Content

• Steps
• What you need
• Advice
• Warning

If you hear a rustling in the attic, you probably have squirrels up there. It can be frustrating to live in the same house with squirrels, especially when they start to cause damage in the home. Don't worry, while getting rid of squirrels indoors may seem impossible, you will regain ownership of your attic. To get rid of squirrels, you can use methods to repel the squirrels, trap and release the squirrels or install an escape pipe for them. Regardless of the method you use, you will need to prevent them from coming back.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use measures that repel squirrels

1. 

   Soak a rag with ammonia and place it near where the squirrels nest. The strong smell of ammonia will irritate the squirrels, and they will find that the attic is no longer a suitable place to nest. This can cause them to leave on their own.
   • It is best to use the repellent with other means for maximum effect.
   • If ammonia is not available, you can use another powerful household cleaner.

2. 

   
   
   Leave lights on in the attic. You can use ceiling lights or temporary lights if there is no light in the attic. Squirrels will feel uncomfortable when exposed to the light, so they will leave your attic to find somewhere else to live.
   • As with ammonia, you should combine lights with other methods to increase your chances of success.
   • If you know exactly where the squirrel's nest is, you can shine a light directly on the nest. In this case, just use a flashlight.

3. 

   
   
   Annoy the squirrels with loud radio sounds in the attic. Turn on the radio in the talk channel to get loud speakers in the attic. The squirrels will find your house uncomfortable and move elsewhere.
   • If you find a squirrel nest, place the radio as close to their nest as possible.
   • You don't need to turn on the radio so loud the whole house can hear it. Just enough sound to fill the attic.
   • Combine several repellants at once for best results.

4. 

   
   
   Use commercial repellents if you want convenience. You can choose to use natural and chemical products. Natural squirrel repellants often use the scent of predator urine to scare away squirrels. Read the label and spray directly into areas where squirrels appear to be frequent, such as near openings in the house, around squirrel feces or urine, and places where you can see traces of squirrels.
   • Remember to use exactly according to the instructions on the product packaging.
   • You can find squirrel repellants at home appliances or online.

5. 

   Avoid using moth balls as they are toxic to humans and pets. In addition, mothballs are not necessarily effective at repelling squirrels, but they also have a strong smell that many people find uncomfortable. You should use one of the proven squirrel repellants to be safer and more effective.
   • Mothballs are not allowed to keep squirrels away in some areas, so check with local laws if you still want to use them.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Trapping and removing squirrels

1. 

   Place the squirrel trap near where you enter your house or where squirrels pass by. Your chances of success will be higher if you set the trap in a squirrel or out-of-town area. However, they will rarely get into traps placed in the center of the floor, so place them in corners or edges of walls. You can choose between a catch and release trap or a trap designed to kill squirrels.
   • To determine the best trap site, look for a hole where it could enter your home or where it leaves traces of squirrels or squirrel feces and urine.
   • Be sure to use a trap designed to trap squirrels, as other traps can harm the squirrels or cause them to escape.
   • You can find squirrel traps at hunting and fishing stores, gear stores, or online.
   • If possible, make the trap yourself. However, some regions have laws regarding squirrel trapping, so it is best to use commercially available cage traps in accordance with the regulations.

2. 

   Use peanuts or peanut butter to trap them as bait. Put bait into the trap, keep it far enough away from the wall so that the squirrels cannot reach and pull the bait out, then set the trap. The squirrels will enter the trap to get bait and will slam the trap door.
   • If you don't have peanuts or peanut butter, you can use walnuts, crackers, breadcrumbs, and sliced ​​apples as bait.
   • If you use a trap to catch the squirrels and release them, you need to get them out as soon as possible.
   • Squirrel traps humanely kill squirrels as soon as they do fall.

3. 

   Take out the live captive squirrel and let it go. Wear thick protective gloves before handling the trap. When you are going to release squirrels, place the traps on the ground where you plan to release them. Slowly lift the trap door with your gloved hand or pull on the door strap. Remember to keep your distance when the squirrel exits the trap to avoid being bitten or scratched.
   • Check the local rules to see if you are allowed to release the squirrels from your own property, or if you have to release them near your home. While it is best to leave the squirrel at least 16 km away from home so that it will be difficult to find a way back, this is not always allowed.

4. 

   Throw the dead squirrel in the trap. Wear thick protective gloves when handling the trap to avoid infection. Take the trap out in the outdoor trash and throw the body of the squirrel in the trash.
   • You should put the corpse of the squirrel in the trash bag to minimize the smell.
   • Another treatment is to bury the squirrel's body in the garden. However, this will be very laborious if there are many squirrels in the attic to be handled.

5. 

   Re-install the trap if there are still squirrels in the house. You will need to set the trap in place until all the squirrels have been removed. Most traps will only trap one squirrel at a time, so it may take a while to get rid of all the squirrels.

6. 

   Hire a professional if you have trouble getting rid of squirrels. If there are too many squirrels, tackling them can be overwhelming. A professional service can determine how many squirrels there are in your home, and then they will humanely and efficiently handle the squirrel.
   • You can find a wildlife handler on the internet or ask friends and acquaintances to refer a local expert.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Prevent squirrel coming back

1. 

   Cut off branches that extend over the roof so that the squirrels have no way to the roof. Check around the roof for branches that squirrels may be following. Use a chainsaw to cut branches to cut off the squirrels' approach to the attic.
   • Squirrels often take advantage of branches to make bridges to your attic. They may even live in trees, but will venture into attic to search for nesting material or shelter during bad weather.
   • If you don't have experience with tree trimming, hire a professional to do this job. If you try to cut the tree yourself, you not only run the risk of injury, but you could also accidentally damage the roof.

2. 

   Fix leaks around your home. Inspect the outside and inside of the home for visible openings, then seal with animal-proof sheets to prevent squirrels from entering.
   • If you do not know how to fix the holes properly, you can hire a home repair service to do it. They can also double-check to make sure any openings have been sealed.
   • Ask an acquaintance or go online to find a good service in your area.

3. 

   Cover ventilation slots with mesh. Fix the mesh by screwing. This is to prevent squirrels from entering the attic through ventilation holes.
   • Mesh panels will not impair ventilation slots efficiency.
   • You can hire home repair services to install the grid if you can't do it yourself.

4. 

   Seal around power cord access and cleaning equipment so squirrels cannot enter. Combine mesh, putty, and sealant to seal any openings around electrical wires or sanitary equipment. This helps to reduce the risk of squirrels splitting through openings or gnawing and causing the opening to widen.
   • Squirrels belong to rodents, so they can slip through tiny holes. In addition, they can gnaw around existing openings for further expansion.
   • As with other repairs, you can hire a service to help.

5. 

   Attach the chimney hood or wire mesh to the chimney mouth. Measure chimney circumference and chimney mouth. Buy chimney covers or wire mesh panels that are larger than a chimney but smaller than a chimney mouth. Clean the top of the chimney to remove dirt, then attach the chimney hood or top mesh, making sure there are no gaps around. Use a drill to fix screws that hold the chimney cover or screen in place.
   • This still allows the smoke to escape, but it prevents squirrels from using the chimney as the way into the house.
   • Make sure chimneys are free of debris around the chimney to avoid the risk of fire.
   • Clean the chimney or net every few months during use and before winter comes. Soot can be damaging or dangerous.
   • If you live in the UK, be aware that there are a number of laws and regulations governing the fitting of chimneys. Once the chimney hood is attached, an officer will come to check it to make sure it is mounted properly. For this reason, it is best to hire a professional service.

6. 

   Create an outlet for squirrels if you suspect they are still indoors. Make a pipe out of wire mesh or thin metal sheet. Place the large end of the tube on the end of the outlet, the small end facing outwards. That way, the remaining squirrels in the house can go out to find food and water, but will not be able to return home.
   • Ideally, the large end of the tube should be 30 -38 cm in diameter. The small end of the tube will be a bit smaller than the opening the squirrel uses to get out and get in your home. The tube should be about 30 cm long.

7. 

   Place the primer on the small end of the tube if you want to shorten the time. Place a handful of peanuts, some peanut butter, crackers, or apple slices at the end of the pipe or just outside. These will lure the squirrel out quickly.
   • You don't have to use the bait because the squirrel will eventually have to go out in search of food, but the bait will encourage it to get out of the house faster.
   advertisement

What you need

Use squirrel repellants

• Ammonia or household cleaners
• Rag
• Lamp
• radio
• Commercial squirrel repellent (optional)

Traps and removes squirrels

• Squirrel trap
• Bait (peanuts, peanut butter, crackers, apple slices, etc.)

Prevent squirrel coming back

• Sawing machine (optional)
• Tool box
• Grilles
• Adhesive
• Putty
• Chimney cap
• Grille
• Primer (optional)

Advice

• Remember that the mother squirrel can go to the attic to give birth. If you catch the mother squirrel and leave the baby squirrel, the orphaned squirrels will end up stinking horribly in the house.
• If you have trouble handling the squirrels, it is best to call a professional. Wildlife displacement specialists have experience trapping and relocating squirrels so they can do it safely and to your requirements.
• Clear the messy piles in the attic to make the space less attractive to squirrels, as squirrels won't have much room to easily hide. Plus, they won't have anything to nibble about!

Warning

• The red squirrel is a protected species in the UK. If this endangered animal enters your attic, call RSPCA (Royal Society for Cruelty to Animals).
• Each year, squirrels cause about 15,000 house fires because they eat electric wires.