Squirrels are a somewhat common sight around yards and homes, but how much do they actually live for? Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae and the family Sciurinae, which gives them the scientific name Sciurus vulgaris. Their scientific name actually means “common squirrel,” and they can be found in most areas of North America and even in parts of South America. They have black stripes and a white underside, keep a very low profile, and are generally shy around people, making them hard to observe in the wild. When they do come into view, though, they are usually on the move, scurrying about tree branches after dark.
Squirrels are cute, cuddly, and adorable, but what you probably don’t know is that squirrels can live to be very old. Squirrels in the wild can live to be 7 years old (not unheard of), while pet squirrels can live to be 15 years old (fairly common), and squirrels in captivity have been known to live up to 20 years.
The squirrel population is increasing at an alarming rate, largely due to the loss of habitat. A squirrel’s diet consists mainly of nuts, seeds, grains, and fruit. However, many common human foods, such as chocolate, peanut butter, raisin bread, and bread, are also squirreled favorites. Squirrels love to hide in trees and eat acorns and seeds from trees.
FAQ’s About Squirrels
2.How long do grey squirrels live?
3.How long do squirrels live in the wild?
4.How to get rid of squirrels in the attic?
5.How to get rid of squirrels in roof?
Common Types of Squirrels and Their Lifespan
#1.Eastern Gray Squirrel – Adults, eastern gray squirrels, live for roughly 6 years on average. If they are not eaten by their natural predators, some lucky individuals can live up to 12 years in the wild.
#2. American Red Squirrel – The average lifespan of an American red squirrel is 2 years and 3 months, but they can live for a maximum of 8 years if they are lucky enough not to get eaten.
#3. Fox Squirrel – Fox squirrels in captivity are known to live up to 18 years. In the wild, females can live for 12.6 years while males can live for 8.6 years. This is due to overhunting, harsh winter cold, or predation; Fox squirrels seldom live that long.
#4. Abert’s Squirrel – Abert’s Squirrel can live up to 7 to 8 years on average. The Ponderosa pine trees play a vital role in the survival of Abert’s squirrels. It provides protection from predators, nesting, and even food.
#5. Western Gray Squirrel – Adult western gray squirrel, is known to live 8 years. Due to competition with other species of squirrel that are more aggressive western gray squirrel retreats to remote area habitats with less competition.
#6. Arizona Gray Squirrel – The Arizona gray squirrel, like all other gray squirrels, has an average lifespan of 6-20 years. Little are known about this specie of squirrel, for they live in small areas only with high mountains.
#7. Douglas Squirrel – In the wild, Douglas squirrels live for about five to six years. Feral cats, American Martens, bobcats, raptors, and owls are among their primary predators.
#8. Northern Flying Squirrel – Although little is known, it appears that the majority of northern flying squirrels live for less than four years.
#9. Southern Flying Squirrel – Southern Flying Squirrels survive for only a few years on average, and it’s unusual for them to reach the age of five.
Reasons Why Squirrels Are a Nuisance
They’re always stealing food out of your hands, digging in your flowerbeds, and chewing up electrical wires. And if you’ve noticed them leaving droppings on your deck or porch this summer, you know they’re also a big problem for pest control companies.
Squirrels love to chew on things, including your house. Squirrels are notorious for chewing on electrical wires, which often causes a fire. Squirrels may also chew on wires, causing power outages. Squirrels are responsible for millions of dollars in damage each year.
Squirrels are pesky little critters and can ruin your landscape by chewing holes in trees, walnut, and anything else they can find. Although most homeowners understand that squirrels can cause damage to their property, many homeowners don’t know just how damaging they can be.
Signs of Squirrel Infestation
- Droppings
Squirrels are cute, but they can also cause significant damage when they invade your home. One sign to detect squirrel infestation is if you see multiple droppings. Squirrel droppings can not only cause damage to your home, but they can also be breeding grounds for dangerous diseases (like Histoplasmosis).
- Damage causes Bite and scratch mark
Biting and scratching are common to squirrels, and spotting scratches and bite marks indicate an infestation. Squirrels are cute but quickly turn into pests when they set up camp. Their sharp teeth tear through insulation, and their paws leave deep scratches on your ceiling. Plus, squirrels can carry rabies and are messy eaters.
- Pungent odors
Another obvious sign of squirrels in the attic or another area of the building is the foul odor emanating from droppings, urine, or even deceased squirrels.
- Squirrel Population Increase in your Area
When attempting to identify a potential squirrel infestation, the thing to look for is an increased squirrel population in the immediate area. Look at some nearby trees for nests, and if there are, there is a high chance that your house has become one of the nests.
Ways to get rid of Squirrels
When squirrels become a nuisance, your only option is to get rid of them using humane traps. If you see squirrels loose in your home or yard, the very first thing you need to do is check for any openings in the walls, attic, or windows and doors, especially at the top. If there are, you need to seal the openings using caulk or put some other type of cover on them so no more squirrels can get in. This may require building a squirrel-proof cage or trap to remove any squirrel that got to your home. Once the squirrel has been removed, the next step is to clean the area. Use bleach to kill any bacteria or fungi, and vacuum up the squirrel droppings, so the smell doesn’t attract the squirrel back to your garden or attic.
If squirrels still persist in making your hope their nest Synergy Pest Control is here to help. They provide all sorts of pest control services that you might need. You can also call Synergy for more information about our other pest control and lawn care services, including squirrel control.
Synergy² Pest Control Jackson MS
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