AAA Affordable Wildlife Control · Since 2008
Squirrel Removal Toronto
Humane squirrel removal, attic repair and prevention
Scratching in the ceiling at sunrise? Chewed roof vent? We get squirrels out of attics, walls, chimneys and soffits with one-way doors, remove baby squirrels by hand so none are left behind, and seal every entry point with steel mesh so they can’t chew back in.
$300+ one-way door removalBaby squirrels removed by handSteel mesh entry sealing
🐿️ Humane one-way door removal
Squirrels in the attic?
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Squirrel Removal in Toronto
AAA Affordable Wildlife Control has been removing squirrels from Toronto homes since 2008. Our technicians are known for getting the job done for a better price than our competitors, and we guarantee our squirrel removal by reinforcing the weak areas on your roof with heavy-gauge steel mesh. You can read what Toronto homeowners say about us on our reviews page.
Toronto has one of the densest urban squirrel populations in North America, and older homes with soffits, roof vents, chimneys and rooflines that have seen decades of weather give them plenty of ways in. Once a squirrel is inside, it chews: wood, insulation, vent flaps and electrical wiring. Its droppings and urine soak into the insulation, and if it’s a female, there’s a good chance a litter of babies is on the way.
We don’t trap and relocate squirrels across the city. It’s stressful for the animal, it leaves babies behind, and the next squirrel simply moves into the same hole. Instead, we find every entry point, let the squirrels leave through a one-way door, remove any babies by hand, and seal the house so the problem doesn’t come back.
Signs You Have Squirrels in the Attic
Grey and black squirrels are active in the daytime, so the timing of the noise is one of the best clues to which animal is in your home.
Noise at sunrise and sunset
Scampering, scratching and rolling sounds in the ceiling early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. Noise all night usually means mice, rats, raccoons or flying squirrels.
Chewed holes on the roofline
Round, clean-edged holes about 4 to 6 cm wide in soffits, fascia, roof vents, drip edges and the corners where two rooflines meet.
Squirrels on the roof
Squirrels running along the eaves, jumping from an overhanging branch, or disappearing behind a gutter.
Droppings and stains
Small, dark, oblong droppings in the attic, staining on ceilings, and a musty urine smell that gets stronger in summer.
Nest material
Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs pulled into the attic, chimney or soffit cavity, or gnawed bits of wood on the deck or driveway.
Chirping or squeaking
High-pitched chirps in a wall or ceiling from March to May or July to September usually mean baby squirrels are in the nest.
🐿️ Roof vent chewed open
Chewed roof vent?
We remove the squirrel and guard the vent
Squirrel Damage in the Attic
Squirrels are rodents, and like all rodents their front teeth never stop growing. Chewing is how they keep them in check, and the inside of your attic is full of things to chew. The damage we see most often in Toronto homes includes:
- Roof vents and plumbing stacks: plastic and thin-metal vents are chewed open in minutes, which also lets rain in.
- Soffits, fascia and drip edges: squirrels lift aluminum soffit, chew through the wood behind it, and bend drip edges to reach the roof deck.
- Insulation: squirrels tunnel through and compact insulation into nests, and soak it with urine and droppings, which reduces its R-value and leaves an odour.
- Wood framing and roof sheathing: rafters, trusses and the underside of the roof deck get gnawed, especially around the entry hole.
- Wiring, ducts and pipes: chewed electrical cables, flexible bathroom fan ducts and even plastic water lines.
- Walls and ceilings: squirrels and their babies can fall into wall cavities, and nesting over a ceiling can lead to stains and drywall damage.
The longer squirrels stay, the bigger the repair bill. A single chewed vent is a small fix. A full season of nesting can mean insulation removal, sanitizing and several sections of roofline repair.
🔨 Fascia chewed through
Holes in your soffit or fascia?
We seal and repair entry points
Can Squirrels Chew Electrical Wires and Start a Fire?
Yes. Chewing on electrical wiring is the most dangerous thing a squirrel does in your home. Once the plastic insulation on a cable is stripped away, bare copper can arc against wood framing, dry nesting material or other wires. That’s why fire departments and insurance companies list rodents chewing wiring among the known causes of house fires, and why squirrel fires often start in attics where nobody sees them until it’s too late.
Warning signs include lights flickering on one circuit, a breaker that keeps tripping, a burning or hot-plastic smell, or a dead outlet on a top floor. If you have squirrels and any of these, call an electrician to check the circuits as well as calling us to remove the animals. Older homes with knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring are especially at risk.
During every inspection we check for chewed cables near the entry point and the nest, and we point out anything an electrician should look at.
Our Humane Squirrel Removal Process
Our squirrel removal process is designed to be thorough, humane and permanent. Here’s how we make your home squirrel-free:
- Full inspection. We inspect the roof, roofline, vents, chimney and attic to find the main entry hole and every weak spot squirrels could use next.
- Baby check. From March to May and July to September, we look for a nest of babies before anything is sealed. Babies are removed by hand and placed in a warm reunion box so the mother can carry them to a new nest outside.
- One-way door. We mount a one-way exclusion door over the main entry. Squirrels leave to feed and can’t get back in. No poison, no trapping, no relocation.
- Seal every entry point. Other gaps are sealed with heavy-gauge galvanized steel mesh and metal flashing that squirrels can’t chew through. Roof vents get steel vent guards, and chimneys get a proper cap.
- Remove the door and finish the repairs. Once the squirrels are out, the door comes off, the main hole is permanently sealed, and we quote any attic cleanup or insulation work.
- Prevention advice. We tell you which trees to trim, which feeders attract squirrels, and what to watch for so they don’t come back.
🛡️ Steel vent guard installed
Want squirrels out for good?
Ask about our vent guards
Squirrel Removal Cost in Toronto
Squirrel removal costs depend on how many entry points your home has, whether there are babies in the attic, and how much prevention you want done at the same visit. Here’s what to expect:
| Squirrel Service | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrel removal (one entry point) | $300 to $450 | Inspection, one-way door and sealing the entry hole |
| Baby squirrel removal | Quoted on inspection | Babies removed by hand and reunited with the mother |
| Extra entry points and roof vent guards | Quoted per area | Steel mesh, vent guards and flashing |
| Chimney cap | Quoted on inspection | Stops squirrels and raccoons getting into the flue |
| Full attic wildlife prevention | $1,000+ | Covers roof vents, soffits and roofline weak spots |
| Attic cleanup and insulation | Quoted on inspection | Removing droppings and soiled insulation |
Want an exact price for your home?
Call and describe what you’re hearing and where. We’ll give you a price range on the phone and confirm it on site before any work starts.
Squirrel Baby Season in Toronto
Grey and black squirrels in Toronto usually have two litters a year. The first is born from late February to April, and the second from July to September. Each litter has 2 to 4 kits, sometimes more. Mother squirrels look for warm, dry, protected spots to raise them, and an attic, soffit or wall cavity is perfect.
Baby season is when squirrel removal goes wrong most often. If a hole is sealed or the mother is trapped and taken away, the babies are left behind. They cry for days and die, causing a smell in the ceiling, and a desperate mother will chew a brand-new hole through your roof to get back to them.
Humane Removal of Baby Squirrels
Hands-on removal is the humane way to deal with a nest of baby squirrels. We find the nest, take the babies out by hand, and place them in a warm reunion box beside the entry point. The mother comes back, picks the babies up one at a time, and moves them to a backup nest outside. Then the one-way door and sealing go in. It keeps the babies safe, stops the mother from chewing new holes, and means nothing is left to die in your attic.
🐿️ Hands-on baby removal
Hear chirping in the ceiling?
Babies removed safely by hand
Squirrel Control Calendar
Squirrels follow the same pattern every year in Toronto. Use this month-by-month calendar to see what squirrels are doing, when baby season starts, and the best time to seal your home.
January
No babies yet. Females are choosing winter dens.
Winter mating chases start on rooftops and in trees.
Inspect the roofline and seal gaps before a female settles in.
February
Females are pregnant (gestation is about 44 days).
Peak winter mating. Pregnant females look for a warm attic.
Last easy window to seal up before spring litters.
MarchBaby season
First litters born: 2 to 4 blind, hairless kits.
Mother stays close. Most noise at dawn and dusk.
Never seal a hole without checking for babies first.
AprilBaby season
Kits in the nest. Eyes open at about 4 to 5 weeks.
Mother chews to enlarge the hole and nest in insulation.
Hand-remove babies, then install a one-way door.
MayBaby season
Spring kits leave the nest at about 8 to 10 weeks.
Young squirrels explore and can fall into chimneys and walls.
Exclude once the young are mobile. Cap the chimney.
June
Spring young are independent.
Second round of mating chases.
Trim branches back from the roof. Guard roof vents.
JulyBaby season
Second litters born from July into August.
Females pick attic dens again for summer babies.
Check for babies before any hole is sealed.
AugustBaby season
Summer kits are nursing in the nest.
Heat pushes activity to early morning.
Hear scratching at sunrise? Book an inspection.
SeptemberBaby season
Summer kits start to leave the nest.
Caching nuts and scouting winter dens.
Seal gaps and screen vents now, before fall.
October
No babies. Juveniles are on their own.
Peak fall break-ins as squirrels pick winter dens.
Evict and seal before winter sets in.
November
No babies.
Squirrels move into attics to escape the cold.
Remove and seal before the first snow.
December
No babies. Winter mating begins late in the month.
Denning in attics. Chewing picks up in cold snaps.
Inspect after storms and seal any damage.
The Squirrel Life Cycle
Here’s a quick look at the life cycle of the eastern grey squirrel, the species behind almost every attic job in Toronto (black squirrels are the same species).
| Stage | Age | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mating | December to February and May to July | Males chase females through trees and across roofs. |
| Pregnancy | About 44 days | The female picks a den, often a tree cavity or an attic. |
| Birth | Day 0 | 2 to 4 kits are born blind, deaf and hairless, weighing about 15 g. |
| Fur and eyes | 3 to 5 weeks | Fur grows in, and eyes open at about 4 to 5 weeks. |
| Leaving the nest | 8 to 10 weeks | Young start exploring near the nest. This is when they fall into walls and chimneys. |
| Weaned and independent | 10 to 12 weeks | Young squirrels feed themselves and move out to find their own territory. |
| Adult | About 1 year | Most squirrels start breeding in their first or second year. |
How Long Do Squirrels Live?
Squirrel life expectancy is much shorter than most people think. Most young squirrels don’t survive their first year because of predators, cars, cold winters and food shortages. A squirrel that makes it past year one has a much better chance of living several more years.
| Squirrel | Average lifespan in the wild | Can live up to |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern grey and black squirrel | 1 to 2 years (many adults reach 5 to 6) | About 12 years in the wild, 20+ in captivity |
| Red squirrel | 2 to 3 years | About 7 to 8 years |
| Flying squirrel | 3 to 6 years | 10+ years in captivity |
In the city, squirrels often live longer than in the wild because food from bird feeders, gardens and garbage is easy to find, and warm attics help them survive the winter. That’s one more reason to keep them out of your home.
Squirrel Species in Toronto
You’ll see a few kinds of squirrels in Toronto and the GTA:
- Eastern grey squirrel: the most common squirrel in Toronto and the one most likely to be in your attic. Grey fur with a white belly and a big bushy tail.
- Black squirrel: not a separate species. Black squirrels are eastern grey squirrels with a dark colour gene, and Toronto has one of the largest black squirrel populations anywhere.
- Red squirrel: smaller, reddish-brown and very territorial. More common near the edges of the city and in wooded areas, and loud when disturbed.
- Flying squirrel: small, nocturnal squirrels that glide between trees. They’re rarely seen but often heard in attics at night, and they can fit through very small gaps.
- Fox squirrel: larger with an orange-red belly. Rare in Toronto and mostly found in southwestern Ontario.
🐿️ Black squirrel
Black or grey squirrel?
Same species, same removal
Why Trapping and Relocating Squirrels Doesn’t Work
Many homeowners ask us to just trap the squirrel and take it away. Here’s why we don’t:
- It’s against the rules in Ontario. Under Ontario’s wildlife regulations, a nuisance animal caught on your property has to be released within 1 km of where it was caught, so taking it far away isn’t allowed.
- Squirrels come back. Squirrels have a strong homing instinct and know their territory well, so a squirrel released nearby is usually back on your roof within days.
- Babies get left behind. Trapping the mother during baby season orphans the litter in your attic.
- The hole is still open. As long as the entry point is there, the next squirrel moves right in.
A one-way door with full sealing solves all four problems at once.
Squirrel Prevention Tips
The best squirrel control is keeping them out in the first place. These steps make your home much less inviting:
- Trim tree branches so they’re at least 2 to 3 m (6 to 8 ft) away from the roof.
- Install steel vent guards on roof vents, bathroom and kitchen exhaust vents, and plumbing stacks.
- Cap your chimney with a proper stainless-steel chimney cap.
- Fix loose soffits, fascia and drip edges and reinforce roofline corners with steel mesh.
- Move or squirrel-proof bird feeders and keep garbage, compost and pet food sealed.
- Seal gaps in garages and sheds, where squirrels often nest in the winter.
- Skip the home remedies. Mothballs, ammonia, lights, radios and ultrasonic repellers don’t make a squirrel abandon its nest, and mothballs are a health risk in your home.
🛡️ Chimney sealed with mesh
Squirrel in the chimney?
We remove it and cap the chimney
Squirrel Removal Near You
We provide squirrel removal across Toronto and the GTA, including:
- Brampton
- Mississauga
- Markham
- Scarborough
- Thornhill
- Vaughan
- Etobicoke
- Rexdale
- Richmond Hill
- Pickering
- Caledon
- Milton
Got raccoons too? See our raccoon removal prices in Toronto.
Squirrel Removal FAQ
Are squirrels in the attic dangerous?
Yes, for your house more than for you. Squirrels chew electrical wiring, which is a fire risk, and they damage roof vents, soffits, wood framing and insulation. Their droppings and urine can carry bacteria such as salmonella and leptospirosis, and nests can bring fleas and mites into the home. Squirrels rarely carry rabies, but a cornered squirrel will bite, so don’t try to grab one.
Will squirrels leave the attic on their own?
Not usually. An attic is warm, dry and safe, so squirrels have every reason to stay, and a mother with babies won’t leave them. Even if one does leave, the hole is still open for the next squirrel. A one-way door plus sealing is the only reliable fix.
How long does squirrel removal take?
The inspection, one-way door and sealing are usually done in one visit. Most squirrels leave within one to three days. We come back to remove the door and permanently close the main hole. Baby season jobs can take a little longer, because the mother needs time to move her babies.
When do squirrels have babies in Toronto?
Usually twice a year. The first litter is born from late February to April, and the second from July to September. Each litter has 2 to 4 babies, which stay in the nest for about 8 to 10 weeks.
How long do squirrels live?
Most wild grey squirrels live 1 to 2 years because so many die young. Those that survive their first year often live 5 to 6 years, and some reach 12 in the wild. Red squirrels average 2 to 3 years.
Can a squirrel chew through wires and cause a fire?
Yes. Squirrels strip the insulation off electrical cables, which can let bare wires arc and ignite wood or nesting material. If you have squirrels and notice flickering lights, a tripping breaker or a burning smell, have an electrician check the wiring.
What should I do if a squirrel falls down my chimney?
Close the fireplace doors or damper so it can’t get into the house, keep pets away, and call us. Never light a fire to smoke it out. Young squirrels often fall into chimneys in May and June and can’t climb back out of a smooth flue.
Do you remove squirrels from walls?
Yes. Squirrels in walls are usually babies that have fallen from the attic, or an adult that has found a gap behind siding. We find the spot by sound, remove the animal through the smallest possible opening, then seal the entry point on the outside.
Do squirrel repellents work?
Not for squirrels already living in your home. Mothballs, ammonia, lights, radios and ultrasonic devices might bother a squirrel for a day, but a mother with a nest won’t leave. Mothballs are also toxic to people and pets in an enclosed attic.
Is squirrel damage covered by home insurance?
Many home insurance policies in Ontario don’t cover damage caused by rodents, including squirrels, because it’s considered preventable. Check your own policy. Either way, fixing the entry points quickly keeps the repair bill small.
Call Today for Squirrel Removal
Call our friendly team for a fast, accurate estimate or a free quote, and find out how quickly our technicians can make your home squirrel-free.
Toronto & the GTA
Squirrels out. Babies safe. Entry points sealed.
Humane squirrel removal with clear pricing before we start.