An Action-Packed Tale of Tenants, Trees, and Tiny Squirrel Terrorists
I remember many years ago my cousin once telling me this saga about his dad going full war-mode… against squirrels. Yes, squirrels. Apparently, his backyard had turned into a squirrel demolition derby. They were chewing through things, stealing food, and basically running a backyard mafia.
His dad, fed up and furious, wanted them eradicated. He turned to the city demanding help. Their solution? According to my cousin, the city mailed his father a pamphlet titled “How to Coexist Peacefully with Squirrels.” I mean, the man wanted squirrel justice, not a TED Talk on rodent diplomacy. FYI, there is a lot of advice all over the internet about how to live with squirrels Living in Harmony With Squirrels | PETA.
Back then, I laughed. “Come on,” I thought, “how bad could a squirrel be?”
Fast forward to today—and now I have my own neighborhood nut burglar and property destroyer. And let me tell you, it’s not so cute when it’s your home being destroyed right in front of your eyes.
Squirrel Troubles
I get a text from one of my tenants that starts with, “This could be a small issue… or a big issue.” That’s never a comforting way to begin anything. He follows up with: “There’s a squirrel under the roof and he seems like he is trying to get into the house.” Never dealt with this issue before.
My first words were “F@ck me, this isn’t going to be good.” It was Sunday night, late, and I was tired. I had already been over there earlier in the day, repairing the sprinkler system and spraying insect repellant. I did not want to go back. However, I was visiting my mother and already nearby—and mildly curious about this squirrel situation—I decided to check it out right away.
I get to the house and greet my tenant in the driveway. And there it is: this squirrel is not just scratching around. He’s full-on renovating. I mean, the thing is clawing away at the diagonal rafters. Bits of wood are flying off, landing all over the roof. I watch in horror as this fuzzy maniac just goes to town on the house. Aggressive bastard.
Next thing I know, I’m up on the roof, assessing the damage. The clawed-off wood? I could live with that. The real concern was whether the squirrel had broken into the house. That’s when my brain decided to spiral into worst-case-scenario mode.
What if he made a nest inside the wall? What if there are babies in there? What if I seal up the opening and they die in there and the house starts to smell like a rodent horror story?
All I could think was: Of course this happens on a Sunday night.
To make matters even more stressful, the tenant was understandably freaking out. He’s got two young kids—both under three—and was genuinely worried about squirrels breaking into the house. I get it. The last thing anyone wants is uninvited furry guests crashing family dinner.
I knew this wasn’t going to be a quick fix. It was going to take time to figure out the full extent of the problem and how to deal with it properly, but I had to start doing something right away to get the situation under control.
Naturally, I panic. It’s now four minutes before Home Depot closes. I call my contractor family friend, and he tells me he can’t make it until Wednesday. He suggests I spray any kind of repellant to keep the squirrel away for now.
I turn to the tenant and say, “You got any Raid?” (Because of course, when a squirrel is attacking your house, poison intended for insects is the obvious solution.) I was hoping to make the area so smelly that he would not immediately return and I could buy some time.
Next thing you know, I’m on the roof like a lunatic, absolutely bathing the area in Raid. I don’t even know if squirrels care about Raid, but I sprayed so much that I could smell chemicals in my soul. There were four potential entry points under the roof rafters, and I hosed them all down like I was fumigating a haunted treehouse.
That evening, when I got home, I started diving into the internet, researching how to keep squirrels away without burning the whole place down. Turns out, there’s no magic fix—just a lot of trial and error. Rodent and squirrel repellents get pretty mixed reviews; for every person swearing it worked, there’s another saying the squirrels laughed and kept chewing. Still, I figured it was worth a shot while I worked on a more permanent solution.
Believe me, the thought of using poison crossed my mind—sorry, animal lovers, but this felt like war. That said, I couldn’t justify the risk. Leaving poison anywhere, even up on the roof, just isn’t an option when there are kids and pets in the house and around the neighborhood. As much as I wanted to go full scorched-earth, safety had to come first.
The good news is no pamphlet was needed.
Squirrel Solution
The next morning, I’m up at 5 a.m., Home Depot-bound, determined to stop this rodent from turning my property into his personal fixer-upper. In addition to rodent repellant, I grab some chicken wire and screws—basically the duct tape of wildlife defense—and patch up all the openings.
Crisis temporarily averted. But I could not help but wonder if the squirrel, his friends and family breached the exterior of the house.
Two days later, I return with my friend… and his snake. We use the snake like a living plumbing camera, feeding it 16 inches into the rafters to check for a breach. No hole. No entry. No squirrel Airbnb.
Squirrel Relief.
We re-secure the chicken wire, high-five each other like we just won a war, and call it good—for now. The squirrel may be planning his next move, but at least this round goes to the humans. Top of Form
I also reached out to the HOA to find out if I’m allowed to remove the tree in front of the house. The squirrel or squirrels have been using it like a launchpad, leaping from the branches straight onto the roof. Until I get a response, the tree stays—and so does their easy access. I’m currently waiting to hear back.
When DIY Isn’t Enough: Knowing When to Call the Pros
When dealing with squirrels that are damaging your house, the first step is identifying and sealing any potential entry points with durable materials like steel mesh or heavy-duty hardware cloth. It’s important to do this only after you’re certain there are no squirrels already inside—otherwise, you risk trapping them and creating a bigger problem. Installing a one-way exclusion door can allow squirrels to leave but not return. Trimming back tree branches that hang near your roof can also prevent easy access.
For extra protection, you can try using motion-activated deterrents or scent-based repellents like peppermint oil or predator urine can help make the area less inviting—however, based on what I have read these only have mixed results. And if the damage is extensive or you’re unsure how to proceed, calling a professional wildlife removal service is always a smart move.
It is a good idea to become familiar with the laws relating to squirrels in your city and state. Some U.S. states do allow property owners to kill squirrels on their own property, but it depends heavily on state laws, local ordinances, and whether the squirrel is classified as a nuisance species or protected wildlife. Make sure you seek professional advice before dealing with the removal of squirrels from your property.
Squirrels like other rodents do come if they have the food source. Keep the place clean. Get rid of any garbage and keep the garbage can closed. Fencing is also an option. If nothing works then a professional pest control work will help.