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Flying Squirrel Control - Greater Birmingham, Alabama

Flying squirrels are small, furry squirrels with membranous "wings" between their legs and bodies, which enable them to glide through the air. The technical name for their "wing" is the patagium, and by controlling its tautness, they're able to steer. They control their descent and landing using their tails in a similar way to how the elevator of an airplane works.

These abilities give flying squirrels considerable control over their flight and the ability to land with impressive accuracy, which is why they're called flying squirrels. The one thing they can't do, however, is increase their altitude, including taking off from the ground. They can only glide from a higher area to a lower one.

Nonetheless, even being able to glide is enough to make flying squirrels quite a nuisance. They can get into any place a gray squirrel can, plus quite a few places where they can't. Unlike gray squirrels, flying squirrels leap from nearby trees and gently glide to your home, so simply trimming the tree branches back so they don't overhang your home isn't enough to keep these critters out.

Once they get into your home, they create the same sort of problems that gray squirrels do, including:

• Health hazards from their urine, droppings, and shed parasites.
• Damage to your home itself, along with any personal property stored in the attic, from gnawing, scratching, and nesting behavior.
• Increased fire risk due to gnawing on electrical wiring.
• Problems with odors and allergens getting into the living area of the home (especially if you have central heating or air-conditioning).

Flying Squirrel Biology and Behavior

The most common of the flying squirrel species we get in Alabama is known as the Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomy volans). Occasionally we also get the Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomy sabrinus), which is a bit larger, as well. Both species have similar biology and habits.

Flying squirrels are the smallest of all members of the squirrel family, and they are the only nocturnal tree squirrels. The are usually grayish in color, but there's quite a bit of variation possible, ranging from tan, to reddish-brown, to almost black. They prefer living in established forests with dense tree cover, although they have adapted to living in human-occupied buildings.

Most flying squirrel young are born in the spring or summer, and although they are weaned at about eight weeks, most flying squirrels stay with their mothers until her next litter is born.

Flying squirrels are omnivorous, but most of their diet is plant based. They eat fruits, nuts, mushrooms, lichens, and tree sap; but they've also been known to feast on small mice, birds' eggs and nestlings, slugs, snails, carrion, insects, and other animal foods. One way to tell if a flying squirrel has been eating a nut is that rather than crushing the whole nut, they make a hole in one end and eat the insides out through the hole.

Transmission of disease directly from flying squirrels to humans is rare. However, they do have fleas, ticks, and other parasites that can be involved in disease transmission, and their droppings can serve as breeding media for a variety of insects and fungi.

Flying Squirrel Control

Flying squirrels are not considered "pests," and therefore there is no such thing as a "flying squirrel exterminator." They're nuisance wildlife, and they must be humanely trapped and removed. Exterminators who leave poison bait for flying squirrels are breaking both state of Alabama and federal laws. They're also setting their customers up for serious problems with odors and insects if the animals die inside the home, especially inside a wall or ceiling void where their carcasses are difficult to find and retrieve.

At Rid-A-Critter, we have performed thousands of flying squirrel removal jobs, and we do them the right way. We humanely trap and relocate the animals, preserving family groups whenever possible. In the case of orphaned or injured animals, all of our technicians have a list of certified wildlife rehabilitators whom we work with and who will accept our animals.

After the flying squirrels are trapped, we also seal up your home so that "new" flying squirrels can't get into the attic. This exclusion work will also animal-proof your home to keep other nuisance animals out of your house.

Like all animal control work, flying squirrel control and exclusion is potentially hazardous work that requires special training, equipment, and safety precautions. This is not a do-it-yourself kind of job. Save yourself the trouble and call us instead.

Flying Squirrel Control Gallery

Here are some pictures of flying squirrel-removal and squirrel-proofing jobs we've done in Birmingham and throughout the Metro area.

If you need help keeping flying squirrels out of your home's attic, please call us today for an on-site inspection and consultation.

 

Video of a Flying Squirrel in the Attic of a House in Birmingham, Alabama
Why This House in Hoover, Alabama Needs Flying Squirrels Removed from the Attic
Headed down south today to Albany Ga to give a quote for a bat exclusion. Animals in the attic scratching and bats are keeping the customers up at night. Time for us to step in.
Our Birmingham office has a crew at work repairing flying squirrel damage to the peak of the roof of a house in Hoover, Alabama. We'll also be trapping and humanely relocating the flying squirrels who are already in the attic.
He have a crew trapping and relocating flying squirrels from the attic of a house in Hoover, Alabama. The flying squirrels did quite a bit of damage in the attic, which we'll be repairing, as well.
Video of Flying Squirrels in a Gable Vent in Birmingham, Alabama
A new customer just called and told us she has flying squirrels in the attic of her house in Hoover, Alabama. We have an inspector on the way to check it out.
Jason and Justin Deodorizing an Attic After Animal Removal
Example of Flying Squirrel Damage in the Attic of a House in Hoover, Alabama
News: CDC Warns that COVID-19 Lockdowns are Making Rats and Mice More Desperate
Video of Justin Sealing Rats and Mice Out of a Loading Dock
Noises in your attic? We can help in certain case we can seal and remove animals from your home with no personal contact.
A Gap in the Roof Allowed Flying Squirrels into the Attic of an Anniston, Alabama Home
From our family to yours we wish you good health and safety. During this uncertain time related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we want to assure you as a approved business for essential Services. Rid-A-Critter remains open. Thanks
Bees and bugs are flying in Birmingham. Spring is here, bats, squirrels and birds will be getting active.
Here's Dan Humanely Removing Animals from a Glue Trap
This Video Shows How to Humanely Remove an Animal from a Glue Trap
Just enjoying this Georgia weather this weekend. At my parents house fishing and noticed the wildlife out here where they belong. They can become a nuisance though when they find their way inside your home. In that case give us a call.
We're Doing a Flying-Squirrel Removal Job in Birmingham
Well it’s North Ga today. Seeing clients in Buford, Gainesville, Blue Ridge, Blairsville and Hiawassee Ga.
Scenery at a Flying Squirrel Removal Job in Pelham, Alabama
Rainy days mean animals like to stay in. If you are hearing noises in your attic on this rainy day it could be more than rain.
Our Crew Sealing Flying Squirrels out of a House in Pelham, Alabama
Here's Justin Sealing Flying Squirrels out of the Attic of a House in Birmingham
Here'a a Flying Squirrel Gap into a Stone House in Birmingham, Alabama
Going to Bainbridge Ga today for quotes for exclusions. Bats, rats and gray squirrels.
Excited to be at the Athens pest control conference this week. Let’s talk about wildlife and what services we provide to help.
New Blog Post: Happy New Year!
Want to put a stop to those pesky critters getting in your home for good? We can do that!!
Heard it all. Squirrels in my attic, scratching noises in my attic, attic noises, animals partying in my attic, then there’s the crawlspace. Rats in my crawlspace, opossum in my crawlspace and there’s something dead in my crawlspace/attic.
New Blog Post: Merry Christmas!
Just want to say. I’m so grateful for the relationships we have with the pest control companies in Georgia and Alabama and Tennessee. Thank you all for the referrals.

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