Have you seen evidence of them lately? For
the most part, they live along the fringes of society, but it
is not uncommon for a family of them to move into a home. These pests can
bring a great deal of trouble and are difficult to remove if allowed
to settle in. They can be quite vocal, annoying and boisterous. Most
can cause substantial damage to your home if allowed to remain there
unattended.
Squirrel
nests are messy, cluttered, and usually dirty. The animals are very
persistent, invasive, and destructive. They expect others to
tolerate and even welcome their presence. They can be aggressive if
threatened and are flexible opportunists. If a squirrel has taken up
residence in your home or attic, the only practical way to remove
them is by trapping or professional removal.
Pack
rats collect, claim and hoard materials in order to decorate their
nests. A peculiar characteristic of a pack rat: if they find
something they want, they will drop what they are currently carrying,
and "trade" it for the new item. (They take your stuff and
claim it as their own.) They are particularly fond of shiny objects
and old junk. The critters consistently move their treasures around,
rearranging and perhaps hiding them within their nest, but they never
really get rid of anything.
Some
of these pests are nocturnal, poking around your house during the
night looking for food and leaving a mess in their wake. A few are
active during the day in human dwellings, frequenting closets,
pantries, bedrooms, attics and basements. They expand their living
area to fit whatever space they can find, becoming territorial after
they take possession.
Beware
the squirrel and pack rat. Recognize the signs so you can get rid of
them as soon as possible.
“You
can't be friends with a squirrel! A squirrel is just a rat with a
cuter outfit.”
– Sarah
Jessica Parker
