Game Camera Catches Squirrels in Action
One of the coolest tools we have is a game camera.
What is a game camera? It is a camera that has a waterproof case and a motion activated shutter. It is left outside and when an animal goes by it, the camera takes a picture. After a day or two the pictures are checked and a lot of knowledge of what happened in the view of the camera is gathered.
And while we don’t use cameras on the majority of our jobs, taking pictures of suspected entrance points is very valuable for us in certain cases.
This is because a picture is evidence; evidence of what animal is moving by and at what time.
Nuisance animals jobs are usually pretty straightforward. But when they aren’t, a game camera gives us visual evidence of what is really going on.
Squirrel Camera Example
For example, the picture to the right recently caught this squirrel coming out of this soffit.
The camera was utilized because the evidence of badly mangled soffit pieces and lack of chewing are more indicative of a raccoon.
There were no raccoons being captured and a squirrel was suspected. So the camera was put in place to verify that a squirrel was indeed the intruder.
Over the course of a few days, many pictures of a grey squirrel were taken coming and going during the day. There were no pictures of a raccoon and no night activity.
Efforts to catch a raccoon were abandoned and squirrel traps installed. The problem was soon solved by removing the squirrel and fixing the soffit.
The camera made us more efficient by informing us what exactly the situation was.
More Squirrels on Camera
A second recent case where a camera gave us great information was a case in which a very small hole existed. It was in a hard to reach spot and with fox squirrels and gray squirrels both present in the area, getting pictures was a prudent call before setting up this job. We got the evidence to see what was going on in a short time.
What the pictures showed us was that this hole was indeed being used by a family of gray squirrels. They were captured on the camera going into the hole at night and emerging the next morning.
The fox squirrels in the area were not using this hole, though they knew it existed.
Here’s a short time line.
The camera is set up on 11/22 close to the suspected gray squirrel entrance. The first picture that was captured was the tail end of a gray squirrel right around noon.
Then, in the early afternoon, this fox squirrel comes by and checks out the area around the hole. Multiple photos are taken of this squirrel over an hour long period but it never goes in the hole. It is curious about the hole, but this squirrel doesn’t live here.
Then in the last hour of daylight an adult and two juvenile gray squirrels begin to activate the camera. the little ones are hanging out while the mother comes and goes.
They are in and out of the hole and just as the sun begins to set at 5:08, the young squirrels are in for the night.
Mom comes in about 10 minutes later and provides one of the most telling pictures. As you see, the mom has something white in her mouth. Big deal, you say? It is a big deal because she is still bringing in nest material to improve the home. This tells us she is making things cozy in there and plans to stay for the winter.
The next day, 11/23, the camera is collected and the pictures are reviewed. What do you think was in the last couple of photos?
If you said, squirrels leaving the nest you are correct and here is what we found.
At 8:03, there was still not enough light on this West facing hole for day mode pictures which is why this picture appears different. But, it clearly shows one of the squirrels crawling out of the hole to begin another day.
A review of the photos helps us know what is going on and make a great game plan to solve this squirrel problem.
Squirrel Removal | Akron, Canton, Kent, OH
It takes more than a camera to remove squirrel free homes to the residents of Stark, Summit, and Portage Counties.
However, in those instances where there are some unanswered questions, the camera is a valuable tool for us and our customers.
If you suspect a problem with a nuisance wild animal and need some help, please give us a call.
We will use our experience and tools to figure out what is going on and give you options.
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