Puget, Bellingham
Squirrels chewed a door into the attic. We installed a screen door.
Heads up: these job stories may include photos of real pests and wildlife. Not for sensitive viewers.
To a squirrel, a round attic vent is basically a front door that just hasn't been opened yet. Birds feel the same way. A little chewing, a little pulling, and suddenly there's a cozy, climate-controlled apartment right above the homeowner's bedroom.
This one in Bellingham's Puget neighborhood had squirrels. Look at that first photo: the wood around the vent chewed down to bare orange, the vent screen torn open, and nesting material packed inside like they'd been working with an interior decorator.
Squirrels are enthusiastic renovators. Unfortunately, they never pull permits, they never clean up and their idea of insulation is whatever they dragged in from the yard.
Once the squirrels were out, the fix didn't have to be fancy. The second photo shows the repair: a strip of sturdy screening fastened over the whole vent area. Air still flows, the attic still breathes, and the squirrels get a very clear 'no vacancy' sign.
Simple, cheap and it works. Sometimes the best repair is the one that just says no.
Hearing scratching up top, or spot a chewed vent? Call or text Gavin a photo. We'll get the tenants out and close the door behind them.