Overhanging limbs give squirrels and roof rats a bridge to the roof, where they enter at soffits, vents, fascia gaps and roof edges. In Atlanta, where roughly 45 percent of the city is under tree canopy, this is a common route. Exclusion means sealing every entry point after the animals are out, and trimming limbs.
Key takeaways
- Squirrels and roof rats use tree limbs to reach roofs, so a limb that touches or overhangs the roof is a likely route to the attic.
- Autumn is when entry attempts rise: as nights cool, animals look for shelter, and Atlanta's heavy canopy gives them an easy path.
- Common entry points include soffit vents, fascia gaps, roof-edge returns, gable and ridge vents, and openings where wires and pipes enter.
- Exclusion works by finding every entry point, getting the animals out first and then sealing with materials they cannot chew, rather than just trapping.
- Trimming limbs back from the roof helps, but it is one step; the openings still need to be sealed.
Why do squirrels and roof rats reach Atlanta roofs so easily?
Atlanta is wooded. Trees Atlanta's 2023 report puts the city's canopy at 45.5 percent, and in-town streets often have mature oaks and pines with limbs over old roof lines. Squirrels and roof rats climb well, and a limb that touches or hangs near the roof gives them a direct bridge to soffits and attic vents.
A squirrel does not need a gap on the ground. It runs along a branch, drops onto the shingles and walks the roof edge looking for weak spots. Roof rats do the same and are especially good climbers. In a neighborhood where the canopy is continuous, animals can cross from tree to tree to a house without ever touching the ground, and a fence, a utility line or a wooden porch rail serves as a second route.
Older houses add to it. Many in-town houses from the early 1900s have deep eaves, wood soffits and fascia that have shifted over decades, and a small gap between a soffit board and the wall is often all an animal needs. Newer infill houses, with tight soffits and vinyl or aluminum trim, can still have gaps at vents and where roof lines meet. Wherever the roof is, the pattern is the same: the animals find the weak joint.
Our squirrel and roof rat exclusion page explains how a technician approaches the problem. This guide covers why it starts and what to look for.
Season matters too. Atlanta's mild winters mean the animals do not disappear, and the first run of cool autumn nights is when many start testing roof edges and soffits for a warm, dry place. The Atlanta pest calendar shows how this fits into the rest of the year.
How do you tell squirrels from roof rats?
Squirrels are active by day and make scratching and running sounds in the morning and afternoon. Roof rats are nocturnal and make scratching, gnawing or scurrying sounds at night. Droppings, gnaw marks and the time of the noises help a technician tell which animal is present, and the right plan depends on the answer.
Timing is the first clue. Noise in the attic at dawn or in the afternoon points to squirrels. Noise at night, particularly after dark in the first hours or just before dawn, is more typical of roof rats. You may have both, since the same entry point serves either animal.
Look at droppings and gnaw marks. Squirrel droppings are larger and more rounded, and roof rat droppings are smaller and spindle-shaped, though a technician is better placed to read what is in your attic. Gnaw marks on wood edges, chewed wiring and torn insulation are signs of either. Greasy rub marks along beams and pipes can indicate rats.
Roof rats are not the same as the Norway rats that tend to live along creek and rail corridors and behind restaurants. Roof rats prefer high places, and that is why they show up in attics and not just crawl spaces. For ground-level rodents, see rodent control.
Do not guess if wiring may be damaged. Chewed wires are a fire risk, and an electrician may need to look.
| Sign | Squirrels | Roof rats |
|---|---|---|
| Time of noise | Daytime, morning and afternoon | Night, after dark and before dawn |
| Sound | Running, scratching, thumping | Scurrying, gnawing, squeaking |
| Droppings | Larger, rounded | Smaller, spindle-shaped |
| Typical entry | Roof edge, soffit, vents, chimney | Soffit, vents, utility lines, roof returns |
| Nesting | Leaf and twig nests in attics or trees | Nests in insulation and stored items |
| Season of most calls | Spring and autumn | Autumn and winter as nights cool |
Where do they get in?
Common entry points are soffit vents with loose or missing screens, gaps between fascia and the roof deck, roof-edge returns, gable and ridge vents, and openings where wires, pipes and chimneys pass through. Animals chew to widen small gaps, so a hole that is only a little wide is still a problem.
A walk around the outside with binoculars shows more than you would expect. Look for torn or bent vent screens, rotted wood on the fascia, flashing that has pulled away and gaps where the roof meets a dormer or chimney. Check where utility lines and cable come into the house, and look at attached carports, porches and additions that may share an attic.
Inside, look for daylight in the attic around the eaves, nests in the insulation, stained or flattened insulation along runs and chewed wood at edges. Do not step between joists without knowing where to put your weight, and wear a mask and gloves, because droppings and insulation dust are a health concern.
Entry points that are easy to miss include a loose attic hatch, the top of a garage wall that meets the roof, and the corner where a porch roof joins the house. A technician uses a systematic checklist, so that one missed hole does not undo the job.
- Soffit and fascia: gaps, rot, loose boards and bent vent screens.
- Roof edge and returns: places where the shingles meet the trim or where a lower roof meets a wall.
- Gable, ridge and turbine vents: screens that are torn, missing or pushed in.
- Chimney: missing caps and gaps around flashing.
- Utility lines, pipes and AC lines where they enter the house.
- Attached porches, garages and additions that connect to the attic.
How does exclusion work?
Exclusion means finding every entry point, getting the animals out before closing the openings and then sealing with materials they cannot chew through, such as metal flashing, hardware cloth or steel mesh. Trapping alone does not fix it, because the opening stays and new animals use it. Timing matters, especially with young.
The order matters. If you seal an opening with an animal still inside, it will chew through, damage the house to get out, or die in the structure. A technician decides how to get animals out safely, often using a one-way door at the main entrance for a period, and only then seals the openings for good. If young animals might be in the nest, the technician needs to account for them, because separating a mother from her young creates a different problem.
Materials are the second point. Squirrels and rats chew foam, plastic, wood and thin sheet metal. Durable fixes use heavy-gauge metal, hardware cloth and steel mesh, fastened so they cannot be pried back. Spray foam alone is not a seal.
Cleanup and prevention are the third. Droppings and soiled insulation may need removal, and the crawl space and attic may need an inspection for damage. Trimming limbs back from the roof removes the bridge. Many arborists suggest leaving a gap between limbs and the roof, and the right clearance depends on the tree. Keep in mind that trimming is not a substitute for sealing; animals will find another path.
If you think you have a problem, call (855) 974-4733 and describe the sounds and the time of day. A technician can book a visit when one is free and explain the price before any work starts.
What should you do about the trees themselves?
Keep limbs trimmed back from the roof so there is a gap, ideally done by a qualified tree service because limbs near the roof and power lines are a hazard. Remove vines that climb the house, and keep fences, sheds and woodpiles from touching the walls. Trimming helps, but sealed openings do the real work.
Atlanta's canopy is part of what people value about living here, and nobody needs to cut trees down to keep animals out. The aim is a clear gap between branches and the roof, so animals cannot step across. Where a limb has to stay for the sake of the tree or the shade, a technician may talk about other barriers at the point of contact.
Vines such as ivy and climbing plants are an overlooked ladder. They can carry a roof rat from the ground to a soffit without a single branch involved, and they hold moisture against siding. Cut them back from the walls and keep them off the roof edge. The same goes for a wooden fence or a shed that sits against the house, since both create a second route.
Do not climb a ladder to trim limbs over a roof or near power lines yourself. Work on trees near the house is dangerous, and a tree service has the equipment to do it safely. Also check for bird feeders and pet food, since easy food draws rodents and gives squirrels a reason to stay close to the house.
What moves the price of exclusion work?
The price depends on the roofline's height and complexity, the number of entry points, the materials needed, how easy the attic is to reach and whether there is cleanup. A technician inspects and explains the price before any work starts. No honest quote can be given without seeing the roof and attic.
A single-story ranch with one gap at a gable vent is a small job. A two-and-a-half-story bungalow with deep eaves, a dormer and an attached porch roof is a bigger one, because there are more places to check and more height to work at. The number of animals to be excluded, whether insulation needs replacing and how much sealing is needed all change the total.
When you compare quotes, ask what is included. Does it cover finding every entry point, getting the animals out, sealing with durable materials and a follow-up check? Is cleanup included or separate? A quote that only covers trapping leaves the real problem in place.
Our guide on what lives in your Atlanta crawl space covers the ground-level side of the same problem, and the Atlanta pest calendar shows why autumn is when entry attempts tend to start.
Frequently asked questions
Why do squirrels get into Atlanta attics?
Limbs that touch or overhang a roof give squirrels a direct route to soffits, vents and roof edges. Once they find a gap, an attic is a warm, dry shelter. Tree cover across the city makes this common.
Is trimming tree limbs enough to keep squirrels out?
Trimming removes the bridge, which helps, but it does not close the opening. Animals can reach the roof by other routes, so the entry points still need to be sealed with durable materials.
What is the difference between a roof rat and a Norway rat?
Roof rats climb and favor attics and high places. Norway rats are heavier and tend to live at ground level, along creek and rail corridors and behind restaurants.
When do squirrels and roof rats move into attics?
Autumn is when attempts often rise, as nights cool. Squirrels may also nest in spring. Winter noises in the attic are common because animals stay for warmth.
Can I seal the hole myself?
Only once you are sure nothing is inside, and only with materials they cannot chew. Sealing with an animal inside can cause damage or leave it trapped, so ask a technician if you hear activity.
Sources
This guide is general information for Fulton County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.