Sitting at my computer in my upstairs studio office the other day I heard faint, then louder sounds in the ceiling above me. Got worse over the next few days, and one day I ran outside in time to see squirrels scampering over the roof. Also noticed one of the slats of the grille in the gable end had been chewed, creating an entrance hole. I quickly stapled fiberglass screen over the entire grille, only to notice the next day that the little buggers had chewed a hole through it. Hardware cloth next went up, and stayed unbreached. Unfortunately, I think I trapped one or more of the critters inside. Any suggestions?
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Carefully make a funnel shaped hole in the wire, one way street, like a minnow trap.
Then put up a sign, "This way to the great Egress" they go out and can't come back in.
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1) Sphere's suggestion may work especially if baited.
2) Havahart live trap in attic.
3) .22 cal birdshot loads are good to about 15' - don't ask how I know. Success can be improved by attaching a tactical flashlight to the forearm - "if he's in the light, he's in the pattern." Wear your earplugs, pith helmet optional.
Jim
Got cat? Ferret? Dachshund, even? Can you borrow one?
I can only imagine my lab-mutt chasing squirrels in the attic.
put a couple of Border Collies up there and get them to herd the squirrels to the out doors or into a trap...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
i had one trapped once, had a guy tell me open it up so they can get out,then mid afternoon is their feeding time, so close it up then while there out dining.
worked on the first try.
the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
taste just like chicken
Have-a-heart traps come to mind --- as i know they make them in several sizes. Problem is that you have live animal to deal with once you capture it.
I just bought a Ketch-All trap from the John Millen Hardware company (http://www.johnmillenhardware.com) for the mice problem i have at the cabin. try googling ketch-all to see if they have something for squirrels.
tom
Just put up a sign over the exit that says, "Woodshed Tavern"
All the squirrels will be there lickety-split!
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Stand outside, and act like you're nuts....They'll run after you, partner plugs hole.
Bing
I worked for a guy who's now a great friend.
On the basement stair wall I noticed a little line drawing of a squirrel and a bunch of tick marks IIIIslash IIIIslash IIIIslash...
The number was about 80 at that time.
I said, "What's this?"
He said when he moved in, they got in the attic and chewed wires. He declared, "THIS MEANS WAR" and bought a pellet gun with scope.
He shoots them on sight,usually out of a window, noting many 'classic shots.' A new one or two will enter his 'domain' every 2 weeks or so and the number is now upwards of 150.
No suggestion--just the story of a guy and his passion...
Put a cat up there for a day or two.
Are you trying to get rid of a squirrel, or the smell of one decomposing?
I've had squirrels get into the soffit on two seperate houses. I guess on my last house there is one still in there. That guy went nuts for awhile, but after a few days it stopped.
They seem to have all gotten out before I covered the hole on my current house. But they are always leaving piles of chewed up acorns all over my front porch and back deck. I hate those things.
Peace,
Casey http://www.streets.org
Thanks, all. Hardware cloth over the hole keeps them out, but also keeps them in. How about mothballs?
They keep their coats nice and shiny.
This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in. --Theodore Roosevelt
Once had a mother and her set of twin squirrels in the attic. The mom got in through an old abandoned furnace vent with a gap between the stack and the upside-down pointed metal cap, when the the new furnace required new placement of PVC outside air intake and exhaust.
I watched from across the street to find out how she was getting in. When I her trying to get out, I grabbed Old Betsy and caught the mother setting on a bare high limb in a tree with a 12 gauge and dove load.
Back then, the pull-down attic stairs were out in the garage. So, I placed a large live trap and baited it with water and some peanut butter and nuts between the cars and a few feet from the last step. When they got hungry and thirsty, after a few days, they came down the attic steps. One went into the trap, the second one shot out the 3" gap of the raised garage door.
I put metal screen over the old vent until it was removed when the old roof shingles were replaced. Never had any more problems.
Good luck with yours, Bill
Edited 12/4/2009 5:16 pm ET by BilljustBill
I've used a Havahart before as a one-way exit -- there's no law that says you have to lock both doors. The easiest way to set it up is to use only one of the two lock wires (the one towards the inside of the house) that keep the doors from being opened once tripped.
Jamb the trap up against the hole they chewed, and wait.
Most animals will push and prod, and open the unlocked door, but if you think your critters are too passive, use a twist of wire to hold the exit open, while the entrance slams shut behind them.
AitchKay
These shots were taken inside the city limits of Ft. Worth, Texas, about a mile South of Hulen Mall, about noon today....
I think you should start luring a few of these around your place.... Look closer at what he is having for dinner... ;>)
BillView Image
View Image
We get hawks here all the time, but they're lazy and just eat the birds at our feeder.
This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in. --Theodore Roosevelt
I'm voting for this for future preventative maintenance.
http://www.gamousa.com/product.aspx?product=CFX Tactical Combo&productID=260
As for your current problem, just open it up for a while during the day and wait for them to come out. Seal back up.
I can see it now...
three in and one out...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"