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I've got a squirrel or 3 (more, less, who cares) living in my attic. I know how they are getting in (ridge vent), and I know the animal removal people are way overpriced for the average DIYer to consider using them.

I'm going to start trapping, but before I buy traps, does anyone have one or two I can borrow/rent? I bought one from harbor freight, but it's feeding them rather than catching. In addition to trapping, and squirrel proofing the ridge vent, anyone want to comment on the need to enter the attic and remove nests/debris? This is happening in a knee wall to our bonus room/attic over our kitchen. Right now there isn't any access. I can easily cut a hole in the wall, but I'm lazy.

Any suggestions? I'd be tempted to poison them, but don't like the thought or our dog or cats catching a poisoned squirrel and munching on it. I like all of that except the poison part.

I have this trap I used for opossums that worked reasonably well. You are welcome to borrow it.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MV5V6A/ref ... 00_TE_item

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We have a have-a-heart trap, similar to what Chris posted. You are welcome to borrow it also. When I was a kid we used to catch them in the attic with a trap baited with peanut butter then release them in a park about 3 miles away. The problem with releasing them in another area is that every other squirrel in the world moves over 1 nest until the squirrel that was living in your neighbors yard, or attic, moves into your attic. Squirrel Displacement Theory in a.......wait for it.......nutshell.

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92 Miata 1.9L naturally aspirated. SSM 21

We had a squirrel issue too - they used our soffit vent for entry to the attic. We have the have a heart trap from this thread, it works well with peanut butter bait. We just set the trap up outside and wait. Once trapped, a pellet gun kills them quickly, is legal, and we just get rid of the squirrels and not the neighbors cat, etc. We've caught a couple of opossums too, but we just let them go.
It's actually illegal to relocate them due to disease concerns.

A friend uses her bird feeder as an squirrel attraction and picks them off with her pellet gun from her kitchen window, but she's a pretty good shot.

I' have removed the leaves, etc from the attic but doubt that I got all of it. No smells or any problems even when the attic gets warm/hot.

To Jordan's point, it's sort of an ongoing practice. The tally so far this year is six.

To think I came here looking for tire advice

Good luck,

Frank

Had the same problem in the roof above the front porch. No access from the attic.
Used a borrowed trap from AgriSupply on US70. Worked great. They have lots of traps at reasonable prices.

Pest people wanted $50 per squirrel. Hard to stomach when .22lr is about $0.09. Ended up taking them to Durant and releasing them. Didn't think the neighbors would be happy about my other idea.

Squirrel is pretty tasty in stew. Cleaning the carcass is a little bit of a hassle but not too bad. Just be sure you don't future the bowels. I highly recommend the pellet gun method. I've got one that shoots around 1600 fps if you need to borrow it.

True, although I haven't been able to convince my wife of that. There is more meat on a squirrel than I first expected, but probably should have guessed since they spend their time climbing trees and jumping from limb to limb.

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92 Miata 1.9L naturally aspirated. SSM 21

Thanks everybody. I'm set for traps now. Let the games begin. Now I need to figure out the easiest way to keep them from coming back.

Kill em, and they won't come back!!!!!

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

So far the squirrels in our woods haven't moved into the attic. However, when some bats got into the attic area of our shop we had Critter Control cover the gable vents of the shop and the house with strong hardware cloth (screening). He painted the screening a color (black or dark brown for our natural cedar siding) that made the screen material essentially invisible.

Lots of hawks in our neighborhood including a nesting pair that returns each year that tend to keep the squirrel population under control. Plus we have LOTS of trees for the squirrels to nest in.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

I have done some research on this because one of my kids has a problem at their house. One solution I saw was fox urine. And yes, you can get it on the internet.

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They reproduce to quickly and learn behavior from one another. Killing isn't a viable strategy. Trapping and relocation will rid you of thesquirrels that know this trick effectively. The solution is patching the house up.

Poison sucks, it builds up in other species and kills them too. Lead poisoning from ammunition is still a big problem too, especially for vultures and birds of prey.

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2006 Civic Si - #24 HS for 2015

2005 GMC Sierra
1991 318is Garage Ornament

One shot from a pellet gun, then clean 'em and cook 'em for yourself. Remove the lead pellet before you eat. No lead poisoning. I recommend a crock-pot with beef stock, carrots, red skin potatoes, green beans, garlic and hot paprika.

That said, I'm from GA, and my momma had a rule, "You kill it. You eat it."

Keehner is right about lead poisoning in other animals, though. If you kill the squirrels, remove the pellet before throwing the carcass out.

I think Rob is right about the real solution being to patch up the house. You can kill them all, but more will come.

I vividly remember visiting one of my Dad's uncles on his farm when I was a child. He had been out squirrel hunting and had just finished boiling the skulls. He would crack them open like a walnut and eat the brains. This was many years before anyone knew what Prion Disease was.

Richard

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
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2015 Honda Fit EX
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Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Agree, but it would be nice to trap the current residents before I "trap" them in the attic. It's been quiet for a few days, how much heat can a squirrel take before the attic becomes inhospitable?