Squirrels are known for their habit of chewing on things, including the bark on trees. They usually chew on trees that have thin bark because it is easier to chew than thicker bark. Squirrels use bark in their nests. When bark is removed from trees, the cambium layer with sugars and nutrients is exposed. Squirrels often eat that layer when other food is scarce, particularly in the winter. Chewing on bark can also maintain the health of a squirrel’s teeth.
How a Squirrel’s Chewing Can Affect Trees
A tree can survive if a squirrel chews off a relatively small patch of bark, but if too much is removed the tree can die. If a squirrel chews the bark off a tree in the summer, insects and fungi can damage the tree. If all of the bark is removed from a limb, the limb needs to be cut off before it dies and falls. A dead tree limb can cause property damage or injuries to people.
What to Do If Squirrels Are Chewing Your Trees
If squirrels in your yard have been chewing the bark off your trees, there are some steps you can take to save your trees. You can wrap pieces of flashing at least 2 feet wide around the trunks of the trees with the top at least 5 feet above the ground. This will not work if the squirrels can jump from another tree or structure to a tree.
When to Have Squirrels Removed
If putting flashing around tree trunks does not work, or if the trees are too close to your house and squirrels can easily jump onto them, you will need to try another strategy. You can have the squirrels in your yard trapped and relocated. You should not try to do this yourself because you could be bitten or scratched.
Call Anderson Wildlife Control. We will trap the squirrels in your yard and relocate them to another place to prevent further damage to your trees. We use environmentally friendly methods and never harm any of the animals we capture. Call Anderson Wildlife Control today to get an estimate for squirrel removal in Connecticut.
