Wildlife, Rodent, & Pest Control Services

What Attracts Squirrels to Homes?

Both gray squirrels and red squirrels seem to be omnipresent in neighborhoods in the Knoxville area. You probably see these energetic critters clambering up trees and hopping around in your yard almost every day. While squirrels can be entertaining to watch outside, they can become an unrelenting nuisance if they manage to get inside. This may lead you to wonder why squirrels are attracted to your home to begin with.

There are two main things that lure squirrels into homes in Knoxville; one of them is food. Squirrels are infamous among bird watchers for raiding bird feeders and scaring songbirds away. However, squirrels will also happily forage on food waste and pet food. Because humans have so many sources of food around our homes, squirrels like to live in close proximity to us. If squirrels rely on your property for food frequently enough, it can tempt them to move into your attic, walls or crawl space.

The other big reason that squirrels are drawn to our homes is that they provide warmth and shelter. Squirrels have many predators, including hawks, owls, and coyotes. Our homes also provide useful shelter during storms. By making nests and raising young inside of homes, squirrels can avoid these threats. Squirrels are most likely to invade homes during their breeding season, which occurs twice during the year in Tennessee: in winter and in summer.

Have you discovered squirrels living inside of your home? Get in touch with Critter Wranglers today to request squirrel removal services in the Knoxville area!