all squirrel damages, and clean up any feces, urine, or messes left behind after the squirrels are removed from the attic or wall and get rid of squirrels permanently. Soffit screens and connecting roofline gaps are few of the many ways squirrels often enter our homes. We offer squirrel removal in Tacoma WA, Olympia WA, Lacey WA, Lakewood WA, Seattle WA, Puyallup WA, Bonney Lake WA, Sumner, Auburn, Federal Way, Chehalis WA, Vashon Island, Anderson Island, Graham, Eatonville, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Harstein island, and many other Western Washington locations. We are the best choice in wildlife control for your squirrel removal needs. Animal Evictors wildlife removal Squirrel Trappers are some of the bests in the industry at getting rid of squirrels. Squirrel Trapping and Other Animal trapping is what we do. We take pride in removing squirrels in a fast safe and affordable way for our customers and one of few companies that offer full-service squirrel control. Call today!
Squirrel Control is one of the top 5 calls we get from our clients in Western Washington. We have a few different varieties of Squirrel in Western Washington. The two most prevalent are Gray Squirrels and Douglas Squirrels. Our Squirrel Control and Squirrel removal pros know all the rules and regulations pertaining to Squirrel removal and can positively identify what type of Squirrel is occupying your home to develop a plan to get rid of squirrels from your residence. It is important to be able to identify what species you're handling before attempting any Squirrel removal. Some species of animals are protected in Washington state and our Douglas squirrels are one of them. The best way to control a squirrel issue or get rid of them is to live trap and remove the Squirrel from the property completely. Depending on the species we may be able to relocate the animals and release them unharmed. Our squirrel removal technicians in WA take care in handling all animals. When a Squirrel is trapped, we will pick up the animal as soon as possible to minimize the stress on the Squirrel. Squirrel often take advantage of gaps or cracks in the home to achieve entry into our wall voids and attic spaces building Squirrel nests in structure with our insulation and other debris. Before getting rid of squirrels or repairing any Squirrel damage and sealing holes. Our Squirrel control and Squirrel damage repair experts need to be sure all the target animals have been safely removed from the property before its sealed. If the squirrels are left to remain in the area, they often just chew their way back in causing more damage. especially if the squirrels have young in the attic space. Our Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators have all the skills, abilities, and licenses needed to find and identify squirrel entry exit points, repair and seal all squirrel damages, and clean up any feces, urine, or messes left behind after the squirrels are removed from the attic or wall and get rid of squirrels permanently. Soffit screens and connecting roofline gaps are few of the many ways squirrels often enter our homes. We offer squirrel removal in Tacoma WA, Olympia WA, Lacey WA, Lakewood WA, Seattle WA, Puyallup WA, Bonney Lake WA, Sumner, Auburn, Federal Way, Chehalis WA, Vashon Island, Anderson Island, Graham, Eatonville, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Harstein island, and many other Western Washington locations. We are the best choice in wildlife control for your squirrel removal needs. Animal Evictors wildlife removal Squirrel Trappers are some of the bests in the industry at getting rid of squirrels. Squirrel Trapping and Other Animal trapping is what we do. We take pride in removing squirrels in a fast safe and affordable way for our customers and one of few companies that offer full-service squirrel control. Call today!
This information was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russell Link, and Michael Holmquist
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