Home Squirrels in the attic
Squirrels · Oxford, Mississippi
Squirrels in the attic: what to do in Oxford, MS
Running and thumping overhead at sunrise, chewed wood at the roofline, a squirrel slipping under the eaves. Here is how to confirm it is squirrels, why timing matters, and how the roof gets sealed so they stay out.
- Daytime noise = squirrels
- Babies Jan to Mar, Jun to Aug
- One-way doors, then seal
- Never seal over young
Not sure it is squirrels? Compare squirrels and rats.
Start here
How do you get squirrels out of the attic?
Confirm it is squirrels first: gray and fox squirrels are active by day, so noise at dawn and during the day points to them, while night noise points to rats, mice or flying squirrels. Check the timing. In Mississippi, squirrels have young from January to March and again from June to August, averaging three per litter, according to Mississippi State University Extension. Never seal a hole while young are inside, because the mother will chew back in. The method that works is a one-way door on the main entry so the squirrels can leave but not return, metal over every other gap, and limbs trimmed back from the roof. Then the main hole is sealed once the attic is empty. Squirrels are game animals in Mississippi, so trapping and removal follow state wildlife rules.
Squirrel or rat?
Squirrel or rat? How to tell what is in your attic
Squirrel sizes from Mississippi State University Extension; rat weights from University of California IPM.
| Feature | Gray squirrel | Fox squirrel | Flying squirrel | Roof rat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 8 to 10 inch body, just over 1 lb | 10 to 15 inch body, 1.5 to 2.5 lb | Small and dark, big eyes | 5 to 10 ounces |
| Active | Day, especially morning | Day | Night | Night |
| Sounds | Running, thumping, chattering | Heavier running | Soft landings, scurrying, groups | Scurrying, gnawing, rolling |
| Tail | Bushy | Bushy | Flat and furred | Bare and scaly |
| Entry | Chewed holes at eaves and vents | Chewed holes at eaves | Small gaps at vents and ridges | Gaps about 1/2 inch |
| Who handles it | Wildlife rules apply | Wildlife rules apply | Wildlife rules apply | Our core work |
Still unsure? Our attic noises guide breaks it down sound by sound, and the identification guide covers droppings.
Signs
Signs of squirrels in the attic
Squirrels leave bigger, more obvious signs than rats.
Morning noise
Running and thumping overhead soon after sunrise, and again late in the afternoon, when squirrels leave and come back.
Chewed roofline
Fresh, light-colored chew marks at the eaves, soffit corners, gable vents and fascia boards. Holes are often round, a few inches across.
Limbs on the roof
Branches touching or hanging over the roof are the usual highway. Oxford’s mature oaks and pecans make this common.
Seen on the roof
A squirrel slipping in or out under the eaves at the same spot. Watch for 20 minutes at sunrise.
Nest material
Leaves, twigs and shredded insulation pushed into one corner of the attic, often near the entry.
Chewed wiring
Squirrels gnaw like every rodent. Chewed wiring in the attic is a fire risk and needs a look.
Timing matters
When squirrels have babies in Mississippi, and why it matters
Both gray and fox squirrels breed twice a year in Mississippi, averaging three young per litter.
January to March
Winter litters. Young are in the nest and cannot leave on their own. Do not seal; plan around them.
April to May
Young are moving and leaving the nest. A good window for one-way doors and sealing.
June to August
Summer litters, usually the larger breeding season. Check for young before any exclusion.
September to December
Young are grown. Another good window, before winter breeding starts again.
Mississippi State University Extension warns against sealing out a mother while nursing young are inside: she will chew through the structure to get back to them. Timing matters, so check the prevention calendar.
The method
How squirrels get sealed out of an attic
Exclusion first. It is the method extension specialists recommend.
| Step | What happens | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inspect | Walk the whole roofline and attic; find every hole and the main entry | Squirrels often have more than one way in |
| 2. Check for young | Look and listen for a nest with young, especially January to March and June to August | Sealing over young causes more damage |
| 3. One-way door | Mount a one-way door over the main entry | Squirrels leave to feed and cannot get back in |
| 4. Seal the rest | Close every other gap with metal flashing, hardware cloth or metal vent covers | Squirrels chew through wood, plastic and foam |
| 5. Trim limbs | Cut branches back from the roof | Takes away the easy route back up |
| 6. Close the main hole | Once the attic is quiet, remove the door and seal the entry with metal | Finishes the job |
| 7. Clean up | Remove nest material and soiled insulation | Removes odor that draws the next squirrel |
Why trapping alone fails: Mississippi State University Extension notes that trapped squirrels released nearby come back, and traps only work alongside exclusion. Sealing is what keeps them out.
Squirrels or rats?
Hearing something in the attic?
Call or send the form. Tell us when you hear it and where, and we will tell you on the phone whether it sounds like squirrels or rats, and what we can do about it.
Mississippi rules
Squirrels and Mississippi wildlife rules: what we do
Squirrels are rodents, but in Mississippi they come with wildlife rules.
Gray and fox squirrels are game animals in Mississippi, with hunting seasons set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. That puts trapping and removal under state wildlife rules, unlike rats and mice.
The department does not remove nuisance wildlife itself, but it can point you to wildlife trappers who serve your area, and USDA Wildlife Services can advise too.
Rats and mice are our core work. If your noise sounds like squirrels, we will tell you straight on the phone what we can help with and who to call for the rest.
- We inspect the roofline and attic and find every entry point
- We tell you whether the signs point to squirrels or rodents
- We seal gaps with metal once the animals are out
- We never seal over an active nest with young
- If live removal is needed, we tell you who to call
- Price in writing before any work starts
Request a callback
Tell us what you’re hearing
Prefer not to call right now? Send this instead and we call you back. No mailing list, no door knockers, no door-to-door sales.
Straight answers
Squirrel questions
How do I know if it is squirrels or rats in my attic?
Timing. Gray and fox squirrels are active by day, so noise at sunrise and during the day points to squirrels. Noise at night points to rats, mice or flying squirrels. Squirrels also leave larger chewed holes at the roofline.
When do squirrels have babies in Mississippi?
Twice a year: January to March and June to August, averaging three young per litter, according to Mississippi State University Extension. Adult females often have two litters a year.
Can I just seal the hole while the squirrels are out?
Only if you are sure no young are inside. Sealing a mother away from nursing young leads her to chew back in, often making a bigger hole. A one-way door is safer than guessing.
Do one-way doors work for squirrels?
Yes, when every other gap is sealed first. Squirrels leave through the door to feed and cannot get back in. Then the main hole is sealed.
Can I trap and relocate squirrels myself?
Squirrels are game animals in Mississippi, so trapping and relocation fall under state wildlife rules. Check with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks before trapping. Released squirrels also tend to come back.
Are flying squirrels common in Oxford attics?
They are common in Mississippi and are the one squirrel active at night, so they get mistaken for rats. They are social and can nest in groups, and they fit through small gaps at vents and ridges.
Will homeowners insurance cover squirrel damage?
Usually not, since most policies treat animal damage as a maintenance issue. A fire caused by chewed wiring may be covered. Check your own policy.
Keep reading
Related rodent help for Oxford homes
Sources
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Rodent Control Oxford team. Biology and control standards follow Mississippi State University Extension and the CDC. Price ranges are labeled benchmarks; your price comes in writing after we inspect.
- Mississippi State University Extension, Ecology and Management of Squirrels in Mississippi
- Mississippi State University Extension, Flying squirrels require extra efforts to eliminate
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Rabbit and Squirrel Damage Management
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Small game seasons (Rule 41)
- UC IPM, Rats Pest Notes
- Policygenius, Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Rat Damage
Oxford & Lafayette County
Hearing it again tonight?
One call gets your inspection scheduled. Tell us what you heard and where. We seal first, trap second, and the six things in writing come standard.
Serving Oxford 38655, University 38677, Taylor 38673, Abbeville 38601, Paris 38949 and the rest of Lafayette County, Mississippi.
Rodent Control Oxford. Independent, rodent-only, local.