A residence with an attached garage in a mature residential area of Saint-Ours, on the Richelieu River, required the intervention of our technicians after the owner noticed damage to the insulation of the ceiling of his garage and detected running noises in the party walls separating the garage from the living area. This sector of Saint-Ours, a small town in the Montérégie region renowned for its dam and locks between Saint-Denis and Sorel-Tracy, is characterized by a dense tree canopy that particularly appeals to grey and red squirrels, which find food and shelter in abundance. These seemingly innocuous animals can cause significant damage when they settle in a residential structure.
Structural inspection and identification of entry routes
The inspection began with a thorough examination of the garage and its junction with the main body of the house. This transition zone is often overlooked during routine maintenance, but it represents a structural weak point frequently exploited by squirrels. The technician identified two openings in the soffit above the garage door, a crack in the parging between the foundation wall and the wood structure, and a gap around an insufficiently sealed dryer ventilation duct.
The inside of the garage ceiling void revealed a compact nest as well as supplies of acorns and nuts hidden in the nooks and crannies. Garage lighting wires showed slight traces of gnawing. The technician also checked the condition of the soffits on the side of the house to ensure that no progress to the main attic had taken place. This extensive inspection provided a complete picture of the situation and allowed for a comprehensive response to be planned rather than a partial response.
Safe Trapping and Removal of Animals
Two live capture traps were installed at the identified entry points outside, and a third in the ceiling space of the garage, which had been accessed by the technician after the owner’s agreement. The traps were checked every morning for seven days. Two adult Red Squirrels were captured in the first three days; a third, more suspicious, was caught on the fifth day after the baiting was modified. Our squirrel capture service systematically provides for an observation period after the last trapping to validate the absence of residual animals, especially in the event of a litter present.
Cleaning of the ceiling void included removing the nest, vacuuming debris and disinfecting surfaces using an enzymatic product that removes olfactory markers. A portion of mineral wool insulation had been compressed and soiled; It has been removed and replaced to maintain the thermal performance of the part. This type of cleaning is essential to prevent a residual odor from attracting new individuals the following season. To learn more about this step, visit our page dedicated to the decontamination of the attic and contaminated spaces.
Permanent sealing and prevention tips
The sealing of the identified openings was carried out with rigid rodent-resistant materials: galvanized steel plates for the soffit openings, polyurethane foam reinforced with metal wires for the plaster cracks and metal hose clamp around the dryer duct. These mechanical solutions are much more effective than the simple soft foam plugs that squirrels easily pierce with their powerful incisors. The owner was also advised to have the soffits and fascias in his garage inspected annually, especially after the winter freeze-thaw periods that accelerate the degradation of exterior finishing materials.
For a comprehensive protection of your property against wildlife intrusions, our extermination services in Quebec include a full range of preventive and curative interventions. Check out our achievements on other residential squirrel captures and raccoon management on the South Shore for additional examples of our expertise in urban wildlife management. A telephone follow-up carried out a month after the intervention confirmed the absence of any sign of activity in the garage, to the complete satisfaction of the customer.