Tree squirrel removal by exclusion and repair

Timing. Tree squirrels are active in the day, especially early morning and late afternoon, with louder running and scratching. Rats are mostly active at night. You may also see squirrels entering at a chewed roof vent or a gap at the roofline.

Mostly the eastern fox squirrel, a non-native species that has spread across much of the Los Angeles area over the past century. The native western gray squirrel is less common in the flats and is protected outside of hunting rules.

Yes. Fox squirrels can raise litters in late winter and again in summer. Excluding a mother while young are still in the attic leaves them stranded, so the inspection checks for a nest before any one-way door goes up.

Yes. They chew through roof vents, fascia and soffits to get in, and once inside they can chew wiring, insulation and stored items. Outside, they strip fruit trees and dig up gardens.

California rules generally do not allow trapped wildlife to be moved and released elsewhere, which is why exclusion, letting the animal leave and closing the way back in, is the standard approach around homes. A one-way door lets the squirrel leave, then the entry is repaired and sealed.