How to get squirrels out of the attic
Squirrels in the attic get out the same way they got in. The reliable DIY method is a one-way exclusion door at the entry point — they leave to forage, can't get back in, and after 5–7 squirrel-free days you seal it permanently. Don't trap during spring birthing season unless you can confirm no babies.
Tools
- ✓For inspecting the roofline. Don't go on the roof yourself if you're not comfortable.
- ✓For attic inspection.
- ✓For installing exclusion devices.
Materials
- +Mounts over the entry hole. Squirrels push out, can't push back in.
- +For sealing the entry hole permanently after exclusion.
- +For securing hardware cloth.
- +Inside attic — makes the space less attractive while the exclusion door does its work.
- +Use along entry routes and on roof to discourage re-entry attempts.
Steps
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1
Find the entry hole
Walk the exterior at dawn or dusk and watch — squirrels are diurnal and you can spot them entering/exiting. Common spots: gable vents, soffit-fascia junctions, where two roofs meet, chimney chase tops, attic fan vents.
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2
Inspect for babies before excluding
Go up into the attic with a flashlight. Look in insulation near the entry point. Listen for high-pitched chirping. If babies are present, do not exclude — wait, or call a wildlife removal service that can hand-relocate the nest.
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3
Install the one-way exclusion door
Mount the device over the entry hole using construction screws. The squirrel pushes through the funnel from inside to leave but can't push back in.
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4
Wait 5–7 days
Listen for activity. After 5–7 days with no sounds and a check of the exclusion door showing no push-back attempts, you're clear.
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5
Seal the hole permanently
Remove the exclusion device. Cover the hole with 1/2-inch hardware cloth screwed in with washers, then patch over with sheet metal or appropriate trim. Caulk seams. Squirrels will chew back through wood — they cannot chew through metal mesh.
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6
Trim back tree branches
Cut any branch within 6 feet of the roofline. Squirrels jump from branches onto the roof — removing the runway prevents the next ones.