How Many Flying Squirrels Can Live In Your Attic?

Photo of flying squirrel in attic

It’s unsettling to find a flying squirrel in your home, but it’s not uncommon. Flying squirrels are smaller than other squirrel species and can squeeze through small holes, cracks, and gaps in any structure. This may imply that you will have easy access to your home. During the winter months, when squirrels seek shelter from the cold, it is common to find flying squirrels in the attic. Flying squirrels are gregarious creatures who congregate in large groups. In fact, you might discover that your attic is home to more than one.

Learn More: Frequently Asked Squirrel Removal Questions 

How Many Flying Squirrels Can Live In One Attic?

It’s not uncommon for us to find one to five flying squirrels in an attic. When the juvenile flying squirrels become mobile in the spring, we frequently see 5-8 squirrels in attics. The number of flying squirrels in one roost is much higher than other squirrel species. The majority of the flying squirrel infestations we see have six to twelve flying squirrels. However, in an attic, it is not uncommon for us to find up to 25 flying squirrels.

What Are The Dangerous Of Flying Squirrels In The Home?

The issues start with the potential for damage caused by their desire to chew on building materials to make themselves more comfortable. Flying squirrels have been known to wreak havoc on insulation and other nearby materials. If a squirrel stays in a home for too long before being discovered, a homeowner could face hundreds of dollars in repair costs and will almost certainly need to replace the insulation.

The droppings they inevitably leave behind can spread salmonella, which is commonly known as food poisoning, posing a health risk to humans. Salmonella causes vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to serious complications that necessitate medical attention. Leptospirosis, which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as head and body aches, fever, and chills, can be transmitted by squirrel feces. A doctor should treat any severe leptospirosis symptoms.

When flying squirrels, like other furry creatures, enter your attic, they bring parasites like fleas and ticks with them. Fleas will quickly spread throughout your home, leaving hundreds of these tiny insects hopping around your carpets and furniture, waiting for a bite. Fleas may transmit diseases like cat scratch fever, typhus, and even the plague. Lyme disease is spread by ticks, which has become a major problem in the United States in recent years.

How To Get Flying Squirrels Removed?

If you find a flying squirrel in your home or attic, do not attempt to catch it yourself. Flying squirrels carry diseases and other illnesses in their fur, which they can pass on to humans if they directly contact them. When you notice a problem with a flying squirrel infestation, contact Animals Happen to have them come out and assist you with proper flying squirrel removal.