Many people don’t think that flying squirrels are real or at least that we don’t have them in Pennsylvania. Let me assure you that Flying squirrels are not only real, but we definitely have them in Pennsylvania. These small, nocturnal squirrels are prolific breeders and can cause significant damage to a home once they get inside. Let’s discuss flying squirrels and what to do when flying squirrels get into the house.

What is a flying squirrel?

Flying squirrels are small, nocturnal squirrels that are found throughout Pennsylvania. There are 2 species of flying squirrels, the northern flying squirrel which is considered an endangered species, and the common flying squirrel which we will discuss here.

The common flying squirrel has a reddish-brown body with large eyes and a flat tail. They resemble the size and coloration of a chipmunk. The large eyes are due to their nocturnal nature which means they are most active at night. The flat tail acts like a rudder on a boat or airplane and allows the squirrel to “steer” as it glides.

Although called the flying squirrel, these animals do not actually fly. Flying squirrels have a skin flap between their front and back legs which allows them to glide rather than fly. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, a flying squirrel can glide 20-60 feet with some able to glide for up to 300 feet!

Damage that flying squirrels create

How do you know you have flying squirrels in the house?

Often when we discover flying squirrels in a house it is because the homeowner hears noises in the attic or ceiling. One of the questions we ask when meeting with a homeowner is “when are you hearing the noise?”. This question will help us narrow down what animal is infesting the home.

Since flying squirrels are nocturnal, if the homeowner is hearing scratching or noises at night, then it could be flying squirrels. Flying squirrels are larger than mice and rats so the next step is to determine how the animals are getting into the house and look at the size of the entrance they are using.

If we find an entrance hole that is flying squirrel sized and the homeowner is hearing noises at night, we can be confident that the issue is flying squirrels.

How to get rid of flying squirrels

Once we have determined that you have flying squirrels, it’s time to get them out! Since we’ve already found out how they are getting into the house, we can install a one-way door to evict the squirrels. A one-way door works by allowing the squirrels to exit the house but not re-enter. This can only be successful if all of the other openings and potential entrances are also sealed.

We can also use traps in conjunction with the one-way door to ensure that the flying squirrels are out and out for good. It’s always possible that a flying squirrel can chew a new opening somewhere else so trapping can be an effective strategy to eliminate squirrel infestations.

Once the squirrels have been evicted, we remove the one-way door and traps and seal up the main opening. This will help prevent future flying squirrels from entering the house.

Flying Squirrel Treatments

Prudential Pest Solutions are the flying squirrel removal experts. We are licensed and experienced to handle and resolve ANY squirrel problem you have. Our wildlife consultations will determine what type of animal is infesting your home, formulate a plan to remove them, and seal up the home to prevent future infestations.

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