Squirrels Are Not Your Friend
- Devin Day
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Yes they are cute. Yes they are entertaining. But no, squirrels are not your friends. Montana has two types of squirrels. The native red squirrel (also known as a pine squirrel), and the non-native Eastern fox squirrel. Montana is also home to a native species of flying squirrel, but it is rare you would ever see one, especially in populated areas.
Squirrels are extremely active and territorial. This is especially true in their mating periods from March to June. With kits leaving parental care after just 18 months, one family of cute residential squirrels can quickly become a large and noisy problem.
Squirrels are excellent climbers and will often utilize woodpecker holes or natural cavity formations on homes for a comfy nest. They collect large amounts of food and debris for nesting. The damage they cause does not stop at nest building, often exploring their surroundings by chewing and pulling on different things in and around your home. Property damage can range from siding damage to fire hazards in the form of chewed wires and nests, to environmental damage caused by regular squirrel behavior.
Other possible issues from squirrels moving in include changed behavior from pets, especially dogs. Increased risk of disease is also associated with squirrels. Disease can come from parasites carried by the creatures or from their feces. Noise is also an issue as squirrels love to chase other squirrels and they are highly vocal. Squirrels can chase birds away from bird feeders and can spread garbage around your property by entering overfilled, or damaged trash cans.
Although we love to see them around, squirrels can be an extremely frustrating pest to deal with and dangerous. A squirrel bite can range to about 7,000 psi; about 14 times the amount as a human.
The best way to gauge how to remove squirrels safely and effectively from a property is to contact a pest professional that understands the behavior and the risks associated with these fuzzy tailed tree climbers.
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