Understanding Squirrel Behavior: Do Attic Squirrels Leave During the Day?
If you’ve been hearing scratching, scampering, or rustling noises in your attic, you’re probably wondering: do squirrels in the attic leave during the day? In this detailed guide, we explain common squirrel behavior, what times they’re active, and how to know if they’re still nesting. We’ll also show how to take action if you suspect squirrels are causing damage inside your home.
Squirrel Activity Patterns in Spring, TX Homes
In Spring TX, Eastern gray squirrels are active almost year‑round. They generally leave the attic during the day to forage for food but return before dusk to sleep or nest. During breeding season, or when there are young pups, mothers may remain in the attic or entry tunnels longer than usual. Things like heavy rain, wind and other weather-related issues can cause them to stay in the attic during the day as well.
Signs Squirrels May Still Be in Your Attic
- Noise at dusk or dawn accompanied by scratching
- Nesting material remains undisturbed after daytime
- Chewing sounds near openings persist after sunset
- Fresh droppings or gnaw marks in roofline areas
- Fast movements in attic, walls or subfloors
Why They Return at Night
Squirrels build nests using insulation, leaves, and soft material to protect from heat and predators. Attics offer stable temperatures and safety, making them ideal evening retreats. Even if you don’t see them during the day, hearing them at night is a strong indicator they’ve returned. Squirrels are also non nocturnal animals as well so they sleep at night and will return to the nest for bedtime.
What Happens if You Attempt to Seal Them Out Too Early?
Blocking entry points while squirrels are still inside can trap them or leave babies behind leading to more damage and stress. Removing young prematurely may leave nests empty but leave scent trails, attracting other wildlife or causing repeat entry attempts. If you seal it yourself and want to be sure on your approach, put a live squirrel trap in the attic with some peanut butter and some unsalted assortment of nuts on the trigger plate and also a trail Infront of the trap. What the trail Infront will do is help ease them in once they picked up the nuts and nothing has happened to them, so it gives them a sense of it’s not dangerous to continue. Another reason its good is it can be a monitoring device to let you know if anything is trapped inside attic and moving around with cation and not making noises or going fully into the trap if the pre trail of nuts disappear, but nothing caught you know it’s still up there.
When Is the Best Time to Exclude Squirrels?
The ideal time to intervene is after the young have left the nest—usually late summer or fall. At that point, professional exclusion (with one-way doors) is safe and effective without trapping infants inside. If the nest with the young is located, then anytime is fine to begin an exclusion and trapping. If you are going to tackle the issue on your own, then you can try around lunchtime to around 3pm there is a good chance to seal the squirrels out of the house instead of inside.
How to Monitor Squirrel Activity in Your Attic
- Listen at dusk and dawn for scurrying sounds from rooflines or ceilings.
- Use a thermal camera or peek into entry holes after dark.
- Observe fresh gnaw marks or droppings near soffits or vents.
- Install motion-activated cameras temporarily near nesting areas.
- You can seal what you think to be the main entry points with cardboard or paper to see if it’s ripped through to easily tell you if the issue is still active.
How This Relates to Our Services
Once you confirm squirrels are entering your attic, our Squirrel Removal Spring TX service provides humane eviction, exclusion repairs, and attic cleanup, all backed by our 4-year warranty. For broader attic wildlife issues, see our Wildlife in the Attic Spring TX guide. And if pest control is needed more broadly, visit our Pest Control Spring TX page for full-service pest treatments.
Expert Sources & Further Reading
- Auburn University – Controlling Eastern Gray Squirrel Damage
- The Spruce – Getting Squirrels Out of Your House
- A Healthier Home – Squirrels in the Attic: Your Home, Health, and Safety May Be at Risk
When to Call in the Pros
If you’ve monitored for 48–72 hours and still hear attic noise or see signs that nesting continues, it’s time to call a licensed wildlife removal company. Our trained team can safely remove animals, repair entry points, and restore your attic to a safe, noise-free condition. 10 plus years of experience to guarantee to resolve the issue.
Do Squirrels Leave During the Day? Final Thoughts
The short answer is yes—most squirrels exit the attic to forage, but return before dusk. If noises continue into the evening or signs persist in the morning, they may still be nesting inside. To prevent escalating damage, it’s crucial to wait until young have matured, then move forward with humane exclusion and cleanup.
Need Help? Schedule a Free Inspection
For Spring, TX residents hearing signs of attic wildlife, we offer same-week inspections, humane removal options, and lasting exclusion—with no surprises. Call today at (832) 334‑6016 or email us to learn how we can help.
