We don't have them in Hawaii, but we can get birds or rats if vents and such are not properly maintained.

He looks like he is just trying to talk with you - the gigantic human that is on his roof!

Randy

I do encounter more rat, mouse,  and bird activities in homes than squirrels. The rats just don't stand still long enough to pose for the camera. :)

Great pic Harold!

Here is a picture of some birds in an attic.  They didn't get scared at all when I looked in the attic.  Though I didn't fully enter the attic just to make sure not to get them riled up... I can just imagine it: I get to close to them, they start fluttering around randomly and I lose my balance on the trusses and do a nose dive through the ceiling and to the room below.  No thanks.

Also, can you imagine the health hazards of having bird droppings in your insulation?  Yuck.

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Of all the creatures you can have in your house, minus termites, squirels can do the most damage.  I have seen some totally messed up insualtion, eaves, ceilings, rafters.  

Wow Bill, you REALLY wanted to comment on the topic.  But were 6 posts really necessary?  Just, kidding, I'm sure it was just some type of glitch.

Bill in your opinion , whould you say

squirels can do the most damage.

Bob, I would say unqualified contractors can do the most damage.

Brilliant...standing on an aluminum ladder, in the water, with a power tool.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzap!

Having spent 12 years as a "Nuisance Wildlife Trapper" I have experienced that kind of ANGRY squirrel first hand. I have had a mother squirrel actually chase me down my 40 foot ladder. Talk about scared? You all know how precarious it is standing on that 40 foot ladder to begin with, but then to be chased down by a vicious wild animal, with tools and tool belt. OMG, it was all I could do to keep myself from ending up splattered on the ground. I have a respect for squirrels, raccoons and other wildlife that many people will never have.

One day soon i will dig out some of my pictures from those days.  I have so many examples of home damage caused by animals. 

Everybody please be careful, and if you see an animal in or around a structure, give him plenty of room!

Jamie, great story and good advice.

Sorry Bob, I missed your question for a couple of days.   Actually, I think bats can do significant damage.  Squirells get to rough housing in the insulation and it is not a pretty sight.  If I can find the photo, Ill post it. 

The worst damage I have ever seen caused by an animal was a racoon that had gotten into my uncle's attic when I was a kid.  Not only did it do some serious damage, we had a hell of a time getting him out of there.  Because he was in the home, and we are talking 25 years ago, as well as being on a farm, the local "dog catcher" wouldn't do anything.  We finally had to kill it to get rid of it.  (21) .22 caliber slugs, (2) 12ga shells with #2 shot, and a .38 caliber slug to kill it.  There was scat and urine all over the attic, rotting garbage it had brought up to eat and shiny junk that I guess it decided to hoard.

Ooh that reminds me....a few months ago I crawled under a house where a racoon had died. At first I arrived at the home and the agent was standing outside. The buyer had not arrived yet, and she explained to me that something must have died under the home. She could not find anything inside the vacant home.

I walked in to the house and oh my god.....I knew that if I was going to inspect the home. We were going to have to ventilate with every window. Then I started the inspection on the exterior. After about 45 minutes it was bearable to enter the home.

I naturally saved the crawl space for last.....fortunately I wear a respirator, that does a pretty good job of sealing out the odors. I found the critter, identified where it was at, completed the inspection, and told the buyer that removal was well beyond the scope of the inspection. I was glad they did not even ask....I don't think I could have done so without losing my cookies, and everything else. ....yes, that is my weakness. ..............Like superman and cryptonite.  Ughhhh!

Kenneth, there must have been a lot of holes to patch in the ceiling afterwards ;-)

Now guys, you wouldn't let a little bat or squirrel frighten you. Would you? the big bad Inspector. I walked up to a house one time and the termite inspector warned me of a snake under the house. What would you do in this situation? Open for comments.....

Carl, Thank the termite guy. Have him tell you where it is at.  Hopefully its out of the way.  Usually they will stay away from you.  Just in case, carry a club. (a nine iron works)

Nice picture, Carl. I'm surprised that the squirrel would stay still enough for you to take its picture.

Joseph: Great picture with the ladder in the water. This should be in the study material indicating the Do's and Do Not when an inspector is going through his training.

Shocking! Would a plastic ladder be better? A portable air horn scares most critters off! Good tip about bird blocks.

Here's a attic bird's nest for y'all.

Kentucky Home Inspectors attic bird nest!

God created attics for homeless critters...  :-)

Home Inspector Chicago Suburbs

Recently I ran up on a family of bats.  They were located on the outside of the home and I told the buyer that she could either let them stay and not have insects or call someone to get rid of the bats.  If my wife could've figured out how to bring them home.  She would have, she hates insects worse!  Great Pictures!

Man oh Man, That is one scary looking squirrel.

Nice Pics!!! 

You should take a look at my blog "The Future Of Real Estate" Let me know if you have any questions. Thank You!!