Are there squirrels plotting right now to take out the power in your home?
We’ve talked before about the damages squirrels can cause in the attic and how they’ve even gone as far as to attack a Chicago politician.
The biggest problem they can potentially cause though is to start an electrical fire in your home. Although we like to have fun and joke about animals, a fire in your house is no laughing matter.
Squirrels chewing on wires in your home are a major problem. Although it’s hard to find a reliable number, it’s known that squirrels cause many home fires every year.
They caused a fire that burnt down a home in the UK while a family was on vacation. They caused a fire in a pastor’s home in Florida. Squirrels have even been reported to knock out power to entire towns.
We’ve read claims that squirrels cause 30,000 house fires a year. We can’t say how reliable that number is but having seen the damages that squirrels cause all across Chicagoland, we wouldn’t be surprised.
Let’s talk about why squirrels do then and how you can stop them.
For professional animal and squirrel removal in Chicagoland Call (847) 464-1861
Why squirrels chew electrical wires
Squirrels are a common nuisance in homes and often may enter the home during winter months. They are looking for a warm and dry place to stays, and maybe even to hide some nuts from rivals or to raise a family.
The reason that squirrels chew is because their teeth never stop growing. Their teeth will continue to grow throughout their lifetime.
Because of this, squirrels need to chew on hard objects, such as metal wires, so that they can slow the rate of their teeth growing and control their length.
Chewing also keeps their teeth hard, and chewing on metal wires can help keep them sharp. Squirrels need hard, sharp teeth to break through hard nut shells and will engage in chewing and sharpening behaviors throughout their entire lifetime.
How to protect your electrical wires from squirrels
So how do you protect your home and family from the dangers of squirrels chewing your wires?
First off, if you think you have squirrels in your home, get rid of them! As soon as possible!
For professional inspection and animal removal call (847) 464-1861
If you don’t have squirrels in your attic, hooray! Let’s keep it that way. Nothing can protect your home like putting some time into prevention.
Learn what the most common entry points for animals to enter your home and then inspect your house to make sure you’re not giving them an easy way in. Learn how to squirrel proof your home and keep them out.
Try to keep them away from your bird feeders and don’t give them any other sources of food.
Keep your house secured from squirrels and you will also be helping to keep other pests out as well.
Nobody likes an uninvited animal guest so make sure you’re not leaving them a welcome mat.
For more animal prevention tips read our blog.