Have they talked to their power company?

I know if you are planning on doing tree work near lines you should contact them first, and knowing (from experience!)that squirrels like to chew wires, the power company may take care of it.

To rid their house permanently, they must trap the rodents (for that is indeed what they are) and seal off the areas with hardware cloth. Squirrels will chew through *anything*. Trouble is, once they get in somewhere, their scent lingers so it becomes a magnet for other squirrels -- you get the idea.

Definitely call the power company to get advice, but they need professionals quickly.

Having been infested with them in the attic of my apartment building, I know the misery these creatures can put you through. I HATE them!

Here is a link that might be useful: United Exterminating Company

lasershow, I have squirrels in my attic, pshed up the soffit, what is hardware cloth???

Hardware cloth is metal meshing. If you follow the link in my previous post, he talks all about it and gives pictures, also.

Here are some good web sites about squirrels and the damage they do:

http://www.unexco.com/SQ1.html

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for45/for45.htm

http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/wildlife/g1377.htm

http://www.bugspray.com/article/squirrels.html

In some cities in Canada, there is a company called "Wildlife Control Inc." which specializes in squirrels & raccoons. They are in the yellow pages under "exterminators" if they exist in your area. I used them when I had a squirrel problem, and they did a good job.

Hardware cloth is heavy gauge wire mesh that squirrels cannot chew through. Usually a one-way gate is installed over the entry hole so that the squirrels currently inside can get out (dead, rotting squirrels in the attic is a bad thing). After a few weeks, the hole is covered with hardware cloth, and later you should have a professional roofer repair the hole permanently.

If you have a squirrel infestation, your MUST get rid of them, since they can chew through electrical wires and cause fires, as well as damaging or supporting wooden beams, removing insulation, making holes big enough for rats to get in, etc.

" You... should.... have .... bought.... a.... squirrel...."