Red Squirrel pest control advice needed

[Laynester]

I have a long-standing, ever nagging, "red squirrel" (rat with a furry tail) rodent problem that is eating my rental home (and my patience dealing with them) for quite awhile. These red squirrels are smaller and "wilder" than the average city squirrel which in our state is are the large brown ones.

The house has been ravaged by these red squirrels eating under the eves and fascia boards going around the roof of the house. Around the chimney is a great spot to chew through too. I've found a fairly good way to "fend off and seal" these holes by using a old heavy duty pop or tin can, cutting it out to fit the overlap of the hole, and use of a lot of heavy duty construction cement (liquid nails - super duty), sealing it shut permanently (seems to work). By the way, once they're in, the start climbing down the inside walls, it's creepy, and it is a very big issue with the tenant or course.

In a week to 3 months there's a new hole the size of a silver dollar about 2 feet from the last one that was just sealed.

The house, of course, sits underneath a towering 40' walnut tree. I cannot remove the tree, shoot a bb gun at the rodents, or do the "have a heart trap deal." Trapping and releasing requires a large amount of time managing the never-ending trap and release cycle.

What I would like to use is an "industrial strength" type of squirrel/rodent killer. Can I put D-CON up in the around the roof of the house or do they make a red squirrel pest control item I can purchase that will ERADICATE these little son of a guns?

I would like to know what a "pro" pest controller would use in a case like this and appreciate all advice and insights in how to eradicate these rodents from my home.

[Joseph Meehan]

No, it is no never ending. Likely all the damage is being done by only a few individuals. The trap and release (release like 20 or more miles away. 1 mile and they will be back before you are.

[HeyBub]

[...]

Usually, you can only trap/kill squirrels during squirrel hunting season (~February) otherwise you can end up with a substantial fine and/or jail time.*

On the plus side, squirrel damage is covered by insurance (inasmuch as they are game animals and not "vermin").

I think it is permissable, however, to import natural predators to handle the problem.

Think owl.

---------

• "Whatcha in for, dude?"

"Bothering squirrels."

"You some kind of prevert?"

[Eric in North TX]

or

[Laynester]

Eric,

You da man. I like those products from Valley Vet. I just purchased

1-bite rodent killer and the rodent feeding station (covered heavy plastic w/rat 2-way hole). I checked with the city ordinances and I am in the clear on doing this. I'm going to mount the feeding station behind the chimney to avoid (I hope) any good neighborly concerns or personal pet access. The feeding station hole is about the size of a silver dollar addressing the small squirrel issue perfectly (if they take the bait, I'm sure they will).

Thanks! - case closed.

[Eric in North TX]

While you wait for it to arrive, you could start feeding them a few peanuts, the bait is peanut based I believe, so it would insure them taking the bait.

[hallerb]

it saddens me greatly kill the whatever is the easier course.

squirrel may eat and die in walls smelling up your home. might have to tear out walls

that happened to a buddy of mine bill says he will never use poision again.

[Eric in North TX]

Depends on the poison, "One Bite" is a dehydrator, and no moisture, no smell.

[hallerb]

my buddy used something like that, it went back to the nest to die.

remember squirrels stockpile seeds and get water from them.

so i dont feel good and am thirsty:( back to nest eat and .............

real cure is aluminum soffit and facia so they cant get indoors, and more will likely move in the area once these have died.

live trap much more humane.

[Frank]

State laws vary. Most states consider squirrels game animals and they have some degree of protection although this is probably over ridden by the damage they are causing.

I agree that trap and release is a pain, but one neighbors solution with ground hogs is trap and drown in a garbage can by submersion of the trap.

Rat poisons will work. All animals appear to like peanut butter. But, be careful that you only bait places unreachable by neighborhood pets. Poisoning may be a problem with the game commission, so be careful with this.

Also you might consider the largest rat traps. I've taken out a grey squirrel with one but generally they are too large for trap. Might work with the smaller red ones.

[Ken]

You seem to have two problems: One getting rid of the squirrels you presently have, and stopping them from entering again after you get rid of them.

There are several ideas floating around the Internet on how to get them to leave a confined space. One of them is Ammonia. I will tell you about a procedure I have found to discourage them from gnawing on your wood again.

I keep my eaves and all wood covering my attic and walls in good repair, but that did not stop some squirrels from trying to enter anyway. The point they chose to try was the louvered slats on my gable vents for the attic. Since the wood was Cedar, they found it easy to chew up in an effort to enter the attic. Fortunately I saw them start the chewing and there was a screen that they would have had to penetrate once the louvers had been damaged enough. I started the repair effort before they ever made it into the attic.

During the replacement of the louvers I asked myself what I might do to discourage them from attacking the new wood I was about to install? First I looked for a plastic or aluminum slat that I hoped they would not chew on. The problem was I could not find the dimensions of such material to directly replace the damaged parts. Since I was going to have to use wood again I needed to make the wood unpleasant for the squirrels should they start to chew on them.

I had a brainstorm in a quiet moment, and this is what I did: I bought a box of straight pins, the type one uses when sewing. It costs about $2 for 1000 of them at Walmart. Next I found a drill bit that was larger than the shaft of the pins, but smaller than the head. I drilled holes into the front edge of the wood and pressed the pins into the wood so that if a squirrel chewed on the front edge a pin would enter his mouth. Since the pins are stainless steel and cannot be seen from the ground, there is no visual indication they are even there.

The final question is, does this work? After I did my modification, I saw a squirrel visit the replaced louvers. He took one bite and tried the other side of the house. He did not like that side any better. Any area I saw them try, I installed the pins. There are still many squirrels about, but they apparently find my neighbors cuisine more appetizing. After all, all you need to do is discourage them from damaging YOUR house and they will find something easier.

[professorpaul]

A neighbor of mine trapped and drowned about 50+ such beasts. A week later, there were just as many as before. His wife also cooked a few. Taste like chicken.......

[Lar]

:) :) :) > squirrel may eat and die in walls smelling up your home. might have to :) > tear out walls :) >

:) Depends on the poison, "One Bite" is a dehydrator, and no moisture, no :) smell.

Where did you hear that from? One Bite active is Bromadiolone, an anticoagulant as most other rat baits are. Here is a link to another Bromadiolone product.

Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Dancing dog is back!

[Lar]

:) What I would like to use is an "industrial strength" type of :) squirrel/rodent killer. Can I put D-CON up in the around the roof of :) the house or do they make a red squirrel pest control item I can :) purchase that will ERADICATE these little son of a guns? :) :) I would like to know what a "pro" pest controller would use in a :) case like this and appreciate all advice and insights in how to :) eradicate these rodents from my home.

The relocation after trapping them in a live trap should be in a garbage can full of water...dead squirrels will be easy to recover..no smell. Squirrels will now and then eat on rat bait blocks but they aren't really attracted to them so usually they won't help. You can take any of the bait blocks and pulverize them then mix them in several table spoons of peanut butter, roll them out to 1 inch balls and they will now readily consume the toxin. Squirrels are more likely than rats to be nesting in the home so there will be more of a chance for them to die in the attic.

Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Dancing dog is back!