How Much Does Squirrel Removal Cost in 2025?
Professional squirrel removal costs an average of $300
Professional squirrel removal costs between $200 and $600, with most homeowners paying an average of $300.
The removal method, number of squirrels, and infestation site determine the total cost.
Additional factors that impact the overall cost include accessibility, cleanup, further pest removal, and remedial work.
For $100 to $150, you can hire a professional to inspect your home for squirrel infestations.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Professional squirrel removal costs $300 on average, with most homeowners paying between $250 and $450. If squirrels have made themselves at home in your attic or walls, call a local pest removal service immediately. Dealing with a squirrel infestation can be frustrating, but hiring a pest removal pro ensures these pests are safely removed from your property and prevents further damage to your home.
Squirrel Removal Cost Factors
Several factors affect the cost of squirrel removal, including their location and accessibility, cleanup, and remedial work.
Location and Accessibility
Where the squirrels are and how difficult the area is to access largely impact the removal price. Inaccessible and dangerous-to-reach areas result in higher labor costs. The size of the area and the number of entryways that require sealing also influence the job's complexity and, therefore, the total price.
Additional Pest Control
When squirrels invade your home, they often bring other pests, like ticks and fleas, with them. Fleas breed rapidly and can quickly infest your entire home. If squirrels have been in your house for a while, you might need to hire a local flea exterminator after the squirrels are removed. Sometimes, the squirrel removal company can handle flea and tick extermination as part of the same job.
If squirrels have made themselves at home in your house, it’s possible that other animals have as well. If so, you'll need to alter your budget to cover the price of additional pest removal services, like raccoon removal costs.
Squirrel Cleanup and Sanitizing
The extent of the mess caused by the squirrels affects the total cost, as cleanup is included in labor fees. Your squirrel removal technician will remove nesting materials, clean up droppings, and sanitize the area—the more extensive the cleanup, the higher the cost.
Remedial Work
Squirrels can cause significant damage to your home, including chewed wires, destroyed insulation, and damaged ductwork. If the insulation is minorly damaged, your wildlife removal expert might be able to restore it. However, extensive damage will require replacement. Repairing electrical wiring damaged by squirrels costs about $2 to $4 per square foot.
Squirrel Inspection
If you're unsure if squirrels are in your home, you can book a professional squirrel inspection for $100 to $150. Some companies waive this fee if squirrels are present and you use their services to remove the pests.
Squirrel Removal Cost by Method
When you hire a local pest control service, they'll offer a variety of methods to remove the squirrel(s). The method you choose impacts your final squirrel removal cost.
| Method of Removal | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Trap and release | $200–$500 |
| Snap traps | Up to $300 |
| One-way door | $200–$400 |
Trap and Release
Trapping and relocating a squirrel costs between $200 and $500. If you prefer to handle part of the process yourself, you can purchase a squirrel trap for around $50, set it up, and catch the squirrel. Then, hire a local animal removal service for $75 to $125 to safely remove and relocate it.
After the animal trapper successfully releases the squirrel(s), remember to seal entryways and repair damage before a new squirrel family moves in. The pest control service can likely recommend an easy DIY solution.
Traps
Having a pest removal service set up squirrel snap traps costs up to $300, depending on the amount of traps required. This price includes installing the traps and returning to relocate the squirrels.
Most professionals argue for the catch-and-release method of squirrel removals rather than traps. Not only is it humane, but the alternative—poisoning squirrels—puts pets, wildlife, and children at risk. Plus, if a poisoned squirrel dies in your home, it could be in an inaccessible area. You may have to pay the cost to demo the interior of your home, which ranges from $1,070 to $5,055.
Exclusion Door
Installing a one-way exclusion door costs between $200 and $400. Like trapping, this squirrel removal method also includes the price of relocation.
Instead of traditional squirrel traps, wildlife specialists install an exclusion door at the squirrels' main entry point and seal up any other likely secondary access points. When the squirrel tries to leave its nest, the exclusion door opens, allowing it to exit into the attached trap. But the door only swings one way, so once in the trap, the critter can't open the door and get back into your house.
Squirrel Removal Cost by Size of Infestation
The size of the infestation can have the largest impact on your squirrel removal cost, with extensive infestations costing over $600 to remove.
| Size of Infestation | Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| Single | $200–$300 |
| Small group | $300–$450 |
| Large nest | $450–$600 |
| Infestation | $600+ |
Squirrel Removal Cost by Infestation Site
Where squirrels have chosen to take up residence on your property directly impacts how much it costs to get rid of them. A single squirrel in an easy-to-access location costs less than removing a significant infestation of squirrels from a challenging area such as an attic.
| Location of Infestation | Removal Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Garage or shed | $300–$600 |
| Basement | $225–$325 |
| Chimney | $210–$400 |
| Attic | $280–$920 |
| Ceiling | $775–$1,550 |
Garage or Shed
Removing squirrels from a garage or shed costs $300 to $600 and is often a straightforward case of trap and relocation. If you use these locations regularly, the squirrels are likely to be beneath them because they like quiet, dark places that are largely undisturbed. However, if you don't access them often other than store yard tools, the squirrels may nest inside.
If squirrels get into the garage, they can damage the drywall, your vehicle, and personal belongings. You may have to pay for drywall repair costs, which range from $300 to $900, and the cost to replace your items. Hiring a pest removal pro to install an exclusion door and relocate the squirrel as soon as possible helps limit damage and risk.
Basement
Removing a squirrel from the basement is often straightforward, costing between $225 and $325. Squirrels invading your basement is a common problem if it’s warm, dark, and rarely used. Basement entry points are simple to spot and seal, and traps are easy to maneuver and setup.
Basements are a common shelter for various rodents, especially in the winter. If several rodents are living in your basement, you'll pay between $175 and $615 for additional rodent removal costs.
Chimney
Squirrel removal from the chimney costs between $210 and $400. Squirrels nesting in the chimney might seem harmless in the summer months, but they block up the chimney and make it unusable in the winter. You'll need to hire a local chimney service to clear the blockage and fix any damage.
If your chimney is metal or clay-lined, the squirrel will likely get stuck and require a wildlife removal service to rescue and relocate it. It's best to take care of the nest before it gets to these more complex stages.
Attic
Removing squirrels from the attic costs $280 to $920. If they enter the attic, squirrels pose a significant health and sanitation risk. They can also cause significant damage to the property by destroying wiring and insulation and eating through water pipes and roof joists, resulting in costly repairs.
Exclusion doors and traps are the best options when you have squirrels inside your home. Find a pest control company near you to search for and seal up any potential entry points, then place the exclusion door at the most likely squirrel entrance.
Ceiling
If you have squirrels in the ceiling, removal costs range from $775 to $1,150. Because pros have a larger area to cover, the removal cost is higher than in other locations. If squirrels are scurrying through your ceilings, they're most likely in your attic, too, resulting in more surface area your pros have to inspect.
If the squirrels have damaged your ceiling, you may also need to factor in repair costs, electrical rewiring costs, drywall costs, and the cost to repaint your ceiling.
DIY vs. Hiring a Squirrel Removal Pro
Hiring a professional for squirrel removal is the safest and most effective solution. Setting traps yourself may seem easy, but you may not find and seal all entry points or remove all the squirrels. The last thing you want is a trapped squirrel decomposing in your walls. Handling squirrels is also risky—they can transmit diseases like rabies through bites, and their droppings carry dangerous bacteria. As cute as they may seem, squirrels are wild animals and can become aggressive if threatened. By hiring a pro, you ensure the job is done safely and thoroughly and prevent significant damage to your electrical wiring, ductwork, and insulation.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
To keep squirrels away from your home, start by sealing entry points and eliminating potential food sources. Use squirrel-proof bird feeders and quickly remove fallen fruit from your yard. Planting strong-scented herbs like peppermint, garlic, and onions deters squirrels, as can spraying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and black pepper at potential entry points.
Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover squirrel damage or destruction from other vermin and pests such as rats, mice, foxes, and chipmunks. Damage from larger wildlife, however, like deer or bears, may be covered depending on your policy. To be sure, contact your provider to check your policy for all inclusions and exclusions.
Squirrels can fit through holes the size of a quarter, which is why it's hard to keep them out of your home. Inspect your house to check for potential entry points and seal them immediately with fine wire mesh. Hiring a local handyperson to check for and remedy these weak spots regularly is an effective and relatively inexpensive solution compared to repairing squirrel damage.
If you hear strange scratching or scurrying noises in your attic or notice foul-smelling droppings, you might have a squirrel problem. Assess your home for visual signs such as chewed entry points, gnawed wiring, or damaged insulation and ductwork. If you notice any of these signs or see more squirrels than usual around your home, schedule a professional squirrel inspection.
If you have a squirrel in your home, call a local animal control service immediately. While DIY traps are available, professionals know how to locate entry points and remove additional squirrels you might not be aware of. They also offer cleanup services and can recommend ways to seal holes and prevent future invasions. Act at the first sign of infestation to avoid damage to your electrical wiring, ductwork, and insulation–and to protect your family's health.
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