How To Trap Squirrels In The Attic - control removal

Find the entry point Squirrels usually enter a home somewhere around the eave. You will probably need to go up on roof and look around eaves with a ladder to see everything. Alternatively, spend some time watching the squirrels in your yard. They will eventually show you their way in. Squirrels in the attic is a problem that needs to be solved quickly to minimize the chance of damage to attic wires, plumbing, or air conditioning ducts.

Set a 1-way trap at the main hole Baiting a one-way trap is unnecessary, but may speed up the results. With the trap in place, give the squirrels time to enter it on their own. This type of trap can be purchased online at WildlifeControlSupplies.com. The advantage of trapping with a 1-way trap versus a traditional food trap, is that this trap cannot be sprung by wind or rain. And this squirrel removal method focuses on just catching the problem squirrels and not just catching any random squirrel running along the roof.

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Continue trapping for 5 days after last catch As long as there are no other exit points, the squirrel will have to come out and be trapped. Take the captured squirrel at least 10 miles away from your property before releasing. Keep the trap up until all noises in the ceiling stop for at least 5 days before making the final repair. Squirrels often bring nuts into the attic and can stay in the attic for several days without needing food. But eventually they will have to go outside for water and directly enter the trap.

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Traditional squirrel traps are sprung with the first catch... 1 way traps can catch up to 6 squirrels at once. Do not wait other squirrels to enter the trap before releasing the first catch though ... as squirrels panic inside a trap and will die in hot Orlando weather if not released shortly after being captured..

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Proper sanitation and property maintenance will prevent most problems. Most urban squirrels owe their existence to humans. We supply both food, and shelter without thinking. A house is just another funny looking tree to the squirrel. Why should the squirrel spend days cutting and hauling twigs up a tree to build a nest, when there is a perfectly good attic to sleep in. Its warm, out of the weather, and they don't have to worry about predators coming in. Just add a few leaves, a bit of fluff, and call it home.

Now what's for dinner? A dish of pet food left unattended, an open garbage can, or a full bird feeder is a free meal to a hungry squirrel. Their common sense says "this sure beats foraging" and it's a lot easier. Wow...these humans are really great!

If you read this far, then you probably have some of these problems already. So, remove the food supply. If it is a bird feeder, move it twenty or more feet from the house. Close or cover garbage cans, and if possible make them inaccessible. If you have a barbecue near the house, keep it clean and covered. Squirrels have been know to eat the drippings and sometimes build a nest if they can get inside. It doesn't take very long, sometimes just hours.

Another problem area can be exposed wires or rubber hose's. Most common are those on gas grills, and stored motor vehicles. But, low voltage lighting can be a tempting target for squirrels. What the most squirrels are trying to do, is clean and sharpen their teeth. They do this by biting through some material, (normally wood) then they pull their head back so the fibers slide between the teeth. I guess you could call it the squirrel version of dental floss. Most squirrels stick with small tree branches, but some have found the plastic coated wire or rubber hose does a much better job. The only way to stop this problem is to trap and relocate the offending squirrel. Once the squirrel is removed, the problem should end.

Once a squirrel has chewed its way into an attic or crawl space, again the only practical way to remove it is by trapping (see section below). Of course repairs should be made immediately to close the entrance hole. It is also important to cut off the access route to the attic or crawl space. This may require trimming tree branches that overhang the roof. Remove firewood that may be stacked against the building. Fill cracks in foundation walls. Even a one inch hole or crack can make a suitable entrance hole for a determined squirrel. When patching wood, use metal plates or flashing where ever possible. On foundations walls use concrete. Avoid plastic or PVC vents when ever possible.

If your only alternative is to trap, and remove an unwanted squirrel, you should first check with your local government agency. Your City, County, or State may require you to obtain a permit. There may be certain circumstances when a professional trapper is needed to capture and relocate the animal. A phone call can save you a lot of trouble.

The other very important part of trapping concerns the time of year. The female squirrel will give birth to a litter of three or four, in the early spring and possibly again in the fall. If you trap and relocate the mother squirrel, you will surely kill her babies since they can not leave the nest on their own. While this alone would be heart breaking, consider what will become of those baby squirrels. They can cause quite a smell. Please give this some careful thought before you proceed. If you're not sure, please ask for help. That's what we're here for.

If you are allowed to trap, your next step will be to find a suitable trap. Most large sporting goods stores will have a selection of live animal traps to choose from. Live traps sell for about $30, for a small "five by five by eighteen inch Havahart Trap" and can go up to $90 for larger sizes. Tomahawk Live trap also carries a complete line of traps and supplies.

You can also rent traps from some Rental Service Stores. One store in Minnesota rents the small Havahart 1025 trap for $15 per day.

Be sure to find one that is the proper size for the squirrel you wish to trap. Too small of a trap may not completely enclose the squirrel and one too large may not be sensitive enough for a one pound squirrel.

Traps should come with instructions to bait and set them, be sure you under- stand and follow the directions. Peanut butter (Skippy crunchy) is considered the best bait for a squirrel. Placing a spoonful on the trip lever usually does the trick.

Your first step is to do a little detective work. Find the path that the squirrel is using to your attic, crawl space or where ever it should not be. To find this path, you must first observe your squirrel's routine. Normally, a squirrel will leave the nest at dawn or shortly after in search of food. This would be the best time to watch and wait. Find a place where you can view your house and the entrance hole. Be very still, and watch how it gets to or from the house. E.g. climbing, jumping or both. Once you discover this path, you should place the trap accordingly. Always set the trap on a stable surface, such as the ground, on a porch or deck. Never hang the trap!

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