Squirrels are the most frequently called nuisance animal in Altoona after bats. The mature oak, maple, and walnut canopy in the Fairview, Juniata, and Logan neighborhoods supports a large grey squirrel population. When those trees overhang the rooflines of older homes — and in Altoona's railroad-era neighborhoods, they almost always do — squirrels find their way in. A rotted fascia board, a loose soffit return, a gap at the gutter line: all they need is an inch.
The chewing is the real problem. Grey squirrels gnaw continuously to keep their incisors from growing too long. Wiring insulation, roof decking, attic joists. An active squirrel in your attic is a fire and structural risk, not just a nuisance.
Eastern Grey Squirrel. The dominant species throughout Altoona. Active year-round, particularly aggressive about finding indoor warmth in fall and winter. In older neighborhoods with large tree canopy, populations are high.
Northern Flying Squirrel. Nocturnal, so most homeowners never see them — just hear the scratching at night. Common in wooded hillside areas of Blair County and in neighborhoods close to the Allegheny Front ridgeline. Often mistaken for mice because of their small size and nocturnal habits. They glide in from nearby trees and land directly on rooflines.
Fox Squirrel. Larger than grey squirrels, more common at the suburban-rural edges of Blair County — Duncansville area, the US-220 corridor south of Altoona, rural Martinsburg and Roaring Spring. Less common in dense urban Altoona but not rare.
A good squirrel exclusion on an older Altoona home is not just trapping — it is finding and sealing every access point so the next squirrel cannot follow the same path. We do both.
Grey squirrels are active during daylight — mostly early morning and late afternoon. If you hear movement during the day, it is likely squirrels. Bats are active at dusk and dawn, brief bursts. Raccoons are primarily nocturnal. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and smaller-sounding than grey squirrels. We can tell from a quick inspection.
Yes, and this is the primary reason to address squirrel intrusions quickly. Grey squirrels chew constantly — it is a biological need. Wiring insulation is a common target in attics. Chewed wiring is a leading cause of attic and house fires. Do not wait on this one.
Always. Removing the squirrels without sealing the entry points means the next one moves in within weeks. Exclusion is part of every squirrel job we do.
Related services: bat removal and exclusion · attic restoration after squirrel damage
Squirrel removal, trapping, exclusion, and attic assessment in Altoona and Blair County.
(814) 800-3215