Squirrels, mainly the eastern gray squirrel and fox squirrel, are common small mammals across Kentucky. They live in all sorts of places, like woodlands, cities, suburbs, and farmlands. These daytime rodents stand out with their bushy tails, quick climbing skills, and fur colors from gray to reddish-brown. They eat nuts from trees such as hickory, beech, pecan, black walnut, and white oak acorns, and fox squirrels often hang out near cornfields. Squirrels get water from their food, roam over 10 to 40 acres, and use trees to escape danger and build nests in leaves or hollow spots. They help nature by spreading seeds and regrowing forests, but their ability to thrive near humans often makes them pests, leading to damage and conflicts. Squirrels create problems with their eating, nesting, and chewing habits, especially in cities and suburbs. They squeeze into attics, chimneys, or crawl spaces through tiny gaps, where they chew on wires (which can start fires), insulation, and wood, causing expensive fixes. Squirrels raid gardens, orchards, and bird feeders, harming fruits, vegetables, flowers, and crops like corn; they also strip bark from trees. Their nests cause noise from scratching and running around, plus messes from droppings, urine, and debris that can attract other pests. Squirrels can spread diseases like leptospirosis, salmonella, or parasites (such as fleas and ticks) through bites, scratches, or waste; rabies is rare but possible. In crowded areas, they might damage cars by chewing hoses or mess with power lines. Orphaned babies in spring bring extra risks if handled. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!