Flying Squirrels in attic

[ccgirl]

Does anyone have any experience with flying squirrels? We had an exterminator out this morning. Thought it was just mice but it turns out we also have flying squirrels. I guess they chewed two holes through the ridge of my roof. The exterminator is going to place a cone in each hole so the squirrels can get out but they won't get in. They are then going to repair the holes. He also recommended I replace my roof ridge. Apparently, 15+years ago they used aluminum for them but they found to buckle in the extreme New England Temperatures and they now do the ridges differently. That leads me to my second question. Does anyone know what is involved in replacing the roof ridge? Will I have to replace all shingles on the entire roof? This is getting to be expensive!!

Thanks.

 

[PatsMom]

Can't help you with the roof replacement but the flying squirrel problem I have as well. The exterminator closed up all the holes that they could get in and left a "one way" cage going out so that they could get out. The cage froze and it didn't work. So he re-set it and we haven't heard anything scurrying around in the ceiling for a few days so we think they are gone. He'll be back in a few days to remove the cage.

If you go on the roof, you can see where they land and get in. They actually leave a trail of hair stuck on the roof.

Worst thing that ever happened to me was in our last house in Fremont. The critter got into the house through the fireplace. Woke up at 3 in the morning hearing toenails on the dresser. Thought it was the cat. Until it ran across the bed and across me! Sat up in bed with a scream over that one. Looking back it was probably pretty comical to see my husband and I in bathrobes chasing this thing around the house. Finally trapped it under my spaghetti pot and took it outside to release.

This time when we knew what we had in the attic, I told my husband that if it got in I was shooting it and I didn't care if I made a mess inside the house!

 

[walden]

Does anyone have any experience with flying squirrels? We had an exterminator out this morning. Thought it was just mice but it turns out we also have flying squirrels. I guess they chewed two holes through the ridge of my roof. The exterminator is going to place a cone in each hole so the squirrels can get out but they won't get in. They are then going to repair the holes. He also recommended I replace my roof ridge. Apparently, 15+years ago they used aluminum for them but they found to buckle in the extreme New England Temperatures and they now do the ridges differently. That leads me to my second question. Does anyone know what is involved in replacing the roof ridge? Will I have to replace all shingles on the entire roof? This is getting to be expensive!!

Thanks.

You have my sympathy. You can usually tell that you have flying squirrels in the attic because it sounds like they are having a loud party up there every night. They can be horribly destructive!

As the exterminator guys probably told you, they are protected animals. Also you can't seal the holes until you are absolutely sure they have all left the building -- otherwise they will just chew their way downwards and end up in the living areas taking out a lot of wiring on their way.

I'm not sure about the roof because it really depends on the type of roof you have. That said, asphalt shingle roofs usually last about 20 +/- years in our climate (I'm in North Central MA). You could just replace the roof ridge, but it might be worth doing the math to see whether it would be more economical to redo the whole roof now, especially if you will have to replace it the next 5 years anyway.

Someone told me that people walking over the roof to replace just the top ridge will weaken the roof anyway, but I honestly don't know whether that is true. I'm gearing up to get bids to redo our roof next year because it is 18 years old. I'm not looking forward to replacing our roof either!

 

[phred52]

ooooh my! I'm sitting here with my jaw hanging open! I never even heard of flying squirrels!! I have a hard enough time dealing with spiders, silver fish and the occasional millipedes! If I ever hear little feet overhead I'm evacuating!

 

[DMass]

ooooh my! I'm sitting here with my jaw hanging open! I never even heard of flying squirrels!! I have a hard enough time dealing with spiders, silver fish and the occasional millipedes! If I ever hear little feet overhead I'm evacuating!

The problem with flying squirrels is that they sometimes have a moose with them.

 

[Green Tea]

I am not kidding when I say this...go to the hardware store store and buy some red fox urine. Yes, they do sell it and it is juust for this. The squirrel will flee in terror. They won't even try to come back they are so afraid of red fox. Put something over the holes to keep out something not as afraid of red fox and you are good to go.

 

[ccgirl]

ooooh my! I'm sitting here with my jaw hanging open! I never even heard of flying squirrels!! I have a hard enough time dealing with spiders, silver fish and the occasional millipedes! If I ever hear little feet overhead I'm evacuating!

Me too. My attic is over my master bedroom. Needless to say, I have not been able to sleep. I tried to sleep on my living room couch but still have nightmares. It really does sound like a party. You can hear them scamper aroung 2:30 am every morning! Not a happy camper. Thanfully, the snow should melt in the next couple of days. Think we will probably end up replacing the entire roof as it is 15 years old anyway. I have a gambrel cape. Then, we have to cut down the trees they are jumping from. This just seems never ending.

The problem with flying squirrels is that they sometimes have a moose with them.

Hey...someone else said the same thing to me and I had no idea what they meant. I'm sure it's a joke that is going right over my head. Care to enlighten me?

 

[DMass]

Rocky and Bullwinkle

 

[PatsMom]

The flying squirrel and moose reference is to Rocky and Bullwinkle.

I hadn't heard that the flying squirrels were protected. I thought they were like red squirrels - good target practice if you catch them outside. Although I swear if another one gets inside the house while I am here, I will shoot first and ask questions later!

 

[walden]

The problem with flying squirrels is that they sometimes have a moose with them.

Good one!

I hadn't heard that the flying squirrels were protected. I thought they were like red squirrels - good target practice if you catch them outside. Although I swear if another one gets inside the house while I am here, I will shoot first and ask questions later!

Actually my DH just corrected me -- it is just a couple of endangered sub-species in Appalachia that are that are protected.

So our particular Northern flying squirrels are perfectly OK for target practice. Seriously, if they stayed outside I'd be fine with them. They are cute, fluffy, and have lovely big eyes. I guess the only sure way of keeping them out is to cut back all trees within 45 yards of the house, not possible for me. Those little stinkers can glide a long way!

 

[DrCavin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv5RICL4gIs

That will send a message to any remaining squirrels....

 

[PatsMom]

Good one!



Actually my DH just corrected me -- it is just a couple of endangered sub-species in Appalachia that are that are protected.

So our particular Northern flying squirrels are perfectly OK for target practice. Seriously, if they stayed outside I'd be fine with them. They are cute, fluffy, and have lovely big eyes. I guess the only sure way of keeping them out is to cut back all trees within 45 yards of the house, not possible for me. Those little stinkers can glide a long way!

Since I cannot cut down my trees either, I think they will continue to be target practice in the summer to thin out the numbers! Same for the red squirrels - they are really destructive.

 

[Polyluvr]

I saw an episode of Billy the Exterminator about squirrels in the attic; and it can be really dangerous if you have any wiring in the attic; as they chew it~ I guess alot of house fires are caused this way~ just an Fyi to have the wiring checked also.

Good luck

 

[ccgirl]

I saw an episode of Billy the Exterminator about squirrels in the attic; and it can be really dangerous if you have any wiring in the attic; as they chew it~ I guess alot of house fires are caused this way~ just an Fyi to have the wiring checked also.

Good luck

See...that's what I mean. Never ending. Oh vey!

 

[Polyluvr]

I feel so awful for you ~ Hope it gets worked out soon and without costing you a ton of money

 

[ccgirl]

I feel so awful for you ~ Hope it gets worked out soon and without costing you a ton of money

Thanks. That was sweet and actually made me feel a little better. Right back at ya!

 

[walden]

I am not kidding when I say this...go to the hardware store store and buy some red fox urine. Yes, they do sell it and it is juust for this. The squirrel will flee in terror. They won't even try to come back they are so afraid of red fox. Put something over the holes to keep out something not as afraid of red fox and you are good to go.

I'm off to my local hardware store to ask about this red fox urine. Does it also work as a preventive measure? Against all squirrels?

Since I cannot cut down my trees either, I think they will continue to be target practice in the summer to thin out the numbers! Same for the red squirrels - they are really destructive.

Yup. We live in the woods on 2 acres, but the neighbor's trees are within 20' of our house. And they won't cut them down. We have red squirrels, grey squirrels, black squirrels (those melanistic ones) and ground squirrels (chipmunks) in abundance. The flying squirrels are just the cherry on top!

This year has been particularly bad for wildlife invasions. Is it the weather?

And to the OP, I hope I did not seem unsympathetic. I feel for you and hope that you have minimal expenses in getting rid of the pests.

 

[kim929]

The problem with flying squirrels is that they sometimes have a moose with them.

lmao... this is to funny

 

[portocall]

Awe OP, I hope that it get resolved quickly and without a ton of cost. We had racoons in our attic and they were extremely destructive. They trapped 7 racoons but not before they destroyed my facia and soffit in the front of the house. It did feel neverending but the good thing is it does end.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The problem with flying squirrels is that they sometimes have a moose with them.