There are more than 65 types of squirrels roaming the fields and the streets of the United States.1 In Arizona the most common species of squirrels include the Harris’ Antelope squirrel, the round tailed ground squirrel, the white-tailed antelope ground squirrel, the spotted ground squirrel and the rock squirrel.2
While each species of squirrel may look slightly different, they all have one thing in common.
Squirrels can do a lot of damage to your home and your outdoor structures and should be removed by a professional.
Types of Squirrels in Arizona
Squirrels are part of the Sciuridae family, which also includes prairie dogs, chipmunks and marmots.3 There are three types of squirrels: tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels.
Tree squirrels generally live in wooded areas and make their nests in trees while ground squirrels live in underground tunnels or burrows. Arizona is not known to be a home for flying squirrels.
Squirrels are territorial and that is why you may observe them chasing after each other.
As with most species, mother squirrels can be really vicious when defending their babies against predators and can jump 8 to 10 feet with ease due to their agility.
Foods that Attract Squirrels
As anyone with a backyard bird feeder knows, squirrels love nuts and seeds. What most people don’t know is that squirrels are omnivores, so their preferred diet also consists of plants and meat. They will even eat small animals and young snakes.
Squirrels bury food in the warmer months so they have a supply to last throughout the winter months. Many species of squirrels do not hibernate in the winter unless the temperature stays below freezing for a length of time.
Squirrels Like to be Close to Home
Squirrels like to build their nests close to food sources, so a backyard bird feeder may provide an incentive for them to attempt to nest in a nearby structure, such as a home’s attic, crawlspace or chimney. These places also provide warmth and safety from other predators. They use readily available materials to make its nest indoors such as insultation and wood.
Damage by Squirrels
Squirrels have teeth which grow continually, and they need to chew and gnaw to keep their teeth from overgrowth which can lead to death in a squirrel.4 They also use their teeth to defend against predators and have been known to bite humans when threatened.
When a squirrel gets into a home they will gnaw on wood, electrical wires and other building materials. Gnawing on electrical wiring can cause electrical shorts and fires. Squirrel will also deposit waste and urine near their nesting area which can lead to saturation and odor damage to ceilings and walls. It can also lead to health issues for the home’s occupants.
Contact Squirrel Removal Services from Arizona’s Best Wildlife Removal Company
Critter Evictors is a professional wildlife removal service in Scottsdale that can identify where the squirrels are entering your Maricopa County home or other dwelling and will develop a plan to live trap the squirrels and relocate them safely to an area that will ensure that they don’t return.
While it may be tempting to try to live trap and relocate them yourself, in many states, including Arizona, you are required to be licensed to possess, process or handle wildlife outside of hunting and fishing seasons.
Our professional wildlife removal service specializes in squirrel removal and can also advise you on how to secure your home, so you don’t end up with a squirrel problem in the future. Call and speak to an expert about your wildlife issues today!
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1 7 Types of Squirrels Everyone with A Backyard Should Know by Mark Wolfe, 9/13/2021
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/types-of-squirrels/
1 Ground Squirrels in Arizona
Link: https://wildlifeinformer.com/ground-squirrels-in-arizona/
3 Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts by Alina Bradford, 6/27/2014
Link: https://www.livescience.com/28182-squirrels.html
4 Squirrel Teeth: Everything You Need to Know by Brandi Allred, 12/29/2021
Link: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/squirrel-teeth-everything-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Squirrels,%20like%20all%20members