Squirrels can carry serious diseases, such as Leptospirosis, like most rodents. This bacterial disease can affect humans and cause internal hemorrhage in severe cases wherein the bacterium already affects the major organs. For this reason, it is advised to have a squirrel removal as soon as you detect squirrel activities within your premises.
How do you do squirrel removal? One of the best ways to do squirrel removal is to use a squirrel trap. This will allow you to relocate the captured squirrel.
In this article, you will learn how to use squirrel traps, and how to incorporate baits to ensure you are successful.
What Smells Attract Squirrels?
Squirrels have a sharp sense of smell for indole—a chemical compound oddly present in human wastes and orange blossoms. You can use the orange blossoms to trap squirrels due to their smell but not a human waste because they take it as a warning sign of lingering danger.
How to Lure Squirrels Into a Trap?
To lure squirrels into a trap, you’ve got to use baits, like peanut butter spread on the trap pan. It would also be much more effective to add any kind of nuts, such as acorns, pecans, and almonds, to the trap to make it more appealing to the squirrels.
How Many Hours Can a Squirrel Live In a Trap?
A squirrel can live in a trap only for 24 hours. Thus, make sure to check your trap every now and then to avoid ending up killing the trapped squirrels.
What Bait to Use for Trapping Squirrels?
There are several types of baits that you can use for trapping squirrels, such as the following:
Whole Peanuts and Peanut Butter Trap Combo
Using the combination of whole peanuts and peanut butter is deemed to be the best bait for squirrels. Here’s how you can use this combo to bait squirrels as humanely as possible:
Step 1: Find the perfect location to place your trap.
Step 2: Get the bait pan and spread some peanut butter into it.
Step 3: Put a few whole peanuts in the smeared peanut butter and place it inside the trap.
Step 4: Wait and check the trap every now and then to see if there are squirrels that took your bait.
Sweet Citrus Fruits
Sweet citrus fruits like oranges are the second-best option for trapping squirrels. These fruits have a strong, pleasing aroma and provide hydration to thirsty squirrels, making them perfect baits!
Just slice an orange, put them on the bait pan, and wait for the result.
Other Squirrel Baits Options
Just in case you don’t have peanuts and peanut butter in your home, you can use acorns or walnuts as bait. However, make sure to use soft marshmallows or soft bread as an edible adhesive in the bait pan.
Is There Poison Bait for Squirrels?
There are available poison baits for squirrels, and you can buy them online. Some of the poison baits products include:
JT Eaton Bait Block
This anticoagulant block bait is particularly formulated with a peanut butter flavor that squirrels love. Just leave the blocks where you often see the squirrels and wait for the result.
Pros:
- Doesn’t need much effort to use.
- Comes in blocks.
- Kills other rodents such as mice and rats.
- Affordable.
Cons:
- It takes weeks before seeing a visible result.
- It needs to be kept away from the reach of the kids.
- RODENT CONTROL: Anticoagulant block bait that eliminates rats and...
- QUALITY FORMULA: Specially formulated with a peanut butter flavor...
- PROVEN ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Diphacinone (0.005%) efficiently...
- EASY TO USE: For use outdoors in farm and agriculture areas or...
- 1-OUNCE BLOCKS: The 10.5"(l) x 10.5"(w) x 10.25"(h) tamper...
Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx
This product is an anticoagulant rodenticide. Just put one piece of this item at 2.5 to 3.5-meter intervals in every placement.
If you have high rodent activities, place two pieces of Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx in the affected area. Make sure to maintain a continuous fresh bait supply for at least 15 days or until the signs of squirrel activity halt.
Furthermore, this product contains human food-grade enhancers and ingredients, making the bait appetizing to squirrels.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Effective.
- Weather-resistant.
- Lasting effect.
Cons:
- Need to be kept away from the reach of children.
- 4 lb. Rodent bait
- Kills in just 4-6 days
- For agricultural/rural use Only
- Mold and moisture resistant
Neogen Ramik Nuggets
The Neogen Ramik Nuggets are intended as rat poison. However, these rodent poison pellets are also proven to work exceptionally for squirrels.
Although, it’ll take some time to see the result. On the bright side, you won’t be needing any additional traps or baits if you use this product—you just have to be patient to see the results.
These nuggets are water-proof, so you don’t have to worry if they get drenched in the rain. Just bear in mind that this is toxic, so you have to ensure they’re not within reach of kids and pets.
Pros:
- Effective.
- Good for indoor and outdoor use.
- Easy to apply.
- Weather-resistant.
- Don’t need extra baits or traps.
Cons:
- Not safe for kids and pets due to toxicity.
- It takes time to work, but the result is worth it.
- RODENT CONTROL: Kills rats, mice, and meadow voles
- PROVEN FORMULA: Formulated with a fish flavored grain mix, making...
- PROTECT YOUR HOME: Our bait is hot-extruded, so it can be used...
- EFFECTIVE INGREDIENTS: Made of a first generation anticoagulant,...
- STOP INFESTATIONS: Whether it's one mouse or a whole infestation,...
How to Trap Squirrels in the Attic?
Once you’ve confirmed that there are squirrels in your attic, use the given steps below to trap and remove them from your house:
Step 1: Locate the Nest of the Squirrel
In locating the squirrel’s nest, look for leaves, heavy droppings, and trails in the insulation. Typically, you can find their nest at the attic’s edge or next to the eaves.
Step 2: Seal the Entry Points in Your Attic
Squirrels can squeeze through small openings in your attic. Thus, make sure to inspect the area for any holes and seal them away by caulking or using a wire.
However, make sure to leave one opening to ensure the squirrels present in your attic has a route to use as an exit.
Step 3: Trap Squirrels With a One-Way Cage Door
After you’ve sealed the entry points—except for one—place a one-way cage door outside, where you left one point open to serve as an exit. Once the squirrels get trapped, make sure to relocate them at least four to five miles away to prevent them from returning.
Step 4: Hire a Professional Pest Control Company
The best and hassle-free way to deal with squirrels in the attic is no other than hiring a pest control professional company. This way, you don’t have to lift a hand to remove squirrels by yourself and leave it to the hands of professionals.
How Long Can a Squirrel Live Trapped in an Attic?
Typically, squirrels can live trapped in an attic for up to five to eight days without any food. However, if they can’t find water to drink, they’ll die in just two days.
How to Make a Squirrel Trap?
To make a squirrel trap, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Buy Plastic Tubing
Ideally, the tube should be three to six feet long with five to eight inches in width. This is to ensure the total containment of the squirrel.
Step 2: Attach the Wire Mesh to the Tubing
After buying the exact size of tubing, connect the wire mesh to one end of the tube with tape or glue. Make sure the wire is securely attached to prevent the squirrel from pushing it off the tubing.
Step 3: Coat the Inner Wall
In this step, you need to coat the tube’s inner wall using cooking oil to make sure the squirrel can’t climb out.
Step 4: Put the Trap in Your Target Spot
After coating the inner wall with cooking oil, put the trap in your targeted area, along with the wire mesh, on the ground. If the squirrels are in your attic, put the trap where you see a lot of droppings.
On the other hand, if you’re trapping a squirrel outside, put the trap beneath the tree.
Step 5: Fill the Bottom of the Trap With Bait and Monitor
After putting the trap in your chosen area, fill its bottom with bait, such as sunflower seeds or corn. After that, monitor the trap.
It wouldn’t take a day to catch a squirrel if you truly have squirrels on your property. Once trapped, close the open end of the tubing and bring it to a wide, open field and release it once you’re at least five miles away from your home.
Why Is It Illegal to Release a Trapped Squirrel?
There are several reasons why it’s illegal to release a trapped squirrel, and part of those reasons is to prevent the spread of diseases. In addition, you have to get a permit to trap a squirrel and approval from the landowner where you’ll release the squirrel.
This is why it’s best to hire a professional pest control company to handle your squirrel problem. In this way, you don’t have to think about what you’ll do with the trapped squirrel, as they’ll be the ones to take care of that.
It’s also best to remember that it’s against the law to release squirrels into forest preserves, parks, and natural areas outside its primary territory.
Will a Rat Trap Kill a Squirrel?
Some ground squirrels can get killed with rat snap traps and glue boards. Snap traps, in particular, are known to be lethal traps that kill rodents caught in them—including squirrels.
How to Release a Squirrel From a Live Trap?
To release a squirrel from a live trap, it’s best to drive four to five miles away from home. This way, they can’t find their way back into your house, where their nest lies.
Make sure to know the rules and regulations in your state about releasing squirrels from a live trap to ensure you’re not offending any wildlife control law.
Related: How To Get Rid of Squirrels? | Squirrel Control Methods
List of Sources
Trapping a Nuisance Squirrels. University of Illinois.
MacGowan, B. (2015). Forestry & Natural Resources: Trapping Nuisance Wildlife. Purdue University.
Trap Up!: Trap Rodents Around the Home to Help Reduce the Rodent Population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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