How to Identify Squirrel Poop
If you’ve found strange little droppings in your attic or near your garden, there’s a decent chance it’s squirrel poop. And yeah, that’s gross—but it’s also a clue. When squirrels take up space in your walls, attic, or roofline, the signs usually start with noises or chewed wiring, but the droppings? That’s often the first thing people visually notice.
We’ve inspected a lot of squirrel infestations across places like The Woodlands, Tomball, and Conroe, and one of the most common questions we hear is, “What does squirrel poop even look like?”
Let’s break it down in a way that’s actually useful—no fluff, no stock-photo nonsense.
What Squirrel Poop Looks Like
At first glance, squirrel poop kind of resembles rat poop. That’s where the confusion usually starts. But there are some key differences.
Shape and Size
- Cylindrical pellets, rounded at the ends (not pointy like rat poop)
- Each dropping is about ⅜ inch long, sometimes closer to ½ inch
- Slightly fatter than rat droppings, but not by much
These droppings are usually laid out in small clusters, not in long trails. Squirrels tend to return to the same general spots—especially in attics or soffits—so you’ll often find piles instead of scattered pieces.
Texture and Color
- When fresh, squirrel poop is dark brown to black and moist-looking
- After a few days, it turns chalky or grayish
- Older droppings crumble easily, which creates a breathing hazard (there’s a risk of airborne contaminants like leptospirosis or salmonella)
And yes, ground squirrels leave similar droppings—but around Houston, you’re mostly dealing with tree squirrels. If you’re closer to dry, open fields (like on rural properties in Magnolia or near Cypress), you might run into ground squirrels, but their droppings look nearly identical—just more likely found near burrow holes or under porches.
How to Tell It’s Not Something Else
It’s easy to mix squirrel poop up with droppings from other animals. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
| Animal | Poop Size & Shape | Where You’ll Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrel | Rounded ends, ⅜–½ inch long | Attics, soffits, under roof edges |
| Rat | Thinner, pointy ends, ½ inch long | Along baseboards, wall edges, attics |
| Raccoon | 2–3 inches, tubular, often in piles | Attics, chimneys, crawl spaces |
| Mouse | Tiny, like rice grains | Inside drawers, pantry corners |
| Opossum | Like a small dog’s—larger, messy | Under decks, in crawl spaces |
Where You’ll Usually Spot It
In Houston homes, squirrels almost always use the attic or wall cavities. But you might also see droppings:
- On insulation (especially near HVAC ducts)
- Along roof beams or ceiling joists
- Behind stored boxes or seasonal decorations
- In the corners of garages or detached sheds
- Inside soffit vents (or just below them)
Sometimes you’ll see it outside too, especially along fences or under trees where they perch to eat. But once droppings are inside the house, that usually means they’ve built a nest.
How to Handle Squirrel Poop Safely
You don’t want to vacuum it up or sweep it out dry. That’ll stir up contaminants into the air. Here’s what we usually recommend:
- Wear gloves and a respirator (not just a cheap paper mask)
- Lightly mist the area with a 10:1 water and bleach solution
- Use paper towels or disposable cloths to clean
- Bag everything up tightly—including gloves—and toss it outside your house
If you suspect a lot of droppings or a possible nest nearby, it’s best to contact a wildlife removal expert. Squirrel infestations rarely stay contained. Once they start chewing or nesting, it can get out of hand fast—and attic repairs aren’t cheap.
Related Signs You Might Miss
Droppings are just the start. If you’re finding poop, check for:
- Chewed wires or insulation
- Acorns or nuts stored in strange places
- Scratching sounds at dawn or dusk
- Entry points near the eaves or attic vents
Squirrels are active in the early morning and late afternoon, especially in spring and late summer—those are also peak squirrel baby seasons, which can make a small problem become a big one overnight.
Final Thoughts (And What to Do Next)
If you’re seeing squirrel poop, there’s a decent chance the animals are still nearby—or nesting just out of sight. Even if you don’t hear much noise, droppings tend to linger long after a squirrel’s gone, and it’s hard to tell if the issue is active or not without a full inspection.
For homeowners in places like Bellaire, Spring, or West University Place, we’d suggest checking your attic first. If you’re not sure what you’re seeing, try comparing it with some of the other wildlife signs we cover in our rodent control or squirrel removal pages.
And if it looks like squirrel poop? It probably is. Just don’t ignore it.
Better to address it now than deal with chewed wires, ruined insulation, or worse—hidden nests.
