While squirrels aren’t an invasive species in most environments, a squirrel infestation can throw off your local ecosystem and cause health risks to you and your home. Here are some of the environmental impacts you can expect if you’re dealing with a squirrel problem.
Outdoor Effects of a Squirrel Infestation
Two main ways a squirrel infestation can impact the ecosystem around your property, include:
Increased Vegetation
Squirrels eat anything they can find, including nuts and seeds. When they bury these seeds for later use, some are forgotten and grow into new plants. This is a rare positive impact of a squirrel infestation, since it helps regrow natural areas and increase local plant diversity. However, squirrel scavenging habits lead to them feeding on the same items as other small animals and insects, which decreases the overall food availability for the herbivores that rely on fruits, nuts and seeds.
Resource Competition
Squirrels are highly adaptable and will eat a wide range of food, which can also include insects. Their diet is similar to other small critters, including mammals and birds, leading to food scarcity and high competition in the winter. Squirrels also compete for similar habitats and will nest in birdhouses and trees, driving other species out.
How Squirrel Infestations Impact Your Environment
The biggest impact squirrel infestations have on human environments is their posed health risks. Squirrels are carriers of fleas, ticks and other parasites, which can be passed on to household pets and other loved ones if they manage to nest inside of your property. Their droppings can also contaminate food and water supplies inside your home, which can lead to illness.
Additionally, squirrels can disrupt your environment by causing property damage. Squirrels will chew through critical wires and plumbing lines, threatening the structural integrity of these critical systems. They’ll also shred attic insulation, causing temperature fluctuations that can increase your energy bill.
The longer squirrels are allowed to nest on your property, the more dangerous their risks become. For safe, effective and affordable squirrel control services, rely on the experts at Animal Wildlife Trappers.
Your Local Squirrel Control Professionals
Animal Wildlife Trappers is staffed by a professional team of squirrel removal experts that are equipped to provide nuisance wildlife control services quickly and efficiently. Our licensed and trained technicians follow a three-step process and have the necessary equipment and experience to ensure complete and permanent squirrel removal. To schedule your appointment and receive a free squirrel removal estimate, call Animal Wildlife Trappers today at 352-267-0546.