Squirrel removal in Lakeland, FL
Squirrel removal in Lakeland tends to start with a scratching sound at 7 a.m. and a gnawed corner on the roof. We get the squirrels out without poison, then close every hole they opened.
- No poison, ever
- Full roof line inspection
- Chewed wood and vents rebuilt
Stop the morning scratching
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing. We will get back to you, set up a visit and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
- Firm quote before any work starts
- Call, text or email, your pick
- Licensed and insured in Florida
Quick answer. Critter Guys provides squirrel removal in Lakeland, FL for attics, soffits and roof lines. We inspect the whole roof, seal secondary holes, mount a one-way door or set live traps on the main entry, confirm the attic is empty, then repair the chewed wood and vents. Call or text (321) 203-6963 and we’ll set up a time.
How to tell squirrels are the ones upstairs
Gray squirrels give themselves away with a schedule and a few telltale marks.
Noise on a daytime clock
Activity right after sunrise and again late in the afternoon, quiet overnight. Rats and raccoons run the opposite shift.
Rolling or tapping sounds
Squirrels stash acorns and seeds in the attic, and you can hear them being moved around.
A round hole with smooth gnaw marks
Look at the soffit corners, gable vents and roof returns for a hole about the size of a tennis ball.
Wood shavings on the driveway
Fresh chips under the eaves mean someone is working on your fascia right now.
A squirrel staring at you from the gutter
Seeing one run straight into the roof line is about as clear as it gets.
Where squirrels get into Lakeland houses
Lakeland’s housing ranges from 1920s bungalows to new block homes, and squirrels use different weak points on each.
| Older frame bungalow | Newer block and stucco home |
|---|---|
| Soft wood fascia and rafter tails | Vinyl or aluminum soffit pulled loose |
| Gable vents with worn screen | Plastic box vents and ridge vents |
| Gaps at porch roof tie-ins | Roof returns over the garage |
| Open eaves with no soffit at all | Gaps where the AC line enters |
From recent jobs
Old oaks and squirrel pressure in Lakeland
Lakeland’s older neighborhoods are shaded by big live and laurel oaks. Around Lake Morton, Lake Hollingsworth and the Florida Southern College campus, and through Dixieland and Beacon Hill, branches often stretch over the rooflines. A squirrel can go from an acorn in the yard to your gable vent without touching the ground.
Further south toward Lakeland Highlands and the Polk Parkway, subdivisions built in the last few decades have trees that are finally tall enough to reach the roof. That’s often when the first squirrel call comes in. For other animals around town, our Lakeland wildlife removal page covers the full picture.
Lakeland at a glance
- Polk County
- Mature oaks near Lake Morton
- South Lake Morton historic bungalows
- Newer subdivisions toward the Highlands
Why squirrel removal comes before any patching
The most common do-it-yourself mistake is nailing a board or a piece of hardware cloth over the hole while squirrels are still inside. They either chew a new hole a foot away, or a nursing mother gets locked out and her young die in the attic. That creates an odor problem and sometimes a second job.
Gray squirrels in Florida raise young in spring and again in late summer, so we always check for a nest first and time the work around it. Poison is off the table for us. It leaves animals dying in walls and puts pets and other wildlife at risk.
- Check for nests before anything gets sealed
- Close every secondary hole first
- One-way door or live trap on the main entry
- Seal only after the attic goes quiet
Lakeland neighbors on getting squirrels out
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
Called Critter Guys through a recommendation from my sister in Lakeland after we saw a squirrel peaking out from a hole above the garage at my mother’s home in Riverview. My sister had the same issue at her Lakeland home. We got an appointment for the Riverview house right away and Craig came out to do an assessment and estimate. The price was reasonable and Craig was very professional and friendly. He quickly assessed the issue and found 4 holes in the roof. He set up traps and came back a few days later. During that waiting time one of the traps in the attic caught a mouse. So, when he came back, he sealed off 3 of the holes and set up a one-way trap in the 4th hole to draw out any remaining critters. He’ll come back in 2 weeks to close off the remaining hole. He also gave us a 30 day warranty if anything else happens. So far we haven’t seen or heard anything else. I’m very happy with the service received and would highly recommend this company.
Pramela IttoopGoogle review
★★★★★
I can’t recommend this company enough! Josh was absolutely amazing and went above and beyond from start to finish. As a property manager, I work with a lot of vendors, and it’s not often that someone stands out the way he did. …
Andrea GutierrezGoogle review
★★★★★
Kevin was amazing quick and accurate, really appreciate great local ppl who help out had a non active nest over my garage made a big hole in my soffit …
Maria CioccaGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
Our Lakeland squirrel job, step by step
A typical squirrel job here runs in four parts.
Full roof line inspection
We look at every soffit, vent, roof return and plumbing boot, and we check the attic for nests, stored food and chewed wiring.
Funnel them to one exit
Extra openings are sealed so the main hole is the only way in or out. That hole gets a one-way door or a live trap, set under FWC rules.
Confirm the attic is empty
We watch for activity before anything is closed for good, so no squirrel or litter gets sealed inside.
Repair and reinforce
Chewed wood is replaced and the opening is closed with metal squirrels can’t gnaw through. If you want the rest of the house checked, our exclusion work for Lakeland homes covers it.
Small steps that help after we leave
Once the squirrels are out, a few habits make your roof less tempting.
- Trim oak limbs back so they don’t touch the roof
- Move bird feeders away from the house
- Pick up fallen fruit from backyard citrus
- Watch the soffit corners after big storms
- Call early if you hear scratching again
Other Lakeland wildlife services
Squirrel removal around Lakeland
Questions about squirrel removal in Lakeland
Have a question that isn’t here? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and we’ll help.
What’s the cost of squirrel removal in Lakeland?
We quote after an inspection, since the price depends on how many holes there are, how much wood was chewed and whether there’s a nest inside. A single fresh hole costs less to fix than a roof line squirrels have been working on for months. That’s the main reason we tell people to call early.
Is it a problem to leave squirrels in my Lakeland attic for a while?
Yes, because the damage adds up. Squirrels chew wiring, tear up insulation and keep widening their holes, and they leave droppings and urine behind. If they have been up there a while, we check the wiring and point out anything an electrician should look at.
How long does it take to get squirrels out of a Lakeland attic?
Most jobs take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how many squirrels there are and whether young are present. The one-way door stays up until there’s no more activity. We don’t seal the main hole until we’re sure the attic is clear.
Why do squirrels pick my house over the neighbor’s?
Usually it’s access and an easy opening. An oak limb over your roof, a soft corner of fascia or a vent with a thin screen makes your house the easiest choice on the street. Fixing those points is what keeps them from coming back.
Will a squirrel chew through the metal you use?
No. We seal openings with heavy-gauge metal and hardware cloth that squirrels can’t gnaw through, rather than foam or thin screen. Wood that was chewed gets replaced instead of being covered over.
Can you also handle rats if they’re up there too?
Yes. Lakeland attics sometimes have both, since roof rats use the same oak limbs and gaps. Our rat removal in Lakeland runs alongside squirrel work, and the inspection covers both.
Hear scurrying at sunrise? Let’s take a look
Text or call (321) 203-6963 and we’ll come check the roof line. Critter Guys follows the same methods as our squirrel removal in Orlando, and we also serve towns nearby like Brandon.