All About Gray Squirrels & Gray Squirrel Removal in NJ
Gray squirrels in New Jersey usually cause problems for people during spring and winter times.
From fall through winter (September through February) are the times when
"denning" activities take place. Denning is
when squirrels make attics their homes and it's usually eight to ten squirrels.
In the spring time (March through May) breeding takes place to raise their young. During this time typically it's when you
find a female and her offspring in the attic or in the wall. They can
have one litter per year, usually in the early fall.
Description of the
Gray Squirrel:
Its fur is predominantly gray with a touch of red sometimes and the belly is white. They have a large bushy tail. In urban
area of eastern area of New Jersey albino and melanistic (darker
squirrels) are found.
The behavior of the gray squirrel:
The gray squirrel is the type that picks up all the left food where ever they find it and stores it in small caches to recover
later. This is done to just have dibs on it and later on they return to restore their food in a more secure area. Gray squirrels
build their nests in the forks of trees. These consist mainly of dry leaves and twigs. There are times when they will attempt to
build a nest in the attic or exterior walls of houses to have more shelter usually for their young. They have also been known to
dig up bulbs from gardens. Their reputation for these habits has led some to call them "tree rats" or "rats with fuzzy tails".
Predators include hawks, skunks, raccoons, snakes and owls. On occasion, this squirrel may lose part of its tail while escaping
a predator.
Why Are They Damaging My Property?
- They den in attics, walls, sheds, barns, and chimneys, annoying people with their noise and odors. Squirrels usually gain access
via overhanging branches, power lines, or by climbing up the siding. They may fall into chimney and furnace flues, thus gaining
entrance to the basement or interior of the house.
- Their nest materials might block a vent, making it a fire hazard.
- They chew and scratch wires (another fire hazard) and also damage attic vents, eaves, screens, bird feeders, siding, insulation,
household goods, and the tubing used for maple syrup production.
- They run along power lines and sometimes short out transformers.
- Squirrels also eat garden, field, and orchard crops; bird seed; and newly planted vegetable seeds.
- They'll strip the bark from trees, especially fruit trees and cedar.
Alco Animal & Pest Control provides full gray squirrel
removal and control services in NJ. We are more than happy to inform New Jersey and out of state visitors on these and other
species that (might) cause dangers to their health. We offer great advice and
solutions because we are well certified and informed when it comes to animal control and
the
safety of animals in New Jersey, that is our
main priority.
