Outdoor Animal Control - Squirrels
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Squirrels
mtidwell
03-01-04, 11:40 AM
Having a huge problem with Squirrels. They are chewing on the side of the house and getting into the attic. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of squirrels? I have tried poison and moth balls.
Thanks,
mt
Thanks,
mt
twelvepole
03-01-04, 12:01 PM
Squirrels are very social animals and will stay as a family unit. You could have 4-5 or more squirrels in the attic. A professional in animal control or wildlife control can help remove the squirrel family and help with preventive measures to keep squirrels out in the future.
Entries to attic should be sealed after the elimination of the squirrels. Covering any hole, vent or chimney opening with thick and sturdy wire mesh will prevent squirrels from entering your home. If a squirrel or squirrels get trapped in the attic, it will chew a hole to get out. Family members outside will also chew to free the trapped squirrel(s). Typically, the mother will move the nest to one in a tree once the young are about 7 weeks of age. If babies have been born, the mother will not abandon them. If the mother is removed, the babies will starve to death and decompose in your attic. If she is excluded she will be determined to find a way into the attic again.
If there are baby squirrels, you should hear their cries for milk. Once you locate the nest and block the entry into the attic, wait until the mother is outdoors. Wear heavy gloves to protect yourself from sharp teeth, collect the infant squirrels and place in a box or bucket into which you have placed an old towel. Place the box outside near the blocked entry. The mother will hear her crying babies and move them elsewhere. If the mother does not appear in a half hour or so, contact wildlife control in your area. Do not feed baby squirrels. Baby formula and milk will cause babies to dehydrate and die.
If a mother squirrel is still in the nest-building stage and has not had her babies, use a live trap baited with peanutbutter. Once the squirrel is trapped cover trap with towel. Release squirrel several miles from your home. Wear heavy gloves for protection. Don't release squirrel on your property because it may seek to return to your attic.
Again, make sure all entries into your home have been sealed. Cut back any overhanging branches at least 8-10 feet from your roof. If possible, eliminate food sources that may attract squirrels, such as bird feeders. If you have nut bearing trees in your landscape, you will continue to attract squirrels.
Moth balls are reportedly effective for moth control, but not squirrels or other animal pests. The EPA states that moth balls should not be used in areas where there are humans as their odor is toxic. Too, the odor is next to impossible to remove. Poisons can cause squirrels and other rodents trapped inside walls to die and remain there. The odor of a decomposing animal will not dissipate until the animal is completely decomposed. This could take weeks or longer, depending upon the size of the animal.
Entries to attic should be sealed after the elimination of the squirrels. Covering any hole, vent or chimney opening with thick and sturdy wire mesh will prevent squirrels from entering your home. If a squirrel or squirrels get trapped in the attic, it will chew a hole to get out. Family members outside will also chew to free the trapped squirrel(s). Typically, the mother will move the nest to one in a tree once the young are about 7 weeks of age. If babies have been born, the mother will not abandon them. If the mother is removed, the babies will starve to death and decompose in your attic. If she is excluded she will be determined to find a way into the attic again.
If there are baby squirrels, you should hear their cries for milk. Once you locate the nest and block the entry into the attic, wait until the mother is outdoors. Wear heavy gloves to protect yourself from sharp teeth, collect the infant squirrels and place in a box or bucket into which you have placed an old towel. Place the box outside near the blocked entry. The mother will hear her crying babies and move them elsewhere. If the mother does not appear in a half hour or so, contact wildlife control in your area. Do not feed baby squirrels. Baby formula and milk will cause babies to dehydrate and die.
If a mother squirrel is still in the nest-building stage and has not had her babies, use a live trap baited with peanutbutter. Once the squirrel is trapped cover trap with towel. Release squirrel several miles from your home. Wear heavy gloves for protection. Don't release squirrel on your property because it may seek to return to your attic.
Again, make sure all entries into your home have been sealed. Cut back any overhanging branches at least 8-10 feet from your roof. If possible, eliminate food sources that may attract squirrels, such as bird feeders. If you have nut bearing trees in your landscape, you will continue to attract squirrels.
Moth balls are reportedly effective for moth control, but not squirrels or other animal pests. The EPA states that moth balls should not be used in areas where there are humans as their odor is toxic. Too, the odor is next to impossible to remove. Poisons can cause squirrels and other rodents trapped inside walls to die and remain there. The odor of a decomposing animal will not dissipate until the animal is completely decomposed. This could take weeks or longer, depending upon the size of the animal.
yagermichael
03-02-04, 02:21 PM
talkabout a funny story i had squirrels living in my attic and one day i was getting ready for work and i used the toilet and flushed went to go shave and i seen something in the toilet i looked down i thought it didn't go down and all of a sudden it started moving and a squirrel popped out of the toilet and was looking me right in the eye!!!!!!!!!!!!! i almost had a heart attack come to find out he got caught in the vent and when i flushed the vacumm pulled him in i ran out of the house in my underware until i caught my breath and had to call animal control thought i was gonna die!