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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 26, 2009 9:54:50 GMT -5
she thinks the trap in the attic is still up there and has been hearing a bumping noise up there....so I have got to go look and see if she has a squirrel trapped in the cage if it is there and if not see if a squirrel is present in the attic at this time. ...since it just got so cold here they chew their way into homes to keep warm and dry.....I hope the trap is in there and it is full with a live squirrel which I will drive miles away from home and dump out to the world...poor guy will not have any stored nuts in his new home but I hear they will travel miles back to where they were if he is released within distance that is not far far away..... Title changed as a modified posting to find out how to keep them out of her attic?
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 26, 2009 12:17:54 GMT -5
got the trap out of attic and removed dead squirrel from trap...there was another squirrel in the attic when I got there....so I rebaited the trap with peanut butter and will check it again in 24hrs......he has chewed another hole into the attic that he exited out when I was watching him.....so I know where his hole is to fix....hopefully brother in law will take charge of fixing the hole....I will check the trap....I made it easier to get to the trap...I had to balance myself across 3/4 of the house to get to where my nephew put it before.....no need to make it that hard to get to if they smell the peanut butter they will come to where they smell it and then be trapped and removed from the attic and the area.....plan to drop him at least 10 miles away from Mom's house...... hugs btt
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 27, 2009 2:51:44 GMT -5
bump and new title....
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Post by yearning4order on Dec 27, 2009 2:59:00 GMT -5
Hi BTT I meant to reply to this earlier--I think you may have seen my post about frozen pipes in the attic and such--the critter responsible for eating the insulation off our attic mounted fire sprinkler system pipes were squirrels. Likewise they have chewed up wiring--they are incredibly destructive little beasts as far as I'm concerned.
In order to keep the squirrels out of the attic you may need to use a fine mesh wire over all the attic vents. That was what we did that finally kept them out. If they are actively chewing to get in, you may want to try something drastic like a bird feeder that is not squirrel proof put someplace squirrels can get to it easily--but not terribly close to the house. In fact, if you can put it in an open part of the yard and this is somewhat rural, you might even luck out and have a hawk start helping you out with all this.
This will sound awful, but anything you can do to encourage feeding and nesting away from your mother's home will put those babies in a nest that is more vulnerable to predators, including cats. One of our cats used to hunt squirrel babies, and while I know this is probably appalling to the animal lovers on the forum, honestly it was the best thing that happened to us.
The squirrels chewed through our DSL cable, as well as our power main, not to mention the attic damage. So not much pity out of me for the squirrels.
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Post by fluffychild on Dec 27, 2009 9:08:17 GMT -5
I had it where the squirrels would run the wire to the house and I did find a dead one in the attic. My most effective way is to place the trap by the tree closest to the house, bait it with peanut butter, bread and nuts. Put some of the peanut butter on the trip bar. I have probably gotten rid of 150 squirrels in the last 4 to 5 years. I have also taken coons, possums and skunks out of my yard. Set a trap outside - catch them before they get in. Usually for squirrels you need to take them 4 to 5 miles away - a good drop spot is a cemetery - dead people do not talk, you just have to be careful who else is around.
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Post by eagle on Dec 27, 2009 14:28:55 GMT -5
Wow. We have so many squirrels around here, but they have never tried to live in our attic. I supose they have much more attractive homes elsewhere.
My husband tells me that because we have aluminum framing around our attic windows they can't get in. There is no wood for them to chew through. Perhaps they do go into other people's attics that don't have vinyl siding and aluminum window frames.
You may want to look into what types of exterior would be more squirrel proof than wood.
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Post by fluffychild on Dec 27, 2009 19:42:37 GMT -5
The squirrels get on the roof and chew through the screening on the vents. If you have vents, they can do it to you. It is far better to capture them before they get to the house.
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Post by messymimi on Dec 27, 2009 19:58:54 GMT -5
Yes, they are destructive creatures.
I have no further advice to give, but thought you might want to add a bit of levity to the discussion:
When 3 local churches got infested with squirrels, one decided that the Lord had put them there, and left them. They did a great deal of damage.
A second had them humanely trapped and moved away. The squirrels moved back and did a great deal of damage.
The third had them baptized as church members, and now only see them at Christmas and Easter.
messymimi
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Post by Bizzy on Dec 27, 2009 20:22:24 GMT -5
BTT- one thing different about squireels is that they are not nocturnal like rats are- and the suggestion to put the live trap near the base of the tree is a good one- but put it threre during the DAY. OTherwise wyou might get possums or rats ( not bad idea either) And expect- to get more. They tell each other about cool places to hang out.
Ditto taking them far far far away and they leave a phermone trail - or if you are ruthless- drown them in a 5 gallon bucket filled with water ( or better- a trashan half filled with water)- just sink the cirrter trap into the bucket and walk away for half and hour. Don't watch...... OR take them to local pound- OR call county trapper- I think the last two might cost you - but maybe not depending on where you live. Sounds awful but only takes about 3 minutes for them to drown. And DO put hardware cloth on attic vents etc. Many suggestions here on how to keep them out- also look online- . I have aproblems with providing them with a place to eat- like a birdfeeder etc- as it wil just attract more Squirrels as well as rats-
This last may sound whacky but is based on the experience of my neigbors. Bizzy
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Post by fluffychild on Dec 27, 2009 21:47:36 GMT -5
I have had many a possum in my squirrel trap. I have bigger traps - I have done coons in the city and also skunks. I have done double traps - caught two possums in one night. In the county I have done two coons in a night. When I trap consistently during the year I can get over 60 squirrels in a year. For bait use peanut butter on bread behind the trip bar. To see if the squirrel has been inside throw a few peanuts in the front part of the cage. Cover the cage with a plastic bag, leaving the opening in the front.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 28, 2009 14:32:30 GMT -5
I checked mom's trap today NO Squirrel in it....shucks....I was so looking forward to driving out of town 1000 miles and dumping him off.... hugs btt
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Post by Lucky Laura Loving Life on Dec 28, 2009 15:51:39 GMT -5
Dear BTT Hi! , Sorry I have no suggestions, just stopped in to say I wish you luck in dealing with this and Thank God your Mom has a big brave son to help her! Love,Laura & Ford
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Post by eagle on Dec 28, 2009 23:53:22 GMT -5
I guess we are just lucky. Thousands of squirrels in our town. I love watching them, their antics, their playfulness, listening to them chatter. I don't mind at all that they eat the bird food I put out. I do feed them, because I love watching them play. Our neighbor's walnut tree is also one of their favorite foods and to see them run across the lawn with a walnut in their tiny little mouths is a hoot.
The only 'infestation' I have ever had in my attic is lady bugs, and it wasn't that bad of an infestation really. And I love lady bugs, too, BTW.
However, we did have a problem several years ago in another home in the mountains with rats under our house. They got in by chewing holes in the metal grating (not screen, but actual metal grates) that covered the vents. I had no trouble killing rats. But I sure would find it very difficult to kill a squirrel, even if they are related.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 29, 2009 6:58:35 GMT -5
mom has squirrel proof birdfeeders but she also has a black walnut tree that produces loads of walnuts and has for many years...yes she has loads and loads of squirrels in her area....I am mostly interested in keeping them out of the attic....it will take my nephew to go up and patch the hole since my sister said BIL is not able to climb up into attic to do that....since nephew works nights as I do I am not sure when we will all connect and form the strategy for stopping entry into attic but I am putting checking the trap on daily list...finding dead squirrel that had been there for many months was not pleasant but he did not smell at all...but he had horrid starvation/lack of H2O as cause of death.....and he had death grip on the trap grating....
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Post by Lucky Laura Loving Life on Dec 29, 2009 7:23:44 GMT -5
Dear BTT Hi! and , Sorry to here about the poor awful squirrel I didn't want to say this before but my Grandpa had tons of squirrels at his property in Virginia and He used to feed them peanuts so I always enjoyed watching them as well when I lived in MI with fond memories of Grandpa. The issue you are dealing with is no fun and I have read what damage they can cause too. Sigh I saw a mouse here when the weather turned cold but not sure what I am willing to do other than proper food storage to avoid enticing them into my kitchen. I did keep a mouse as a pet when I was young but find it icky to have them roaming free in the house I know my brother in law is opposed to hurting them and caught a live one and put it out, but not sure he transported it to any distance. He is a big dog lover and don't think he wanted to hurt the little creature. Since his last dog died they have not adopted a new one. Do you think they are more likely to stay out with a dog in the house? My sweet Ford is very friendly but not sure how he would react to a mouse. Just rambling thoughts here, sorry. Much Love , Laura & Ford ?
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