Squirrel Removal in South Lake Tahoe — Humane, Sealed, and Guaranteed
We are Rodent Killer, a locally owned rodent control company serving South Lake Tahoe. We are licensed & certified, our technicians are background-checked, and we offer same-day visits when scheduling allows. Every job ends with exclusion backed by our 12-month exclusion warranty — removal without sealing is just a pause.
Sealing is the part that actually ends the problem — see how our rodent-proofing and exclusion in South Lake Tahoe works, from the free inspection to the 12-month warranty.
Still figuring out whether that daytime noise is a squirrel at all? Start with our page on a squirrel in the attic. This page covers the removal service itself: what we do, in what order, and what it costs.
Call (530) 203 0122 · Get Your Free Inspection
How Our Squirrel Removal Service Works
Step 1: Inspection — free, and thorough
We start in the attic: nests, droppings, gnaw damage, and signs of young. Then we inspect the roofline — eaves, soffits, vents, flashing, chimney junctions — to map every entry point and weak spot. We also confirm the species: Douglas squirrels (chickarees) and California ground squirrels are the usual Tahoe attic species.
Step 2: Humane removal
We remove squirrels alive. The main tools are:
- One-way exclusion doors — fitted over the active entry, these let squirrels leave to forage but not re-enter. Often the animal removes itself.
- Trapping, where appropriate — where a one-way door will not solve it, we trap humanely and remove the animals.
We never use loose poison — not indoors, and not for squirrels. Poison risks a squirrel dying in a wall void, and does nothing about the hole in your roofline.
Step 3: The babies-in-the-nest check
This step is non-negotiable. Sealing an entry while young are inside — or locking the mother out away from them — is cruel and creates a far worse problem. Before anything is sealed, we check the nest. If young are present, we stage the removal so the family gets out together, then seal once the attic is confirmed empty.
Step 4: Sealing the entry points
With the attic empty, we seal every entry point using materials squirrels cannot gnaw through — the standard on our rodent proofing and exclusion page. This sealing carries our 12-month exclusion warranty.
Step 5: Cleanup, if you want it
Squirrels leave droppings, nesting material, and damaged insulation. Our attic cleanup service can be added so the attic is left clean.
Signs You Need Squirrel Removal, Not Just Patience
- Daytime thumping, rolling, or scrabbling in the ceiling or attic
- A visible hole, gnawed gap, or lifted shingles at the eave or soffit
- Chewed wiring, shredded stored items, or damaged insulation in the attic
- A vacation home or rental where guests report morning noise overhead
Fall is peak season — as first snow arrives in October and November, squirrels push hard for winter shelter, and pressure stays high all winter. A home in Tahoe Keys, Sierra Tract, Bijou Pines, or Gardner Mountain sitting empty between guests gives a squirrel quiet days to settle in.
Prevention After Removal
Sealing is the foundation, but a few habits keep squirrels from testing your roofline again:
- Trim branches off the roofline — cut back pine limbs that touch or overhang the roof, removing the squirrel bridge.
- Cap the chimney — a proper cap keeps squirrels from investigating the flue and its flashing gaps.
- Keep vents screened — replace damaged attic and gable vent screens promptly.
- Do not feed them close to the house — feeders against the building keep squirrels working the roofline daily.
- Stay on a plan — protection plans at $49–59/mo keep watch through fall and winter, which matters most for second homes and STRs empty midweek.
Squirrel Removal FAQs
How much does squirrel removal cost?▾
Your inspection is free. Exclusion starts from $199, full service is $349, and plans run $49–59/mo. The exact price is confirmed after the inspection, before work begins.
Is your squirrel removal humane?▾
Yes. We use one-way exclusion doors and, where appropriate, humane trapping, and we check for young in the nest before sealing anything. We do not use loose poison for squirrels.
What if there are baby squirrels in the attic?▾
We check before sealing — always. If young are in the nest, we stage the removal so mother and young leave together, and seal only once the attic is confirmed empty.
What does the 12-month exclusion warranty cover?▾
It covers the exclusion work: if squirrels re-enter through entry points we sealed, we return and address it under the warranty terms.
How fast can you come out?▾
We offer same-day visits when scheduling allows, Mon–Sat 7 AM–7 PM. An active entry hole gets gnawed wider the longer it is used, so call in the morning for the best shot at a same-day visit.
Do squirrels count as rodent control?▾
Get the Squirrels Out — and Keep Them Out
Removal gets the animal out. Exclusion keeps the next one out. We do both, in the right order, with a 12-month warranty on the sealing.
Call (530) 203 0122 · Schedule Your Free Inspection
Rodent Killer · 1665 Apache Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 · (530) 203 0122