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Higgy 10-05-15 12:51 PM

Squirrels in Attic
 
Hey all,

Any of you ever have squirrels in your attic and what did you do to get rid of them? Call an pest control place or just buy a cage and do it yourself? Not sure if I want to fork over the $650 for some guys to come and remove it or if I can just do it myself.

stevehull 10-05-15 03:53 PM

1) Find out how they get in

2) Block that entrance

3) Get a $25 "Hav a Hart" trap and put it in attic, with tree rat bait (peanut butter)

4) Move captured tree rat to rural setting

5) Go out and buy $625 worth of tools . . . .



Steve

Higgy 10-06-15 08:51 AM

LOL...thanks Steve. I actually went and bought one yesterday after posting. My local hardware store had one. So I put in on the roof near the entrance (had to play around with some wood framing keeping it up there) with food in a little tray at the very end. The damn thing somehow got into the trap, ate the food and got out. WTF!?!?! I was watching him from inside for a while, but I missed the part where he managed to jack the food. The thing is like a ninja. I swear. I barely touch the trap and it goes off. This thing waltzes into it takes the food and even moved the tray and the thing didn't go off. I even tested it again after and it worked fine.

FYI there is like a mother and 5 babies in there (almost full grown). So I'd have to set the trap a few times. Maybe I will try it in the attic itself instead.

Should I get a roofer in at all to fix this and clean out the fecal matter and urine, or what would you guys suggest (picture attached). Also, what about cleanup? I'm not sure how I would get to anything as they were in the soffits as well.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5761/2...0d36c4f9_c.jpg

AC_Hacker 10-06-15 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgy (Post 47237)
Hey all,

Any of you ever have squirrels in your attic and what did you do to get rid of them? Call an pest control place or just buy a cage and do it yourself? Not sure if I want to fork over the $650 for some guys to come and remove it or if I can just do it myself.

I sure would like to know how you deal with it.

I have tried everything... too numerous, and too unkind to mention.

The trap idea is good, I'd add that your bait should be wrapped in steel screen, so you don't need to continuously re-arrange the bait. You're going to need it often.

I have found that eliminating the local population is only a very temporary remedy, as they will flow back in to fill the void.

I think that if they have successfully set up in your house, others will continue to try later... even years later.

I bought an electric livestock fence transformer. I haven't quite figured out how to rig it so that it will do the most good.

I also saw, at a local hardware store, a high-voltage, lethal electric rat trap... my mind is at work on this!!!

-AC

Higgy 10-06-15 01:05 PM

I almost feel like spraying it with sprayfoam to fill the void after they're dealt with and then putting some kind of metal cage over top the hole. I've been hearing them (at least the mom) up there for probably a year now, but I didn't realize they were inside the attic. I thought she was just scurrying over the roof making that noise. But then I saw them all pop their heads out the other day and I was like... Son of a ... Looked in the attic and there they were in the corner scurrying around. I'm worried what it looks like under my insulation. The wires looked ok, but I'm not sure I even want to go into this part of the attic as you're not supposed to breath that crap in (it's not the main attic, it's the attic part over top of my dining room). Not sure how to clean that up after they are dealt with.

AC_Hacker 10-06-15 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgy (Post 47258)
Not sure how to clean that up after they are dealt with.

Might be a good time to call in someone with spray-foam and have them encase all the squirrel debris & feces in high quality foam.

-AC

SDMCF 10-07-15 06:35 AM

3 or 4 years ago we had a squirrel in the attic. (I only saw one). No idea how it got in, or how long it had been there before I spotted it. All I did was leave a portable radio playing quite loudly in the attic for a while, and I haven't seen any sign of squirrels invading since. Don't know if I hit upon a simple & cheap solution or was just lucky to encounter a squirrel that didn't like noise.

stevehull 10-07-15 06:39 AM

I have heard that they will just dig through foam. But the friend who failed with just foam, then put in chicken wire and THEN foamed. The foam covered and encapsulated the wire.

The tree rats left . . . .


Steve

Higgy 10-07-15 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker (Post 47272)
Might be a good time to call in someone with spray-foam and have them encase all the squirrel debris & feces in high quality foam.

-AC

LOL, yeah that could be a solution. I want to spray foam above the garage as well, as my kids rooms are above the garage and their floors are cold, so I was thinking spray foam would be better.

Higgy 10-07-15 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDMCF (Post 47282)
3 or 4 years ago we had a squirrel in the attic. (I only saw one). No idea how it got in, or how long it had been there before I spotted it. All I did was leave a portable radio playing quite loudly in the attic for a while, and I haven't seen any sign of squirrels invading since. Don't know if I hit upon a simple & cheap solution or was just lucky to encounter a squirrel that didn't like noise.

I actually tried that, although it was only for a few hours and they didn't seem to care. Perhaps if I leave it longer. I know they don't like loud noises.

Higgy 10-07-15 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevehull (Post 47283)
I have heard that they will just dig through foam. But the friend who failed with just foam, then put in chicken wire and THEN foamed. The foam covered and encapsulated the wire.

The tree rats left . . . .


Steve

Exactly what I was thinking of doing. Spray foam it, then put chicken wire over top. Not sure if that would keep them out permanently or not.

Higgy 10-13-15 08:45 AM

So, I think I caught all the little buggers. Used one of those Havahart traps. Drove them about 5+ miles away (the mom, at least I think it was the mom, I drove out almost 10 miles). I live outside the city so there's lots of other houses and tons of trees between where I dropped them off and where I live so hopefully they don't find their way back. I went into the attic and looked around and didn't find anymore. While I was in there I also was hoping to seal up the soffit from the inside, but it was blocked by the framing so I couldn't do it. Even from the outside I couldn't really seal it off except for taking some Big Stuff and spray foaming it as much as I could. I know they can chew through that eventually but I figured it might deter them long enough for me to get something better in place. Can't really get into that area with a hammer, drill or even staple gun so not sure what else I can do to block it.

Piwoslaw 10-14-15 12:38 PM

I would have kept them, at least they would add some heat to the attic during winter (unless they decided to move downstairs).

In the spring you could catch them and make a fur coat to keep you warm next winter.

Just joking. About the coat, anyways...:cool:

jeff5may 10-21-15 06:43 AM

The major manufacturers now have rodent and bug control spray foam products available. I don't know what's in it, but for your situation it would fare better than the plain stuff when the critters come back. Cuz dead rats don't eat.

AC_Hacker 10-21-15 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw (Post 47444)
Just joking. About the coat, anyways...:cool:

I knew you were joking... it would take so many pelts to make a coat.

But a squirrel-fur had or ear-muffs would be more reasonable.


-AC

JRMichler 10-28-15 08:19 PM

A squirrel got into my basement once. So I grabbed a 17 caliber air pistol and started shooting the little varmint. After hitting it 3 or 4 times, I shot it right between the eyes from five feet away. It stood there and looked at me, then ran away.

It came back the following day, got shot a couple more times, then left and never came back.

That was a target grade spring piston air pistol, designed for accuracy rather than power. I'm sure that the pellets penetrated the squirrel's skin, but probably not much farther.

I'm still impressed by how it could run up, down, and sideways on a concrete block wall. Also up and down copper water pipes.

jeff5may 10-28-15 11:09 PM

Nothing like a good pistol to run off those intruders. Especially if you're a good shot.

Xringer 01-24-19 12:49 PM

We had a tree rat that came down the chimney to nest on the fireplace damper.
No big deal, until he started hunting for insects under the roofing shingles.
I chased him out and blocked up the top of chimney with chicken wire.
I had a stack of spare shingles and was able to repair our roof.

He moved 2 house down the street and complete destroyed their roof shingles.
The house was empty at the time, so the rain came in and destroyed much of the interior. My guess is 10,000 to 15,000 in damages.

What I fear is the deer ticks w/ Lyme disease that all of these rodents carry.
I keep the field mice population low with d-Con and larger rodents with P-Rod.

This reminds me, gotta replace the attic d-Con block..
Have not been up there this week at all.. Had the flu since the 9th.. :(
Hope it's not Lyme disease! Yikes!

MN Renovator 01-30-20 01:58 PM

"Hope it's not Lyme disease! Yikes!"

Did you exchange blood with the squirrel or have a tick end up on you from the squirrel that ended up feasting on your blood?
Lyme disease is a blood transmitted disease.
I've had it after coming home from camping, was more tired than I've ever been, little appetite, and a bullseye rash the size of the bottom of a pie plate. Symptoms may vary between people put fever isn't as common.

Ralph III 02-10-20 11:25 PM

Hello All,

I just wanted to chime in on this as there are numerous other recommendations not mentioned within the thread. So for future reference.....

1. You should use a trap to get rid of rodents (squirrels/rats) and not poison. If you use poison they will eat it and then die somewhere within your house which could stink quite badly and for a long period of time.

2. After removing the rodent you should seal off their entrance with wire mesh of some sort.

3. You should remove all of the rodent droppings that you can find and/or any soiled insulation. Otherwise, the odor will attract future rodents.

4. You may consider spraying ammonia or fox urine it the attic. This will help get rid of the rodent odor and can also act as a deterrent. There are other recommendations in this regards so research it.

5. You may consider leaving the attic light on. I'd recommend an LED type because it creates very little heat and they use very little electricity. Many rodents don't like bright lights.

6. Yes, a radio in the attic playing loudly will discourage rodents from moving in or cause them to move out.

I'm not a pest control person but I've had to remove squirrels and rats from personal rental property as well as work. They can cause a significant amount of damage and create hazards by damaging electrical wiring.

Good luck,
Ralph

SDMCF 02-11-20 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph III (Post 62092)
4. You may consider spraying ammonia or fox urine it the attic.

I think the logistics of obtaining a supply of fox urine would defeat me.

Ralph III 02-12-20 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDMCF (Post 62093)
I think the logistics of obtaining a supply of fox urine would defeat me.

I was posting legit advice for anyone who may want to consider it. So I am not sure if you are attempting to be funny? Just FYI, you can purchase a spray bottle of fox urine from Lowes or Home Depot and many other retail stores dealing in outdoor items or gardening. It is sold just for the purpose I noted. A rodent deterrent.

God Bless,
Ralph

Fredo 02-29-20 09:56 AM

Entry point could be discovered by placing camera with night vision on. Helped us locate raccoon visitor.

Xringer 02-29-20 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredo (Post 62175)
Entry point could be discovered by placing camera with night vision on. Helped us locate raccoon visitor.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B9WNBBT/
One of these cams would work. Add on an SD card.

I mounted mine on a board and ran an 120vac extension cord, so I could move in around outdoors. We've got a lot of coyotes around here at night!


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