Squirrels

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the primary attic-entering species across Central Florida. Adults breed twice yearly (late winter and mid-summer), so attic activity peaks in February-March and July-August when litters are present. Squirrels can chew through standard fascia, wooden soffits, and roof edge flashing; they enter through gaps as small as 1.5 inches. Their incisors grow continuously, which is why they gnaw electrical wiring — the leading cause of unexplained attic electrical fires in residential structures. Florida law allows squirrel removal but prohibits relocation more than the standard distance from capture (release-in-place under FWC guidelines is preferred). Dr. Critter's squirrel-removal protocol locates and removes any nesting kits, installs one-way exclusion devices for adults, repairs chewed wiring or insulation, and seals all entry points with copper mesh and matched flashing.

Dr. Critter has worked as a nuisance wildlife control operator in Central Florida since 1996 and is listed with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission operator directory. Worth knowing, because most of this industry says otherwise: the FWC does not issue a trapper license, and no state license is required to remove nuisance wildlife from your home. What actually governs the work is rule, not paperwork. FWC rule 68A-9.010 decides what happens to an animal once it is caught alive: release on the property where it was trapped, transfer to a licensed facility, or humane euthanasia. Relocating it somewhere else is not on that list, whatever the operator tells you, and that rule binds every operator in Florida whether or not they are on any directory.