Spring Chickarees in Tahoe Donner: How a Douglas Squirrel Got Into a Client's Garage

Active Year-Round, and Bolder in Spring

Douglas squirrels — called chickarees by locals for their sharp, rattling call — are among the most common wildlife in Tahoe Donner. Unlike ground squirrels, they don’t hibernate. They stay active all winter, living off conifer cones and mushrooms they spent the fall caching. But spring shifts their behavior. Breeding season begins, territorial pressure rises, and they start exploring further — including into structures they might have passed over in colder months.

For one of our clients this spring, a Douglas squirrel had been quietly gnawing its way through wood framing near the base of their detached garage. No pre-existing damage — just a determined squirrel that found a spot and worked at it. By the time the homeowner noticed scratching inside the wall, it had already been there a while.

How We Handled It

The entry point was near the foundation — the squirrel had chewed straight through the wood framing to get in. Douglas squirrels are primarily arboreal, but they forage at ground level regularly and are fully capable of gnawing through solid wood when they’re motivated.

We confirmed a single squirrel, trapped and removed it, then patched the entry point to close off access. We also walked the rest of the structure to check for any other potential openings.

What to Watch For on Your Property

Whether you have a cabin, a full-time home, or a vacation rental in the Tahoe Donner or Truckee area, spring is the right time to do a quick walk-around. Signs worth paying attention to:

• Fresh gnaw marks or clean-edged holes in wood framing near the base of a garage or outbuilding

• Small entry holes — even golf ball-sized — at or near grade level in siding or framing

• Scratching or movement sounds inside walls, especially in detached structures

• A cone midden — a pile of stripped conifer cone scales — near the garage, a reliable sign of an active squirrel territory on your property

Get Help Before It Gets Expensive

A squirrel that’s been inside long enough to cache food, chew wiring, or pull insulation turns a simple removal into a much bigger job. If something seems off on your property this spring, it’s worth getting a professional look sooner rather than later.

NV Inspections handles the full job — trapping, removal, and exclusion patching to close off access. We serve Tahoe Donner, Truckee, Northstar, Kings Beach, Incline Village, Donner Lake, and the surrounding Lake Tahoe region. Call or text Colby at 775.298.1554, or reach us through truckeewildlifeinspections.com. We’ll take care of it.