How Much Is Pest Control For Squirrel Infestation? Squirrel Exterminator Cost

How much does a squirrel exterminator cost and how much is pest control for squirrel infestations?

Squirrels are some of the cutest wild animals that are not afraid to invade our homes. However, as cute as they may look, they pose significant dangers to your home with their nesting.

For instance, while humans are notorious for starting wildfires, wild animals cause around 800 home fires every year.¹⁰ Squirrels are among the most notorious ones as they chew electric wires and can easily cause these fires.¹

Also, they are known to cause various health risks, including leptospirosis or salmonella. In other words, you need to remove these cute creatures from your home once you see them.

This guide outlines squirrel extermination cost factors which dictate how much is pest control for squirrel infestation. 

Squirrel Exterminator Cost: How Much Is Pest Control for Squirrel Infestation?

The average squirrel removal cost nationally is about $450. Most homeowners seeking squirrel pest control services usually part with $300 to $600 for the activity.²

However, the squirrel exterminator cost can go lower or higher based on the size of the infestation and the location of the squirrels’ habitat. For example, small infestations can cost you around $125, while an extensive one cost up to $1,500.

That is quite a significant difference. Therefore, before seeking professional pest removal services for your squirrel infestation, be ready.

Exactly how does size and location affect squirrel exterminator cost? Here are the factors influencing squirrel removal costs.

Squirrel Exterminator Cost By Infestation Size

In any animal removal activity, the size of the problem always determines the cost. A professional exterminator can certainly not charge the same amount to remove 5 squirrels as to remove 20 squirrels.

Extensive infestations can easily cost upwards of $1,500.³ This mainly depends on the amount of work needed to get the squirrels off your property.

If you are lucky and are dealing with 2 or 3 squirrels, the cost is relatively low. You may just need to part with $125 to $350.

That is why you should call an exterminator immediately if you notice even a single squirrel in your compound — it might save you a lot of money.

For a medium-sized infestation, the squirrel exterminator cost goes higher, between $300 and $600. This cost usually caters to squirrel removal for a single family with several members.

If there are several squirrel nests on your property, this starts to get expensive. It can cost you between $500 and $800 to eliminate large squirrel infestations.

The most extensive infestations can cost you an upward of $1,500. This one involves the removal of numerous squirrel nests inhabited by numerous squirrel families.

It might be uncommon, but sometimes it does occur.

Squirrel Exterminator Cost By Infestation Location

The location of the squirrels’ home also determines how much it costs to remove them. Some areas in your compound are more accessible than others, leading to the difference in squirrel exterminator cost.

Easy-to-access areas cost less, while difficult-to-access ones cost more.

Here are some good examples:

Squirrel Removal From Lawn/Garden

These are open spaces, making them some of the easiest places to conduct squirrel removal activities. On average, it can cost from $125 to $250 to undertake the squirrel removal process.

The nests are easy to access; thus, the pest removal professional does not encounter much challenge. Lawns or gardens are great sources of squirrel food.

This makes them significantly attractive to these animals. However, you can try to counter this by making them less attractive.

How do you do this? Start by ensuring there are no fallen fruits and nuts in your garden or yard.

Squirrels love nuts and fruits. If these are always on your garden floor, you are creating a conducive environment for squirrel infestation.¹¹

Also, you can invest in squirrel-proof bird feeders. This ensures that birds can feed, but squirrels cannot access the fruits and nuts.

Remember, while squirrels might not damage your compound as such, they can litter it with their poop, which can also cause health issues.

Basement Squirrel Removal

The squirrels might also decide to make your basement their home sweet home. Your basement offers an excellent hideout as it is rarely used, is dark, and offers the warmth that these animals need.

The good thing is that the squirrel exterminator cost for a basement is also relatively low. This is because the entry points are easy to pinpoint and seal.

It is also easy to set traps to capture the squirrels from the basement. The average squirrel removal cost here is between $200 to $500.⁴

That is manageable.

Squirrel Removal Cost From Chimneys

In cold areas, chimneys are significantly important during the cold season. When these rodents occupy your chimney, they might block it with nuts and nests, making it difficult to warm your home.

Also, unblocking the chimney requires you to call an expert, which is another unplanned cost.

Usually, chimney squirrel removal costs are anywhere from $200 to $300. This is not as expensive unless they block the chimney or are stuck there.

In such cases, the wildlife removal service officers need to be called in to rescue the squirrel. If you notice any squirrel activities in your chimney, ensure you call the squirrel removal services immediately.

You do not want to incur even more costs for being silent.

 Cost To Remove Squirrels From Attic, Walls, and Eaves

If the squirrels are in your attic, eaves, or walls, the process gets a bit complex. This also raises the cost of removing the squirrels.

For instance, the exterminator prices for getting rid of squirrels from these areas range between $250 and $800.⁵ You cannot have peace in your home if you have a bunch of squirrels making noise in your attic, behind the walls, or on the eves.

This calls for an immediate removal before the situation gets worse. Also, these animals can chew wires, insulation material, and water pipes.

All of this costs you money to repair or replace. It can get pretty expensive and dangerous if the house catches fire.

Since all these places are difficult to access, do not try doing the removal yourself. Call a pest control company and let them assess the situation for you.

They are more qualified to pinpoint and seal the entry points and eliminate the intruders.

Squirrel Removal Costs From a Ceiling

Ceilings are among the most delicate places to access in your house. As such, conducting a squirrel removal from a ceiling also gets more expensive.

Nationally, the average cost of removing squirrels from a ceiling falls between $750 and $1,500. This cost is due to the complexity of the activity and the size of the area the exterminator has to cover.

Remember, the squirrels might be hiding in any corner of the ceiling. Sometimes, you have to factor in the cost of repairing the ceiling if it is damaged.

Also, if they have chewed on some electric wires and drywall, you have to incur more repair costs.

Squirrel Control Cost in a Garage

A garage might seem like an easy place to spot and remove squirrel nests, but it is not. Some garages are full of equipment and tools that make it hard to conduct squirrel removal.

Also, the abundance of hiding places makes a garage the perfect place for squirrels to make their nests. On average, it costs around $300 to $500 to have a squirrel exterminator get rid of the stubborn rodents from the garage.

This can get more expensive if you let the intrusion continue without doing anything. Squirrels love chewing on electric wire coverings, which is a fire hazard for your home.

They can also damage drywall, which only leads to more repair costs. For example, it costs between $300 and $875 to repair a drywall.

Electrical repairs, on the other hand, can cost between $600–$2,200. These are unnecessary costs that can be avoided.

Other damages that squirrels can cause in your garage include:

• Building nests in your engine
• Chewing valuable possessions
• Littering the place with feces and urine, which is a health concern

Before things get out of hand, call the animal removal services and get the problem sorted out. It can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Signs That You Have Squirrel Infestation

Is it hard to identify a squirrel infestation? Absolutely not.

Squirrels are large rodents and that makes them easy to spot. Also, they don’t hide or lurk in quietness like some other pests.

The main indicators of a squirrel infestation include:

• Squirrels roaming around the compound
• Squirrel fights in your attic, garage, or on trees
• Squirrel poop
• Damaged electric wires
• Squirrel footprints
• Water pipes damages
• Noises in the attic, ceilings, and eaves
• Bad odor due to feces or dead squirrels
• Seeds and nuts around the compound, especially in the attic

If you spot any of these signs, it is recommended that you call a squirrel exterminator as fast as possible. This way, you can prevent any more damage and resulting costs.

Squirrel Removal Cost By Method

Pest removal professionals use different ways to get rid of the squirrels from your home. This usually attracts different costs depending on the complexity of the process.

They give you the price after conducting the inspection.¹²

For example:

• Trapping 1–2 squirrels: $200 to $250
• Capturing and relocating 5–7 squirrels: $325 to $550
• Removing at least 7 squirrels, relocating them, and cleaning up: up to $1,700

If the process involves adding an exclusion door, there is an extra cost of $150 to $250.

Squirrel Trap Cost

Trapping the squirrels is the first method of removing these rodents from your home. While they may seem cute, do not mistake them for being harmless.

The method involves setting traps that help to capture the squirrels using cages or boxes. The animals are then released to the wild, away from your home.

Due to animal protection laws, squirrel trapping is among the most used removal methods. It helps you to regain peace in your home without harming the squirrels.

This method costs between $275 and $600.

Relocation Cost for Squirrels

Even after trapping or capturing the squirrels, you might not know where to take them. This means that you need to call a wildlife control company to come pick up the squirrels.

Relocation costs for squirrels depend entirely on where they are located in your house, the number, and where they need to be relocated. Usually, trapping and relocating the squirrels can cost anywhere between $325 and $550.

Use of Squirrel Exclusion Door

An exclusion door is also an effective way of handling a squirrel infestation. Professionals use this method to humanely remove the squirrels from your home without harming them.

The method involves a special device on the exit point, allowing the squirrels to exit but not to re-enter. It is like sealing the entry point from the outside, but the squirrels inside can get out.

This method is harmless as the squirrels exit your house freely. It costs around $275 to $600.

The cost is influenced by various factors, including the device size and the complexity of the installation.

The Cost of Removing a Dead Squirrel

If you have a dead squirrel in your home, it needs to be removed by a professional. To start with, the dead squirrel produces a bad odor, which makes your home uncomfortable to stay in.

Also, the rotting body attracts other pests and can even become a source of diseases.¹³ The cost of removing dead squirrels from your compound depends on the location and the number.

On average, you need at least $150, but the cost can rise up to $250 for removing several dead squirrels.

Squirrel Inspection Cost

Before the squirrel removal process starts, a prior inspection is necessary. Once you call a professional squirrel exterminator, they usually come and assess your squirrel infestation situation first.

From here, they can decide which approach to take and the cost of the whole activity. The inspection can cost between $100 and $250, although some companies do it for free.⁷

They inspect the location of the nests both for interior and exterior infestations, entry points, and the amount of damage caused. During the inspection, the exterminator can set traps.

Cost of Squirrel Removal By Company

Different animal and pest removal companies offer different pricing for their services. Most of them charge an average of $200 to $600 based on various factors, as explained above.

Therefore, before settling for a squirrel removal company, ensure that you shop around for the best deals. Some of the main pest and animal removal companies you can use include Terminix, Orkin, and Expel Wildlife Service.

Go through their websites to determine their prices and the services they offer. Terminix pricing ranges from $225 to $400 for squirrel removal, on average, while Orkin charges between $300 and $600.⁶

Expel Wildlife Service, which is relatively new in the market, charges between $200 and $500.

Other Factors Influencing Squirrel Pest Control Costs

Besides location, removal method, and infestation size, there are several other factors that influence squirrel exterminator costs. These include:

Remedial Work

Repairs are another cost that squirrels leave behind. Like most other rodents, they chew electric wire coverings and ductwork, destroy insulations, and also damage drywall.

The cost of repairing these items falls on you and might not be cheap. Replacing electric wiring can cost anywhere between $3 and $5 per square foot.

On the other hand, you may have to part with $1 to $7 to replace a square foot of attic insulation.

Additional Pest Control

Squirrels are in the rodent family.¹⁴ One common thing about rodents is that they attract other pests.

For example, anywhere you find a squirrel infestation, there is also a high chance that fleas and ticks make it their home. When this happens, it means you are dealing with two types of infestations.

This way, the squirrel removal cost goes higher as it also includes the cost of exterminating the fleas or ticks. Therefore, do not just assume the squirrels for their cuteness.

It is better to look at the entire picture and see the dangers that these cute, little animals pose. They not only lead to costly removal processes but can also lead to huge repair costs or even health issues.

Cleanup and Sanitization

A squirrel removal activity ends with a cleanup service, especially if the infestation is significant.⁸ Cleanups add to the cost of the squirrel removal process.

The exterminator or professional has to get rid of feces, dead animals, nests, damaged materials, and urine from the site. The area also needs to be disinfected, with larger infestations costing even more.

The Urgency of the Situation

When you need emergency squirrel removal services, the cost goes up. Usually, emergency services for squirrel removal cost around $100, sometimes more.⁹

These costs apply when you call for help with your squirrel issue during after-work hours, weekends, or even holidays. Therefore, before dialing that exterminator’s number, check the time or the date.

It might need you to dig deeper into your pockets.

Are Squirrels Dangerous?

Yes. Squirrel infestations, whether in the attic, garage, lawn, or basement, can be dangerous.

Those in the attic can chew electric wires easily causing fires, while those in the lawn can cause diseases from their droppings and urine. They can also cause damage to plumbing and drywall, which is expensive to repair.

Do Squirrels Destroy Walls?

Squirrels’ teeth keep on growing. As such, they keep chewing things to control the growth.

This means they chew almost anything, including the walls. They can, therefore, cause considerable damage to your house.

Can You Remove the Squirrels Yourself?

If you are not afraid of squirrels, you can conduct a DIY removal procedure. This means you have to trap, capture, and release the squirrels somewhere else.

If you do not have the equipment, call a professional.

What Is the Best Company To Hire for Squirrel Removal?

There are numerous companies that can help you with your squirrel problem, depending on your location and budget. You should, therefore, do your research to determine the company that best matches your needs and budget.

For instance, the squirrel exterminator cost for Terminix is different from that of Orkin.

Animal Removal Costs: How To Get Rid of Ground Squirrels

There are over 285 squirrel species around the world. Out of these, 62 species are ground squirrels.

While most people confuse ground squirrels with tree squirrels, they are pretty different in characteristics like size, color, habitat, and tail size. Additionally, getting rid of ground squirrels can be done in several ways.

Some of the main methods include:

Use of Natural Sprays

The use of natural sprays is an eco-friendly and harmless way of getting rid of ground squirrels. You can use ingredients like garlic, cayenne, capsaicin, or castor oil to spray around your home.

The smell of these items acts as a deterrent to squirrels. In fact, it is hard for squirrels to dig and build nests in areas with such smells.

The best thing is that you can even make these sprays from home, which means less cost.

Predator Urine

Ground squirrels fall prey to various predators like foxes, coyotes, and wolves. Any presence of these animals makes the squirrels scared and run off the property.

Since you cannot bring these predators into your compound, their urine might work. Sprinkle the urine around the compound to deter the squirrels.

Remember to re-spray after a heavy downpour as it washes away the scent.

Noise Repellants

Some ultrasonic sounds can be used to repel ground squirrels. Devices like wind chimes or any ultrasonic motion-activated device can work wonders in repelling squirrels off your property.

However, ensure that you move these devices regularly. This ensures that the squirrels never get used to them.

Squirrel Traps

Setting traps for ground squirrels is easy as they build their homes on the ground. However, squirrels are always careful and not easily trapped.

You can seek the help of a wildlife control company to provide the best traps for the squirrels. These usually help in capturing and relocating the squirrels.

Hire an Exterminator

If your methods do not work, the next best option is to seek professional help. Hiring a squirrel exterminator relieves you of the burden of dealing with the squirrels’ menace.

Look for an exterminator with the right tools and who has been certified and licensed. This way, they can assess your squirrel problem and offer a lasting solution.

Remember, just removing the squirrels is not enough. You need to find and employ methods that prevent the squirrels from returning to your property every now and then.

Squirrel Exterminator Cost: Is Animal Control Free for Squirrels?

Unless you are doing a DIY project, squirrel removal is not free or cheap. In most cases, you must call a pest removal professional,¹⁵ of which costs money.

The entire cost of removing squirrels from a home or an area is dependent on several factors. For instance, the location, infestation size, method used, and necessary cleanup cost.

Each of these factors influences the cost associated with removing the squirrels. This means that there is no standard cost for squirrel removal services.

Your situation determines the squirrel exterminator cost and how much is pest control for squirrel removal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrel Exterminator Cost