If you live in Edmonton, you know the sound. It’s 6 a.m., something is scrabbling across the ceiling like it’s wearing tiny work boots, and you’re lying there wondering how a squirrel got into your attic in the first place. Maybe it’s a chewed soffit, a scratched-up roof vent, or a suspiciously worn patch of dirt under the back deck. Whatever it is, you want it gone, humanely, and you want it to stay gone.
That’s exactly what we do. Here’s how humane squirrel removal in Edmonton actually works, what it costs, and why trapping the squirrel is only half the job. First, though, someone wants to say hi.
Meet Matthew, our wildlife lead
That’s Matthew, and yes, that’s a red squirrel using his hat as a lookout tower. Matthew now leads wildlife removal at All About Pests, which means squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and the occasional very confident chipmunk are officially his department. (Travis, our Bird Barrier certified specialist, keeps his focus on the bird control side of things.)
Matthew’s whole approach is humane and permanent: get the animal out safely, then seal the property so the next one can’t move in. He likes squirrels. He just prefers they live in trees, not your attic.
Which squirrel is actually in your attic?
Edmonton has a few regular culprits, and knowing which one you’re dealing with changes the plan:
- American red squirrel: small, rusty-red, and loud. These are the most common attic invaders in the city. They’re territorial, they cache food (including in your insulation), and they chew constantly.
- Eastern grey squirrel (and the black ones): the larger grey and jet-black squirrels you see in mature neighbourhoods like Glenora, Old Strathcona, and along the river valley. They’re strong climbers and comfortable around people.
- Richardson’s ground squirrels (“gophers”): more of an acreage and prairie-edge problem. They burrow under decks, sheds, and foundations rather than climbing into attics.
If you’re hearing daytime scratching in the ceiling or walls, it’s almost always a tree squirrel. If the damage is at ground level, with holes and tunnels under a deck or shed, you’re likely dealing with a ground-denning animal.
Signs you have a squirrel problem
Most Edmonton homeowners notice one or two of these before they call. Usually there are more:
- Scratching, scampering, or rolling sounds in the ceiling or walls, especially at dawn and dusk
- Chewed soffits, fascia, roof vents, or gable vents
- Torn or shredded attic insulation packed into corners
- Droppings or a musky smell in the attic
- Chew marks on wiring (a real fire risk, since squirrels gnaw to keep their teeth filed down)
- A worn dirt path, hole, or tunnel under the deck, shed, or steps
- Squirrels repeatedly running the same route along a fence, branch, or power line to your roof
Why squirrels get in, and why timing matters in Edmonton
Squirrels aren’t being difficult. Your attic is a warm, dry, predator-free box with soft insulation, basically a five-star den. Two times of year drive most of our calls:
Late summer and fall (August to October): squirrels look for a warm place to spend an Edmonton winter. This is peak “something’s in my attic” season, and the earlier you deal with it, the less nesting and chewing damage you’re left with.
Spring (March to May): females look for a safe, quiet spot to have a litter, and red squirrels can have two litters a year. Removing a female before she nests is far simpler than dealing with a mother and babies later, which requires extra care and patience to do humanely.
Under-deck denning tends to ramp up in spring and summer, when ground squirrels and even skunks go looking for a sheltered spot to raise young.
Why DIY trapping almost never solves it
Renting a live trap feels like the obvious move. The problem is that trapping without proofing is a revolving door. Edmonton’s tree squirrels are territorial and tied to their range. Remove one and, if the entry point is still open, a new squirrel simply claims the empty attic within days or weeks. You end up trapping the same problem over and over.
There’s also the humane side. A squirrel relocated far from its territory in the wrong season often doesn’t survive, and a nursing mother trapped and moved without her young leaves babies behind in your attic. Doing this properly means understanding the animal’s behaviour and timing, not just setting a cage and hoping.
The fix that lasts is always the same two-part job: remove the animals, then seal the building so it can’t happen again.
How our humane trap-and-release works
Matthew’s process is built to be safe for the animal and permanent for your home:
- Inspection. We find every entry point and figure out what you’ve got and how many. Our thermal imaging and inspection cameras help spot activity inside walls, soffits, and attic voids so nothing gets missed.
- Humane removal. Depending on the situation, we use live traps or one-way exclusion doors that let squirrels leave on their own but not get back in. Where there’s a chance of a litter, we check for and remove young by hand so no animal is sealed inside.
- Release or exclusion. Animals are handled and released humanely, in line with responsible wildlife practice.
- Proofing. Once the property is clear, we seal it, the part that actually keeps squirrels out for good.
The real fix: wildlife-proofing (exclusion)
This is where a squirrel job becomes a permanent solution. Once everyone’s out, we close the openings squirrels use, from soffit and vent gaps to roofline corners and ground-level access under decks and sheds, with heavy-gauge steel mesh and exclusion materials squirrels can’t chew through.
Here’s a recent under-deck job. Squirrels and other wildlife were denning in the sheltered space beneath this deck, so we ran a galvanized steel mesh screen along the entire base and anchored it down into the soil, an “L-footer” that stops animals from digging under. It’s tidy, it’s barely visible from standing height, and nothing’s getting back under that deck. That’s the difference between removing a squirrel and solving a squirrel problem.
What squirrel removal costs in Edmonton
Every home is different, so we quote after we see the entry points, but here’s the honest range so you’re not guessing:
Squirrel removal in Edmonton starts at $599, with most trap-and-release jobs landing between $599 and $1,000. The final number depends on how many animals there are, where and how they’re getting in, and how much access the job takes.
Wildlife-proofing (exclusion) is quoted separately, because it depends entirely on your home. A single chewed roof vent is a quick seal, while running mesh along an entire deck or multiple rooflines is a bigger job. Once we’ve inspected, you’ll get one clear quote covering removal and the proofing needed to keep them out. Every job is backed by our “We’ve Got You” Guarantee.
What you can do this week
A few things make your home a lot less inviting while you wait for us:
- Trim tree branches back at least 2 to 3 metres from the roofline, since they’re squirrel highways
- Cap or screen chimneys and check that roof and gable vents are intact
- Clear fallen seed from bird feeders and secure garbage and compost bins
- Store pet food and birdseed in sealed containers, not open bags in the garage
- Look under your deck and shed for fresh holes or worn dirt paths
Get a free quote today
If something’s living in your attic or under your deck, the sooner it’s handled the less damage and mess you’re left with. As Edmonton’s highest-rated pest control Edmonton team, with 5.0 stars across 128 Google reviews, we’ll get the animals out humanely and seal the place up so they stay out.
Call (780) 306-7704 or request a free quote online. Matthew and the team cover Edmonton and surrounding communities, and same-day service is often available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does squirrel removal cost in Edmonton?
Squirrel removal starts at $799, and most trap-and-release jobs land between $799 and $2500 depending on the number of animals and how they’re getting in. Wildlife-proofing to keep them out is quoted separately after we inspect the entry points. You’ll get one clear quote before any work begins.
Do you remove squirrels humanely?
Yes. We use live traps and one-way exclusion doors, check for and hand-remove any young so nothing is sealed inside, and handle and release animals responsibly. Our whole approach is built around getting squirrels out safely, then keeping them out.
Can’t I just trap the squirrel myself?
You can trap one, but if the entry point is still open, another squirrel usually moves into the empty attic within days. The lasting fix is removal plus proofing, sealing the openings so no new animal can get in. That’s the part most DIY attempts miss.
There’s a squirrel in my attic. How fast can you come?
Squirrels chew wiring and nest quickly, so we prioritize active attic and wall problems and same-day service is often available. Call (780) 306-7704 to check availability in your area.
How do you stop squirrels from coming back?
After removal, we seal every entry point, from soffit and vent gaps to roofline corners and ground-level access under decks and sheds, using heavy-gauge steel mesh and exclusion materials squirrels can’t chew through. This wildlife-proofing is what turns a one-time removal into a permanent fix.
What time of year are squirrels worst in Edmonton?
Fall (August to October), when they look for a warm place to overwinter, and spring (March to May), when females nest to have young. Acting early in either season means less damage and a simpler, more humane removal.
All About Pests – No Pest Left Behind
