Table of Contents
- Key Points
- What Are Flying Squirrels?
- Why Flying Squirrels Love Your Attic
- The Problems Flying Squirrels Can Cause
- Signs You May Have a Flying Squirrel Infestation
- Why Flying Squirrel Removal Is Not a DIY Job
- Our Approach to Flying Squirrel Attic Removal
- Don’t Delay—Flying Squirrel Problems Only Get Worse
- References
Key Points
- Flying squirrel infestations are more common than many people realize.
- These are silent, nocturnal invaders that homeowners often do not discover until a colony is already well established and causing serious damage.
- Understanding the signs of flying squirrels, how to remove them, and how to keep them from coming back will ensure your home is free of these rodents.
If you have been lying awake at night hearing skittering, scratching, or soft thumping sounds coming from above your ceiling, you may not be imagining things. You just might have a flying squirrel problem.
Flying squirrels are far more common than most people realize. In fact, they can be found in the eastern United States, everywhere from Maine to Florida, and as far west as Minnesota and Texas.1 And, since they are entirely nocturnal, the vast majority of homeowners have never actually seen one, even when a whole colony is living just a few feet above their heads.
At Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal, we are the Upstate’s go-to experts for flying squirrel removal, and we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know.
What Are Flying Squirrels?
Despite their name, flying squirrels do not technically fly; they glide. Using a thin membrane of skin called a patagium that stretches between their front and back legs, these small nocturnal rodents can cruise surprisingly long distances from tree to tree—or from a tree right into your home.
There are more than 50 species of flying squirrel, but only two are commonly found in the southeastern United States: the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) and the Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus). In the Greenville area, the Southern Flying Squirrel is by far the more common. They’re small—typically just 8 to 10 inches long including the tail—with large, dark eyes adapted for night vision and soft, gray-brown fur.2
Why Flying Squirrels Love Your Attic
Attics are, from a flying squirrel’s perspective, the perfect home. They are warm, dry, dark, and protected from predators.
Flying squirrels are highly social animals and tend to live in colonies, which means that if you have one, you almost certainly have many. It is not unusual for a single attic to harbor a colony of 10, 20, or even more flying squirrels.
With their petite size, flying squirrels can easily access your homes through gaps in rooflines, loose soffits, deteriorating fascia boards, or any opening larger than a quarter. Once inside, they nest using insulation, stored items, and whatever soft materials they can find or chew through.
Because they are nocturnal, homeowners often do not realize they have an infestation until it is well established. By then, significant damage may already be done.
The Problems Flying Squirrels Can Cause
This is where the cute factor ends. Flying squirrels can cause serious, costly damage to your home, including:
- Chewed wiring: This is perhaps the most dangerous consequence. Flying squirrels gnaw on electrical wiring, which can create a legitimate fire hazard inside your walls and attic.
- Damaged insulation: Flying squirrels can flatten, shred, and soil insulation, dramatically reducing your home’s energy efficiency.
- Contaminated spaces: Urine and feces can accumulate over time, leading to unpleasant odors, structural staining, and potential health hazards. Flying squirrel droppings can carry pathogens, and their presence can attract parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites into your living space.3
- Structural damage: Flying squirrels can also chew on wood, drywall, and other building materials to wear down their constantly growing teeth.
The longer an infestation goes untreated, the more expensive the remediation becomes. If you suspect you have a problem, the time to act is now.
Signs You May Have a Flying Squirrel Infestation
Because flying squirrels are nocturnal, you are unlikely to spot one during the day. Instead, watch for these telltale signs:
- Nighttime noises: The most common complaint is hearing sounds at night—soft scratching, rolling (they are known to roll acorns and nuts across attic floors), and light thumping. Unlike regular gray squirrels, which are active during the day, flying squirrel activity peaks after dark, often between dusk and midnight.
- Droppings: Small, dark, pellet-shaped droppings in your attic are a clear sign of rodent activity. Flying squirrel droppings are similar in size to those of a mouse.
- Nesting materials: Piles of insulation, leaves, shredded paper, or fabric gathered into a nest are a strong indicator.
- Entry points: Look for gaps, gnaw marks, or dark grease stains around openings on your roofline, soffits, or gable vents. These staining marks come from the oils in their fur and accumulate over time at frequently used entry points.
- Odor: A persistent musty or ammonia-like smell coming from your attic may indicate a significant infestation.
If you are experiencing any of these signs, contact a pest control service immediately.
Why Flying Squirrel Removal Is Not a DIY Job
We understand the temptation to handle home problems on your own. But flying squirrel removal is genuinely one of those jobs best left to trained professionals. Here is why.
- Some species of flying squirrels are endangered and protected, meaning there are legal restrictions on how they can be trapped and relocated. Improper handling can result in fines and, more importantly, can leave you with an ongoing problem if not done correctly.4
- Effective removal is not just about catching the squirrels you can see. It requires a comprehensive inspection of your entire home to identify every possible entry point, a strategic exclusion plan, and proper sanitation of the affected areas afterward. Miss one entry hole, and the colony will simply re-enter.
- Finally, there is the issue of the colony dynamic. Flying squirrels communicate and return to established nesting sites. Without proper exclusion, new squirrels will move into the space vacated by the ones you have removed.
Our Approach to Flying Squirrel Attic Removal
At Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal, our flying squirrel attic removal process is thorough, humane, and built for long-term results. Here is what you can expect when you work with us:
- Comprehensive Inspection: Our experienced wildlife technicians conduct a full inspection of your home, inside and out. We identify active entry points, assess the extent of the infestation, and evaluate any damage that has occurred.
- Humane Exclusion and Trapping: We use humane live traps and one-way exclusion devices to remove the squirrels without causing unnecessary harm. Our methods comply with all applicable wildlife regulations.
- Sealing and Exclusion: Once the squirrels have been removed, we seal every identified entry point using professional-grade materials designed to withstand gnawing and weathering. This step is critical—without it, you will be dealing with the same problem again within a season.
- Attic Remediation: Depending on the severity of the infestation, we offer cleanup and sanitization services to address soiled insulation, droppings, and nesting materials. This protects your family’s health and restores your attic to a safe, functional condition.
- Follow-Up: We will schedule follow-up visits as needed to ensure the problem has been fully resolved and that no new activity is occurring.
Don’t Delay—Flying Squirrel Problems Only Get Worse
A flying squirrel infestation rarely resolves itself. Colonies grow, damage accumulates, and the longer you wait, the more you will spend on removal and repairs. If you have been hearing noises at night, noticing strange smells from your attic, or simply want the peace of mind that comes with a professional inspection, do not hesitate to reach out.
Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal offers prompt, professional, and permanent solutions for flying squirrel removal throughout the Upstate. Contact us today to schedule your inspection and take the first step toward a quieter, safer home.
References
- Cindi Kobak, “Bio Bits: It Glides Through The Air With The Greatest Of Ease,” Menunkatuck Audubon Society, retrieved on March 2, 2026, from: https://menunkatuck.org/it-glides-through-the-air-with-the-greatest-of-ease.
- Madeline Bodin, “Flying Squirrels: North vs. South,” Northern Woodlands, January 2018, https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/flying-squirrels.
- Xiao Xiao, Shu-Han Zhou, Nan Jiang, et al., “First record of Leptospira and Blastocystis infections in captive flying squirrels (Trogopterus xanthipes) from Enshi County, China,” Acta Tropica, Vol. 197, September 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001706X19304073.
- “Flying Squirrels,” National Wildlife Federation, retrieved on March 2, 2026, from: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Flying-Squirrels.
Jody was born and raised in South Carolina. He proudly served our country in the U.S. National Guard for 26 years, including in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq, where he was in the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. Jody underwent extensive training to become one of South Carolina’s top licensed and certified wildlife removal and exclusion experts. His ability to humanely handle various types of animals makes him the preferred pest and wildlife removal expert in South Carolina. Jody has been fully trained through the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA). This extensive course certifies him in the most recent and innovative wildlife handling, disease, and exclusion practices. He is certified to remove armadillos, bats, beavers, birds, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, groundhogs, wild hogs, mink, muskrats, opossums, otters, pigeons, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, snakes, squirrels, woodpeckers, and more.
