How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic

When a squirrel makes its home in your attic, you may find yourself at a loss about how to get it out. Repellents can be effective, but most experts agree that the only sure way to get rid of the furry creatures is to block them from getting in or trap them inside the attic. Here's what you need to know about getting rid of squirrels the next time you find a family of them living in your attic.

Steps

Exclusion

1. Seal off the attic.^[1] Patch up holes and cover spaces that are wide enough for a squirrel to get through.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Place a chimney cap or wire mesh fencing over your chimney.
   
   
   • Cover any vents with wire mesh fencing.
   
   
   • Patch up all chewed-out holes leading to the outside of the home, except for one. You will need at least one hole to fashion an exit for the squirrels, but this hole must be covered a couple of weeks after the problem stops.
   
   
   • Also make sure to secure any openings between the attic and the rest of your home. A panic-stricken squirrel may find its way further into your home if it senses that the attic is no longer a welcome place.
   
   
   
   


2. Create an exit. Create a funnel out of a sheet of metal or fine wire mesh. Attach this funnel to the remaining hole in your attic and direct the narrow end outside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • The wide end of the funnel should be placed over the hole on the outside of your home. It should be roughly 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38 cm) wide.
   
   
   • Make sure that the funnel is about 1 foot (30.5 cm) long.
   
   
   • The narrow end of the funnel should extend out and should be roughly as wide as the hold in the woodwork, if not slightly smaller.
   
   
   • A squirrel that finds its way out of this funnel will usually be unable to find its way back in.
   
   
   
   


3. Draw them out. Make the space outside the funnel appealing by placing food, like peanuts or apple slices, near the narrow mouth of the funnel.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • This may not be necessary since squirrels will likely leave the area on their own to gather food. Placing a food source nearby may encourage them to evacuate sooner, however.
   
   
   
   

Trapping

1. Set the right sort of trap.^[2] Use a small, live cage trap and set it in a corner or other "safe," hidden area of the attic.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Squirrels are more likely to approach the trap if it is positioned out of the way rather than in the open middle of the attic.
   
   
   • Only use small traps since squirrels may panic and hurt themselves in larger traps. As a general guideline, a trap that is 6 inches (15.25 cm) by 6 inches (15.25 cm) by 18 inches (45.75 cm) is a good size.
   
   
   • Live cage traps can usually be purchased at hardware stores.
   
   
   • Each trap might be set a little differently, so you should read the instructions in order to set it up properly. Usually, you will need to position a swing bar trigger mechanism in a specific way so that it will be "tripped" as soon as the squirrel enters the cage, closing and locking the door.
   
   
   
   


2. Use the right sort of bait.^[3] Squirrels will not go near a trap unless you have some rather appetizing food inside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, soda crackers, bread crusts, and apple slices are common choices.
   
   
   • Make sure that the food is placed far enough inside the cage to prevent the squirrels from grabbing it through the side.
   
   
   
   


3. Relocate the squirrels.^[4] After trapping a squirrel, you should move it away from your home.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Moving the squirrel roughly 10 miles (16 km) away from your home and yard is usually enough to discourage squirrels from coming back.
   
   
   • Do not simply move the squirrel into your yard, unless municipal regulations only allow you to do that much. If you move the squirrel into your yard, it is likely to simply search for a way back inside.
   
   
   • Check the attic for baby squirrels. It is possible that you caught a mother squirrel, in which case, her babies will be helpless without her. Make sure to relocate baby squirrels along with the mother.
   
   
   • Wear thick, heavy gloves when releasing a squirrel from a trap. If it seems angry, release it from a distance by attaching a cord or rope to the release mechanism and pulling at it from far away.
   
   
   • Check your local laws about animal relocation. In most municipalities, it will not be a problem for you to trap and relocate squirrels. This may not be the case for every city or county, though.
   
   
   
   


4. Keep the traps in place until all squirrels are out. Leave the trap in place for at least an additional week after catching your last squirrel.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • For best results, you should also patch up any entrances to your attic. Leave the trap in place for a week after catching the last squirrel before patching up holes. After blocking squirrels out, continue to keep the traps up for an additional few days to a week.
   
   
   
   

Repellents

1. Scare them off with sound.^[5] Leave the radio on or use an ultrasonic repellent inside the attic.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If using the radio, turn it to a talk station so that the squirrels constantly hear human voices. The radio does not need to be loud enough for you to hear, but it must be loud enough for the squirrels to hear. This may have limited usefulness if you are dealing with squirrels that are used to humans, though.
   
   
   • Ultrasonic repellents produce a high-decibel noise that only small animals can hear. It can make your attic an unbearable place for squirrels that have recently moved in, but squirrels can eventually adapt to it and settle in. Note that it may also bother other animals in your home, even though you cannot hear it.
   
   
   
   


2. Flash lights. Leave the attic light on or install flashing strobe lights in the attic.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • The constant light provided by a standard attic light may be enough to drive many squirrels away, especially those that are not accustomed to being around people.
   
   
   • For tougher cases, a pulsating strobe light might be more effective since the sudden, bright flashes of light might startle a squirrel and cause it to run off. When using strobe lights, though, you should also back the method up with exclusion techniques to prevent the startled critters from braving their way back inside.
   
   
   • In either instance, make sure that the scared squirrel takes any offspring with it. If not, you may need to trap the offspring and take them outside or hire a professional to do so.
   
   
   
   


3. Use commercial squirrel repellent. Purchase a chemical or natural squirrel repellent from a manufacturer and apply the spray according to label instructions, focusing specifically on squirrel nesting areas inside the attic.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Try an animal repellent made with predator urine. The most commonly used predator urine is fox spray, which can be purchased by itself from various hunting supply stores. This is a fairly non-toxic product and relies on the squirrels' senses of smell and self-preservation. When the squirrels get a whiff of a natural predator, they learn to avoid the area.
   
   
   • Note that no repellent proves quite as successful as physical removal, but many people do seem to have some success with them.
   
   
   
   


4. Use ammonia-soaked rags.^[6] Wet a few old rags with a little household ammonia and strategically place the rags around any spot you suspect squirrels to be living in.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Ammonia is mostly a folk remedy against squirrels, so there is no definitive proof that such a method is effective. Many homeowners have reported luck with it, though. To increase the likelihood of experiencing success, you should also employ trapping and exclusion techniques to keep the squirrels out.
   
   
   • As the theory goes, the strong, pungent smell of ammonia will drive the squirrels in your attic away.
   
   
   • After the squirrels have cleared out of your attic, run a few electric fans to clear the air inside the space. Ammonia can burn your nasal passages and cause other health concerns, so you should air out the attic after using this method to prevent future trouble.
   
   
   • Prohibit kids and pets from entering the attic while this method is in use.
   
   
   
   


5. Scatter mothballs. Place mothballs near possible entrances to the attic and around any cardboard box or other area with detectable signs of infestation.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Note that there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of mothballs as a squirrel repellent. Some homeowners report that mothballs work against squirrels, while others insist that they do not. To maximize your odds of having success, use mothballs in conjunction with exclusion or trapping techniques.
   
   
   • Modern mothballs are made of para-dichlorobenzene, but older mothballs may contain naphthalene. Since naphthalene is flammable, you should use precaution when using old mothballs.
   
   
   • Keep mothballs away from small children and pets. This is not usually a problem if you only use mothballs in the attic, since this area is not usually frequented by kids or household animals, but if it is an issue then you should secure the mothballs in breathable mesh bags or keep them out of reach by placing them on a high shelf.
   
   
   
   

Tips

• Call a professional if necessary. Licensed wildlife relocaters have more experience trapping and relocating squirrels and may have more luck than you. If you are nervous about doing the job yourself or have tried and been unsuccessful, a professional relocater is your best option.

Things You'll Need

• Wire mesh fencing


• Live cage trap


• Bait food (peanuts, peanut butter, apple slices)


• Radio


• Ultrasonic repellent


• Strobe light


• Commercial squirrel repellent


• Rag


• Ammonia


• Electric fans


• Mothballs

Related wikiHows

• How to Keep Animals out of Your Attic


• How to Get Rid of a Squirrel in Your House


• How to Trap a Squirrel With Everyday Materials


• How to Deter Squirrels from Bird Feeders

Sources and Citations

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from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1r5rkKm

via Peter