Squirrel Control

Here in Western Washington, we have 5 different species of squirrels.

The most common problem squirrel is the Non-native Eastern Gray Squirrel.  They are large about 11-12 inches in length and mostly gray in color with a reddish tint to their ears, sides, and tail, and a white belly.  This species was imported to our area as pets, and to provide viewing pleasure to urban areas where many parks and residential areas are planted with imported east-coast nut trees such as chestnuts and Walnuts.  Given their high populations in suburban and residential urban areas, these squirrels are the most likely culprits of attic infestations in the populated centers of Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Bremerton, Longview, Puyallup, Aberdeen, and the smaller surrounding towns.  They are aggressive and actively displace populations of native species.  The State Department of Fish and Wildlife does not allow them to be relocated.

The rest of them are native species which can be relocated.

The most common of these, and second most common attic infestation is from our dwarf Douglas Squirrels.  They are small only about 6-7 inches in total length, and they are reddish brown on their backs and sides, with small black fringes on ears and tail, and a caramel colored belly. This diminutive native species is most at home in our unique Northwest coniferous forests of Douglas fir, Hemlock, Grand fir, and Cedar and Pine.  They feed on fir and pine cones.  Being smaller than most squirrels, they can fit into tighter places, and can be a real challenge to locate access points.  But we at A All Animal Control love a good challenge.  These little guys are often found infesting attics in relatively new developments, or residential areas which have maintained a natural Western Washington Habitat of Evergreen forest.  They are often mistaken for chipmunks, but have no stripes.

Red Squirrels are fairly uncommon in most of Western Washington, but are common in Eastern Washington.  Their western populations can usually be found in the areas near the northern Cascade passes, such as Snoqualmie, Stevens, and Skagit.  Their habits and activity are similar to Eastern Grays, and the two populations actually mix and interbreed.  Red squirrels are red brown in color with a white to cream colored belly, and about 10-11 inches in length.

Northern Flying Squirrels are the only squirrel that is nocturnal and sometimes carnivorous being known to eat insects, bats, and other small prey in addition to more traditional squirrel diets.  So far in all our years doing this work, we’ve only had a few Northern Flying Squirrels occupy homes, and all times have been in Lewis County.  Toledo, Mossyrock, and rural areas along the Cowlitz river.  They are dark brown on their back with a black fringe at the edge of their glider flaps, large black eyes, and a cream to rust colored belly.  They are small, about 7-8 inches, though not quite as small as douglas squirrels.

The last is the Western Gray squirrel.  This native species is the largest of the 5, about 12-13 inches in length, and has solid gray coloring on its back, sometimes black fringes on ears and tail, and a white belly.  This species is on the endangered species list.  It inhabits the groves of our spindly native oak trees and feeds on acorns.  Those native oak groves are becoming so rare that the available habitat of Western Grays is severely limited.  They haven’t shown any inclination to expand into imported oak groves common in suburban developments, and are not as aggressive as the eastern Grays which outcompete them.  We have never dealt with a Western Gray infesting a home, and I’ve only seen one once in my whole life.