On the first day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
A nest built in my attic.

On the second day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the third day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the forth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the fifth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the sixth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the seventh day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the eighth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Eight points of entry,
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the ninth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Nine chewed up wires,
Eight points of entry,
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the tenth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Ten damaged heirlooms,
Nine chewed up wires,
Eight points of entry,
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the eleventh day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Eleven days of noises,
Ten damaged heirlooms,
Nine chewed up wires,
Eight points of entry,
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

On the twelfth day of Christmas the squirrels gave to me
Twelve attic messes,
Eleven days of noises,
Ten damaged heirlooms,
Nine chewed up wires,
Eight points of entry,
Seven days of trapping,
Six raided feeders,
Five stressed days,
Four baby squirrels,
Three gnawed trees,
Two damaged eaves,
And a nest built in my attic.

Fast Facts About Squirrels:

• Tree Squirrel Species Native to Texas: fox squirrel, gray squirrel, and flying squirrel
• Most Common Squirrel Species in the Metroplex: fox squirrel
• Lifespan: 4 to 7 years
• Average Size: 18 to 27 inches long, 1.5-2.5 lbs
• Appearance: brown-gray with orange underbelly and 7 to 14 inch long bushy tail
• Diet: tree nuts, fruit, bark, tree buds, insects, tubers, bulbs, roots, bird eggs, mushrooms, and seeds
• Habitat:
  • In the Wild: tree dens (natural cavities & crotches in trees) and leaf nests, ideally in an area of open forest with mature shade trees
  • In a Home: nests are most often built in attics and chimneys
• Active Times: daytime
• Reproduction: 1 to 2 litters per year: 1 in Spring, 1 in Fall.
  • Babies are born blind & furless and are weaned for approximately 12-14 weeks
• Behavior:
  • Caching of food: they bury shelled foods that are high in fat, such as nuts
    • Often these buried nuts are forgotten and will later grow into trees
  • Solitary and asocial other than during breeding season
  • Large vocabulary consisting of clucking and chucking sounds
  • Can jump 15 feet horizontally and 8 feet high
  • Can land safely from 20 feet high
  • Have 4 front teeth that will continue to grow throughout their lives and are kept in check via gnawing on nuts and other items
  • Can run up to 20 mph
  • Will inhabit a range of about 10 acres per season

Signs of Squirrel Damage:

• Holes chewed in soffits/eaves
• Torn up insulation
• Urine and feces in the attic
• Chewed wiring
• Gnawed tree bark
• Dug up and eaten flower bulbs
• Noises coming from the attic or chimney during the daytime

Squirrel Removal:

Once a squirrel has taken residence in your attic or chimney, the best thing to do is call in a professional to assess the situation and begin a live animal trapping wherein the squirrel can be safely caught and relocated. A technician can also access your home for any entry points the squirrel may have created by chewing through the siding, eaves, and soffit around your attic and go over your options for repair and prevention. Given the length of time of weaning for baby squirrels, it’s especially important to have a professional perform any trapping and exclusion work, so as not to separate the mother from the babies.

Squirrel Prevention:

If you notice squirrel activity in your yard or hear them scampering on your roof, it’s a good idea to make sure you have taken appropriate measures to prevent them from getting into your chimney or attic and causing the need for extensive repair and clean up work.

Below are tips for successful squirrel prevention:

• Trim tree limbs back to at least 8 to 10 feet from the roof
• Place sheet metal bands around the trunks of trees to discourage squirrels from climbing them
• Confirm that any attic vents are properly screened
• Remove any bird feeders from near your home
• Be sure you have a chimney cap installed and in proper condition

This winter, don’t let squirrels crash your Christmas party; as soon as you notice the signs of squirrel damage, call in a professional and let the only noises on your rooftop be from Santa and his reindeer and get back to making your celebrations merry and bright.

Additional References:

“Controlling Tree Squirrels in Urban Areas” – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts – Alina Bradford, LiveScience

“Squirrels” – Texas Parks & Wildlife

Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.

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