Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day: Fun Facts About Our Bushy-Tailed Neighbors
In this year’s first edition of our weekly pest blog, we’re celebrating Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21st by sharing fun facts about squirrels.
Why Would Pest Control Agents Appreciate Squirrels?
Part of our job is removing small rodents from homes, and sometimes that can mean we’re dealing with squirrels. There are many reasons why you don’t want a squirrel infestation on your property, but a small, non-intrusive population of squirrels is something to be thankful for.
Let’s get into two reasons to love squirrels and a fun bonus fact about a super cute squirrel here in Alabama.
3 Fast and Fun Squirrel Facts
#1: Squirrels Are Essential for Managing Insect Populations
During all warm seasons here in Alabama, the abundance of insects is often a serious nuisance. Along with many other factors in nature, squirrels’ opportunistic carnivorous tendencies, which include eating insects, help us prevent the overpopulation of insects where we live.
#2: Squirrels Keep Plants Growing
Squirrels play an essential role as nature’s fluffy little oblivious farmers and gardeners.
Squirrels eat acorns, seeds, and nuts, and they bury them in hiding spots to keep them safe for eating later. However, they often forget where they buried their food. If the squirrels’ hiding places happen to offer the right soil and weather conditions, the buried, forgotten seeds might sprout later as new trees, bushes, flowers, or vines.
#3: There’s a Really Cute Flying Squirrel Here in Alabama
The Southern Flying Squirrel is a common species of squirrel in Alabama, but you may have never seen one because they’re nocturnal (only out and about at night).
They’re very small in comparison to the other most common Alabama squirrels. Their name comes from their ability to jump from one tree limb to the next, and their “wings” catch air, allowing them to glide, much like flight, as they descend. These “wings” are actually two membranous wing-like structures that are located on each side. They attach end-to-end from the squirrel’s wrist joints to their ankle joints.
We think these guys are adorable, and it is cool to know they live in Alabama’s beautiful forests!
When Are Squirrels a Problem?
You have a squirrel infestation on your hands when there is more than one of them living on your property together, showing signs of their presence by causing problems. They make spaces smell, appear unsanitary, and look cluttered—not to mention the significant damage from chewing and scratching, as well as the disruptive noise. Squirrels can also carry diseases or transmit disease-carrying pathogens to humans.
Still, squirrels can be handled with humane methods. When you reach out to us for help with a squirrel problem on your property, we’ll be glad to discuss which of Vulcan Termite and Pest Control’s solutions will work best for your family’s safety needs.
Our team has provided custom-tailored small rodent control for the Birmingham area and surrounding communities for over 40 years. Please contact us today to schedule a service appointment!