Squirrels are cute. Right up until one moves into your attic and starts chewing on the electrical wiring. Then suddenly the fluffy tail feels considerably less charming and more arsonist.
Here in Georgia, squirrels are a normal part of life. You see them racing across fences, launching themselves between trees, and burying acorns they may or may not remember the location of five minutes later.
Once they're inside your home, though, squirrels can damage electrical wiring, insulation, soffits, fascia, roofing materials, and other parts of your home. Because their teeth grow continuously, gnawing is simply part of what squirrels do, and your wiring can unfortunately become one very expensive (and dangerous) chew toy for them.
So, how much damage can squirrels actually cause? Here are five ways squirrels can ruin the wiring around and inside your home, and what you can do to keep them out.
1. They Can Damage Electrical Service Lines
Overhead electrical, cable, and communication lines can act like squirrel highways. Squirrels frequently use utility lines to move between trees, roofs, and neighboring properties without ever touching the ground. The wires themselves are built to withstand normal outdoor conditions, but wildlife activity around service lines can still create problems.
Squirrels may gnaw on protective coatings, travel across connections near the roofline, or nest near utility equipment. If you notice a damaged, sagging, or exposed utility line, don't attempt to repair it yourself. Keep your distance and contact the appropriate utility provider.
2. They Can Chew Wiring Around Your Roofline
Once a squirrel reaches your roof, it has access to more than shingles and gutters. Exterior wiring for cable, internet, security systems, satellite equipment, exterior lighting, and other services may run along the roofline or enter the home nearby. Again, squirrels may gnaw on protective coverings, pull on unsecured wiring, or damage the areas where cables enter the structure.
The bigger concern? A squirrel already hanging around your roof may also find a vulnerable soffit, vent, fascia board, or construction gap and decide to take the tour inside.
According to UGA Extension, squirrels are capable of gnawing through siding, soffits, and roofing materials to gain access to attics. And once they make it inside, the wiring situation gets considerably more complicated.
3. They Can Chew Electrical Wiring in Your Attic
This is one of the biggest concerns when squirrels get into a house. Like other rodents, squirrels have teeth that continue growing throughout their lives. Gnawing helps keep those teeth worn down.
Your attic just so happens to contain plenty of things worth testing.
Squirrels may chew through the protective insulation surrounding electrical wires, potentially exposing the wiring underneath. UGA Extension warns that squirrel damage to electrical wiring can create a fire hazard, especially when exposed wires are surrounded by dry nesting materials or insulation.
Signs of squirrel activity in an attic may include:
- Scratching or scampering during daylight hours
- Chewed wood near soffits or roof openings
- Damaged or disturbed insulation
- Droppings or nesting material
- Visible gnaw marks on wires or structural materials
- Strong animal or urine odors
- Squirrels entering or leaving the same roofline opening
If you discover damaged electrical wiring, have it evaluated by a qualified electrician after the wildlife problem has been resolved. Removing the squirrel without fixing the wiring still leaves you with half a problem that could be hazardous to your home.
4. They Can Damage Wiring Hidden Inside Your Walls
Squirrels don't always stay politely in the attic. They can enter wall voids through structural gaps or travel down from attic spaces while exploring or looking for nesting areas. And yes, there can be wiring there, too.
Once squirrels get into a wall void, they may gnaw electrical wiring or other cables where you can't easily see the damage. This makes squirrel activity within a wall especially frustrating. You may hear scratching or chewing but have no idea exactly where the squirrel is—or what it is chewing on.
Don't immediately seal the opening if you suspect an animal is still inside. If you trap a squirrel or worse, a dependent young inside the structure, the adult may begin aggressively chewing through another part of the house trying to escape or regain access. Not exactly the home renovation plan anyone had in mind.
5. They Can Damage Low-Voltage and Other Home Wiring
Electrical wiring isn't the only thing running through your attic and walls. Modern homes may also contain wiring for:
- Internet and cable
- Security systems
- Doorbells and cameras
- Speakers
- Thermostats
- Exterior lighting
- Garage door equipment
- HVAC controls
A squirrel does not know or care which wire controls your Wi-Fi and which one carries electricity. To the squirrel, they're all just interesting things to chew.
Damage to these cables may lead to malfunctioning equipment, service interruptions, costly repairs, or difficult-to-locate problems behind walls and ceilings. So that mysterious internet outageâ¦may not actually be your provider this time.
Why Do Squirrels Get Into Georgia Homes?
Squirrels enter homes looking for shelter and safe places to nest. Attics offer warmth, protection from predators, and plenty of material for nest-building. Gray squirrels are especially common around Georgia homes and may produce more than one litter during the year.
Common squirrel entry points include:
- Damaged soffits and fascia
- Construction gaps along the roofline
- Roof and gable vents
- Openings beneath shingles
- Uncapped chimneys
- Damaged roof decking
- Gaps around pipes and utility lines
Tree branches, fences, gutters, and nearby structures can also give squirrels easy access to the roof.
How Do You Get Squirrels Out of an Attic?
The most effective long-term strategy is wildlife exclusion. Exclusion means finding how the squirrels are entering, safely removing the animals already inside, and repairing vulnerable areas so they cannot simply come back.
When you locate a squirrel hole, don't immediately seal it shut. Young squirrels may still be inside, particularly during nesting season. UGA Extension recommends making sure dependent young are not present before closing active entry points.
Professional squirrel removal involves trapping or properly installed one-way exclusion devices depending on the situation. Once the squirrels are gone, damaged openings can be reinforced using durable materials that squirrels cannot easily chew through.
At BREDA, our wildlife control and exclusion services focus on finding the entry points, removing the wildlife, repairing vulnerable areas, and helping prevent the problem from returning.
Getting one squirrel out is great. Keeping the next squirrel out is even better.
How Can You Help Prevent Squirrel Damage?
You probably can't keep squirrels out of your yard. This is Georgia. There will be squirrels. But you can make your house much harder to access by doing these exterior maintenance tasks regularly:
- Trim branches away from the roof when practical.
- Repair damaged soffits, fascia, vents, and roofing.
- Install a properly fitted chimney cap.
- Secure attic and gable vents with wildlife-resistant screening.
- Inspect your roofline periodically for new gaps or chewing.
- Keep bird feeders away from the house when possible.
- Secure trash and other outdoor food sources.
- Address suspicious roof openings before squirrels begin nesting.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources also recommends reducing access to food, water, and shelter to help prevent conflicts with wildlife around homes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrel Damage
Can squirrels really cause an electrical fire?
Potentially, yes. Squirrels may chew away the protective coating around electrical wiring, exposing wires and increasing the risk of electrical problems or fire. Damaged wiring should be inspected by a qualified electrician.
What does a squirrel in the attic sound like?
Gray squirrels are active during the day, so homeowners may hear scratching, running, chewing, or rolling sounds during morning or daytime hours. Nighttime attic activity may point toward other wildlife, including flying squirrels, mice, or bats.
Should I seal the hole if I see a squirrel entering my attic?
Not immediately. First, make sure all squirrels have left and that there are no dependent young inside. Sealing an active opening too soon can trap wildlife inside the home.
Can squirrels chew through walls?
Squirrels can gnaw wood and other building materials and may travel through wall voids after entering a home. They can also enlarge existing openings while trying to enter or escape.
Can squirrels damage the internet or cable wiring?
Yes. Squirrels may gnaw low-voltage wiring for internet, cable, security systems, cameras, thermostats, and other home technology in addition to electrical wiring.
How do professionals keep squirrels from coming back?
Professional wildlife exclusion involves identifying entry points, removing the animals, and repairing or reinforcing vulnerable areas with durable materials designed to resist wildlife entry.
When should I call a wildlife-control professional?
Call for help if you see squirrels entering your roofline, hear repeated attic or wall activity, discover damaged wiring or insulation, suspect young squirrels are present, or cannot safely access the entry point.
Keep the Squirrels Out of Your Wiring
We have no problem with squirrels doing squirrel things. Running through the trees? Great. Stealing birdseed? Rude, but predictable. Chewing through the electrical wiring above your bedroom? That's where we draw the line.
If you're hearing suspicious noises in your attic, seeing squirrels disappear into your roofline, or finding signs of wildlife damage, don't wait for the problem to get more expensive.
The BREDA wildlife team can inspect your home, remove the wildlife, identify and seal entry points, and clean and sanitize affected areas. Let's keep the bushy tails outside where they belong.
If you're tired of wondering what the pests in or around your home are doing and just want them gone, don't hesitate to give us a call. The BREDA Guarantee promises to protect your home and keep it protected—no matter the circumstances. Schedule an inspection online or give us a call at 770-466-6700.
