How Do You Catch Attic Squirrels?
If you have grey squirrels or fox squirrels living in your attic and ever wondered how to catch them, this post is for you.
Below is a short video which illustrates a typical removal strategy for attic squirrels. After you watch the video, keep reading as there is explanatory material in a quiz-like format.
What Did You Learn About Trapping Attic Squirrels?
Q: What is they key to trapping success for attic squirrels?
A: Knowing where the squirrels are entering and exiting your home from is a key to success.
Many times squirrels only have one entrance/exit into your house. Sometimes they have more. No matter how many there are, you have to find all of them. If not, your trapping efforts could all be for naught.
In the video, there is a trap along the side of the dormer that goes up to the soffit/eave area. Ryan identified this as the only area squirrels were entering/exiting. He placed the one way door trap here and sealed the rest of the area off with wire. In doing so, any squirrels inside only have one easy way out. As they exit, they go into the trap as you see in the video. Because of the sealing off around the hole with wire and trap, no squirrels are easily able to get back inside.
Q: Is trapping with a single trap at the exit point (or just using a one way door) all that is necessary?
A: In our professional opinion, no.
Google or YouTube “Squirrels In the Attic” and you’ll probably find some others who’ll say a one way door or a one-way door trap is all that is necessary.
We respectfully disagree.
Take note of the other traps (with squirrels in them) around our exit hole trap. As you can see, this is a very effective method.
If you decide to go with a one-way door / one-way door trap alone, please understand that timing is critical. You’ll be much better off if you place the trap into operation in the late evening after the squirrels have gone into the nest for the night. This will give you the highest chance of catching all the offenders at home.
We recommend removing as many squirrels as possible from the area around the entrance over the course of the trapping. Squirrels are social and know where other squirrels in their vicinity reside. Trapping others who are even just visiting this close helps reduce the likelihood that a problem will recur.
Trapping will continue until no more squirrels are coming out and the homeowner reports no other sounds/evidence of squirrel activity in the attic space.
Q: Are repairs necessary once the squirrels have been removed?
A: Yes.
Either way, there was a weakness in this area or the squirrels chewed their way in. As Ryan points out, no matter what, after the squirrels are removed the weakness remains and needs to be eliminated. A quality repair, coupled with squirrel removal, puts the odds of squirrels not returning in your favor.
Squirrel Removal for Akron / Canton / Kent
Trapping squirrels on the roof at their entry points is not for the faint of heart. It requires some specialized tools and a strategy.
We hope the video has helped make the concept a little more concrete for those of you attempting to DIY.
For those who live in the Stark, Summit, Portage County area and need help with their squirrel removal issues, please contact us.
For more information, please look through our web site.
We recommend starting with:
