A six-unit apartment building located in Saint-Jude, a rural municipality of Montérégie in the Saint-Hyacinthe region, contacted our team after several tenants on the top floor reported scratching noises in the walls and above the ceilings. The building, built in the seventies and lined with mature maple trees, presented conditions particularly conducive to the intrusion of red squirrels. This mainly agricultural territory, where woods rub shoulders with cultivated land, encourages the presence of these rodents, so much so that the report was taken very seriously from the first call.
Initial diagnosis on a multi-unit building
The inspection of a building of this type requires a more systematic approach than for a single-family residence. Our technician first examined the building’s exterior envelope from top to bottom: fascias, soffits, roof joints, ventilation ducts and flashings. Several openings were identified, including two bathroom ventilation grilles with the protective mesh corroded and partially torn off, as well as a space under the eaves where the soffit had peeled off for about thirty centimetres. Interior inspection of the attic, accessible through a common hatch, revealed a large nest installed in the fiberglass insulation, accompanied by supplies of nuts and acorns. Evidence of recent activity, including paw prints and fresh twigs, indicated ongoing occupation.
The overall condition of the building envelope had several additional areas of weakness that had not yet been exploited, but posed a risk for the following season. The detailed inspection report was provided to the owner so that he could prioritize maintenance work accordingly, beyond the closure of active accesses.
Capture and relocation of squirrels
Our squirrel capture service was implemented with the installation of four live capture traps distributed at the identified accesses, taking into account the constraints specific to a multi-unit building: discretion with regard to the residents, securing the traps to avoid any accidental contact and daily verification respecting the tenants’ living schedules. The baiting was carried out with mixtures of nut butter and sunflower seeds, which are particularly attractive to red squirrels as the cold season approaches.
Over a five-day period, five individuals were captured and relocated to a natural woodlot located at a good distance from the site, in accordance with the requirements of the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. Our extermination team in Saint-Jude maintained constant communication with the building manager to inform him of the progress of the work. After two days without capture, a confirmatory inspection was carried out before proceeding with the next steps.
Cleaning, decontamination and de-access
The cleaning of the attic included the complete removal of the nest, the removal of faeces and the disinfection of soiled surfaces with suitable products to neutralize odors and olfactory markers. The latter, left behind by the animals, act as invitation signals for other individuals who would seek shelter the following season. This decontamination step is therefore as important as the trapping itself to ensure a long-lasting result. As part of the insulation was damaged by rodents, we recommended replacing it to maintain the thermal performance of the building.
The sealing work consisted of installing galvanized metal grilles at the ventilation entrances, screwing and gluing the loose soffit and applying a rigid sealant to all the perimeter cracks. For more details on this step, see our page dedicated to closing entry points for animals. One month after the intervention, no complaints have been received from tenants. This case demonstrates the importance of timely processing of reports in a multi-unit setting, where the progression of animals between units can significantly complicate the situation. For all your wildlife management needs, trust our extermination company, available throughout the South Shore. See also our achievement on capturing squirrels in residential settings for other concrete examples.