How and Why Squirrels in Brampton Damage Trees in 2026

Squirrels are notorious chewers, and unfortunately, that includes the trees in your yard. In Brampton, they often target thin-barked trees because they’re easier to gnaw. While it might seem harmless, chewing on tree bark can seriously damage your trees and make them vulnerable to disease.

Squirrels chew bark for two main reasons:

1. To access the cambium layer, which contains the tree’s sugars and nutrients, especially when food is scarce.
2. To keep their teeth healthy, as their teeth constantly grow and need filing down.

Understanding why squirrels damage trees and how to protect your property is crucial for Brampton homeowners in 2026.

How can chewing damage the trees?

When squirrels chew the bark of the tree, it can damage the tree severely. Although, if the bark is chewed in parts, the tree might survive. On the other hand, even with a partly chewed bark, even if the tree survives the squirrels, it might not survive the other pests that have a chance to enter the tree. When the squirrel chews the bark, it gives insects and fungi to enter. Once the damage is done, the tree slowly dies unless someone cuts it down first. If it dies by itself, it could fall on someone, a car, a house and cause damage.

What happens to a damaged tree?

The effect of the damage varies depending on the tree’s overall health. If the tree is healthy, then it won’t matter if some of the bark goes missing due to the chewing of the squirrel. However, you should be extra careful during the summer, because during the summers. The insects are active, and the fungi can spread as well, and they can damage the trees.

What can be done if squirrels are chewing your trees?

The best thing to do in these situations is to immediately call a rodent control service company. They can come in and get rid of the squirrels in a humane manner, without breaking any laws. When you have observed the squirrels in your yard chewing the bark, you have to take some action to get rid of the squirrels. There is a solution for that. You could wrap flashing pieces around the tree trunks. These flashing pieces have to be at least 2 feet wide and have t be 5 feet above the ground. However, this won’t be effective if the squirrels get a chance to jump from another tree. If there are nearby trees, you have to do the flashing on those trees to make this method effective.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there are few solutions to this problem as the squirrels are so large in number, and they can pop up into your yard easily and might start to chew on the bark. Moreover, it is not allowed to trap those squirrels in your yard and then release them in some other place. Pest control companies know this and always work in a manner that is allowed by the government.  However, you can use baits to get rid of them. Secondly, make sure that you keep the bait near to that specific tree where you mostly see the squirrels. Also, if you are too frustrated regarding these squirrels, you can always contact the animal control in Toronto to help you with the pest control treatment.