Squirrels in attic

Looking4new · Nov 8, 2015

Garycw said:
As far as getting rid of all the squirrels, I killed 10 in the yard one year. They were eating a strip up the south side of ears of corn in garden. They were gone a few weeks, then I thing 12 came back to replace them.

12 came to the funeral as pall bearers.

Jstpssng · Nov 8, 2015

brokenknee said:
I am pretty sure I sealed off were it was getting in, I used some old sheet metal I had lying around and screwed it over the hole it chewed to get in. I think I will get another live trap and put it out along with the rat traps. I need to get it out before it does any/anymore damage. Not sure if it has damaged anything yet or not, hope not.

When I sealed off the hole I was hoping it had already left for the day looking for food, but no such luck. I thought about taking off the sheet metal but didn't want him/her bringing any of his buddies in to party.

What did you seal it with? I've recently been told that the spray foam insulation works great, I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Steel wool works on smaller holes.

Hopefully you've gotten him locked out. They can be fun to watch, but not when they're in your house.

dstig1 · Nov 8, 2015

I had a few causing me trouble last spring. Gray squirrels in my case. In the process of building, so I had not finished deck ceilings, and they got up in there and into the attached soffits. A couple connibears with peanuts did the trick. Got 3 within a few days and then the remainder cleared out as I put the ceilings up. I basically worked them into a corner, if there were were any remaining so that they would have to exit through a trap. They were all gone as I waited several days, then finished boarding it up. No problems since (crossing fingers)

This was the first 2 I got, pretty quick

Then I worked the ceiling down until I left only a couple openings for them to potentially get back out...and meet their maker, if there were any left. No action for a few days, so good to go, and nothing since.

BigRol · Nov 8, 2015

Traps work better when mounted vertically (dont ask me why) but they sure do. I cleared the property with a Whalter Blackhawk 177 cal. pellet pistol, get the red dot on them and game over.

4570Man · Nov 9, 2015

Looking4new said:
I second that! I had one shortly after I moved in here 21 years ago. The house stood empty for a year, except for the squirrels. One would sit at the corner of the house and chatter at me for hours at a time. 12 gauge loaded with rock salt in the face did the deed. 5 years ago we weeded out ALL of the tree rats that were hanging around here.....16 cats that hunt took care of them.(I rescue cats).

How did the shotgun barrel fair after that? My Grandpa did that once to a dog that kept getting in the trash. He says he will never do that again, and now shoots only lead.

brokenknee · Nov 9, 2015

Jstpssng said:
What did you seal it with? I've recently been told that the spray foam insulation works great, I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Steel wool works on smaller holes.

Hopefully you've gotten him locked out. They can be fun to watch, but not when they're in your house.

I screwed a piece of tin over the hole. I have not found spray foam to be effective for mice, so I do not think it will work for squirrels. Although I did try the rodent repellent foam this fall for mice, I first plugged the hole with steel wool then foamed over it. So far so good with the mice. I was not aware they made a rodent foam until this fall, from my understanding of the product it is not poison, just taste bad. I am not going to take a bite just to check it out.

Problem with older homes, always doing remodeling and finding/creating (short term) entry points for the varmints.

brokenknee · Nov 9, 2015

dstig1 said:
I had a few causing me trouble last spring. Gray squirrels in my case. In the process of building, so I had not finished deck ceilings, and they got up in there and into the attached soffits. A couple connibears with peanuts did the trick. Got 3 within a few days and then the remainder cleared out as I put the ceilings up. I basically worked them into a corner, if there were were any remaining so that they would have to exit through a trap. They were all gone as I waited several days, then finished boarding it up. No problems since (crossing fingers)

This was the first 2 I got, pretty quick

View attachment 446733

Then I worked the ceiling down until I left only a couple openings for them to potentially get back out...and meet their maker, if there were any left. No action for a few days, so good to go, and nothing since.

View attachment 446732

Really like your ceiling. The wife has been after me for years for a covered deck. I just don't know how I would tie it in to the house as we have a metal roof.

Going to have to look at getting a couple of those traps, the do seem effective.

brokenknee · Nov 10, 2015

Well I ordered some conibear traps, a six pack of 110's one 220, a trap setter and a safety grip tool. Total cost $67.01. Estimated delivery date the 19th - the 24th.

I started a new thread asking how to take care of your traps.

I am now on a mission to eradicate the little furry tailed rodents from around my property. I have no problem co-existing with nature, it is when they threaten my property is when the war starts.

My mother in law used to feed the little critters until they found their way into their attic. Then the father in law went out and purchased a pellet gun. They lived in the city so the use of real firearms was not an option.

Garycw · Nov 10, 2015

Pellet guns in the 900-1200 Fps work just fine. Especially in 22cal.
Chipmunks are my problem digging down along basement for rain to run in. Those little guys are hard to hit sometimes