You probably don’t think of squirrels the same way you think of rats or mice. They’re outside, they’re busy doing squirrel things, and they seem harmless enough.

But here’s the thing: squirrels are rodents. Biologically, behaviorally, and from a pest control standpoint, they share more in common with rats and mice than most homeowners realize. And when they get inside your home, they cause the same kind of damage.

If you’ve been hearing scratching in your attic or noticing chew marks around your roofline, this is worth understanding before the problem gets bigger.

So, Are Squirrels Actually Rodents?

Yes. Squirrels belong to the order Rodentia, the same classification as rats, mice, chipmunks, and beavers. What makes something a rodent is its teeth — specifically, a pair of continuously growing incisors that the animal must constantly chew to keep from overgrowing.

That instinct to chew is exactly what makes rodents destructive inside buildings. It isn’t random. It’s a biological drive. And squirrels have it just as much as rats do.

The most common species causing problems for homeowners in the Savannah and coastal Georgia area is the Eastern gray squirrel. They’re everywhere, they’re adaptable, and they’ve gotten very good at exploiting gaps in structures to find shelter.

What Damage Can Squirrels Cause?

People are often surprised by how much damage a squirrel infestation can create. Because squirrels look like harmless backyard wildlife, homeowners tend to delay taking action. That’s usually when the damage compounds.

Electrical Wiring

This is the big one. Squirrels chew through wiring insulation. Exposed wiring inside walls or attic spaces is a direct fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, rodents are responsible for an estimated 20-25% of house fires with unknown causes. Squirrels are included in that category.

If a squirrel has been living in your attic for more than a few weeks, there’s a real chance it has chewed through something it shouldn’t have.

Insulation

Squirrels tear apart attic insulation to build nests. Blown-in insulation gets compacted and displaced. Fiberglass batts get shredded. Beyond the nest itself, squirrel urine and feces contaminate the surrounding insulation, which creates odor problems and potential health concerns, particularly from leptospirosis and salmonella.

Structural Wood

Fascia boards, roof decking, and wooden beams are all fair game. Squirrels chew entry points larger over time. What starts as a small gap near a soffit or roof vent can become a fist-sized opening after a few weeks of regular use.

Plumbing and HVAC

Less common, but it happens. Squirrels have been known to chew through PVC pipes and flexible HVAC ducts when they’re accessible in an attic space.

Signs You Have Squirrels in Your Home

You might hear them before you see any evidence. The most common complaint is scratching, scurrying, or rolling sounds in the attic or ceiling — usually in the early morning or late afternoon, which matches squirrel activity patterns.

Other signs to look for:

• Droppings in the attic — roughly the size and shape of a grain of rice, rounded on both ends (unlike rat droppings, which are pointed)
• Nesting material: leaves, insulation, chewed cardboard, or bark collected in corners of the attic
• Chew marks or gnawing around roof vents, soffit edges, or eaves
• Entry holes, especially on the north or shaded side of the house where wood is more likely to soften
• Staining or grease marks around entry points from repeated use

If you’re spotting squirrels on your roof regularly — jumping from nearby trees, sitting near vents, testing gaps — that’s also a sign they’re either already inside or actively looking for a way in.

Are Squirrels in the Attic Dangerous?

Squirrels don’t typically bite people unless cornered or handled. That’s not really the danger.

The main risks are:

• Fire from chewed wiring
• Structural damage from entry point enlargement and prolonged gnawing
• Disease transmission through contaminated insulation, droppings, or parasites (fleas and ticks) they carry in
• Secondary pest problems — a squirrel nest is warm, and other pests follow

A squirrel in your attic isn’t just a nuisance. It’s a liability.

How to Get Rid of Squirrels in Your Home

Exclusion: The Only Real Long-Term Solution

The most effective approach is exclusion — sealing all entry points so squirrels can’t get back in after they’ve been removed. This needs to be done carefully. If you seal a squirrel inside, it will chew its way out (and create more damage in the process) or die in the wall, which creates its own problems.

A proper exclusion involves a full inspection to locate all active and potential entry points, installation of one-way exclusion devices that let squirrels exit but not return, and full sealing after the animals have left.

Trapping

Live trapping is sometimes used, especially for isolated squirrels already inside a structure. Traps need to be checked frequently — twice a day is the standard — and animals need to be relocated far enough away that they don’t return. In Georgia, there are regulations around relocating wildlife, so this is typically handled by a licensed pest control or wildlife removal company.

What Doesn’t Work

Repellents, ultrasonic devices, and DIY deterrents have a poor track record against squirrels. These animals are persistent and adaptable. If there’s a good nesting spot, they’ll find a way to it. Temporary deterrents just slow them down.

For a full overview of how we approach rodent control and wildlife removal in the Savannah area, visit those service pages — or just give us a call.

Why It Matters to Address This Quickly

Squirrels breed twice a year — spring and late summer. A single female can have two to four pups per litter. If you have a squirrel in your attic that has been there long enough to have a litter, you now have a family.

Young squirrels take about 10-12 weeks before they’re mobile and starting to explore independently. After that, they begin establishing their own territories. Some of them stay in the same structure.

The longer you wait, the more animals you’re dealing with, the more damage accumulates, and the more complicated removal becomes. Address it in spring before a second litter shows up in late summer.

Squirrels Getting Into Your Home? We Can Help.

Prestige Pest Control handles rodent control and wildlife removal throughout Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Hinesville, and the surrounding coastal Georgia area. We’ll inspect your property, identify how they’re getting in, and put together a plan to get them out and keep them out. Contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrels and Rodent Control

1. Are squirrels rodents or just wildlife?

Both. Squirrels are classified as rodents in the order Rodentia, the same biological order as rats, mice, and chipmunks. From a pest control perspective, they behave like rodents — they chew constantly, they nest in structures, and they can cause significant property damage.

2. How do squirrels get into attics?

Most commonly through gaps in soffits, deteriorating fascia boards, roof vents, and spots where the roofline meets the siding. Gaps as small as a half-inch can be enough for a young squirrel to squeeze through. Once inside, they often chew the opening larger.

3. Is it dangerous to have squirrels in the attic?

Yes. The main concerns are chewed electrical wiring (which creates fire risk), structural damage, contaminated insulation, and the parasites (fleas, ticks, mites) they bring in. A squirrel infestation left unaddressed for months can result in significant repair costs.

4. Can squirrels chew through walls?

Yes. Squirrels can chew through wood, drywall, and soft metals. Their incisors are strong enough to create and enlarge entry points through wooden construction. Once inside, they can chew through wall framing, wiring, and insulation.

5. What do squirrel droppings look like?

Squirrel droppings are small, roughly 3/8 inch long, barrel-shaped, and rounded on both ends. They’re often reddish-brown or dark brown when fresh and lighten as they dry. They resemble rat droppings but are more rounded at the ends.

6. How many squirrels are usually in an attic?

A single female with a litter of two to four young is the most common scenario. In some cases — particularly in structures that have been unoccupied or have had persistent entry points — multiple adults can be present. A thorough inspection is the only way to know what you’re dealing with.

7. Will squirrels leave on their own?

Usually not, especially if they’ve established a nest. They may become less active during winter but will return in spring. A squirrel that has found reliable shelter inside your home has little reason to leave voluntarily.

8. Can I use poison to get rid of squirrels?

Rodenticide is not recommended for squirrels in most residential situations. Poisoned squirrels often die inside wall voids, creating odor and secondary pest problems. Exclusion and live trapping are the preferred methods, and poisoning wildlife without a license may also be restricted under Georgia state law.

9. What attracts squirrels to my house?

Easy access, shelter from predators and weather, and proximity to food sources. Bird feeders, nut-bearing trees close to the roofline, and overhanging branches that give squirrels a direct route onto the roof are common contributing factors. Trimming branches back at least 6-8 feet from the roofline is a simple preventive step.

10. What’s the difference between rodent control and wildlife removal?

Rodent control typically refers to managing rats and mice — smaller animals that often enter structures at the foundation level. Wildlife removal addresses larger animals like squirrels, raccoons, and opossums, which tend to enter at roofline level. Some companies, including Prestige Pest Control, handle both. The approach is similar: inspection, exclusion, and removal — but the specific entry points, trapping methods, and regulations involved are different.