Squirrels?

[billethkid]

For several years we have had squirrels running all about the top of our cage....always on their way to or back from some place.

The last couple of days I have seen one trying to pull away at the screen. It seems to be one of the younger squirrels.

We leave our doors open a lot this time of year and sure do not want them getting into the cage then the house.

Anybody with experience how to make our area undesirable to squirrels?

Or any other suggestions ....that have worked.

[graciegirl]

No. They are smarter than humans.

I have spoken.

[Two Bills]

I second GG's post.
If squirels were human, they would make Einstein look thick.
Been at war with the $%^**S for years. and never had a victory.
Cats scared of them, and the dog to slow!

[TVMayor]

Two weeks ago a squirrel chowed thru the wiring harness on my car transmission. It cost $330 to fix. Other people paid as high as $3,000 to repair wiring harness after squirrel damage.

After the repair I painted the wiring harness with a mix of olive oil and habanero. Habanero is a spice 80 times hotter than Jalapeno pepper.:boxing2:

[biker1]

You can trap them with a Have-A-Heart trap. They are clever but they also have a good appetite. Peanut butter on a cracker has worked for me in the past.

For several years we have had squirrels running all about the top of our cage....always on their way to or back from some place.

The last couple of days I have seen one trying to pull away at the screen. It seems to be one of the younger squirrels.

We leave our doors open a lot this time of year and sure do not want them getting into the cage then the house.

Anybody with experience how to make our area undesirable to squirrels?

Or any other suggestions ....that have worked.

[villagetinker]

Electric Utilities have been fighting squirrels for decades, you might try searching (Google or equal) for utility solutions, or maybe you can find a kind soul at SECO that could help. The utility solution may not be suitable at all for your problem but it would be a place to start.

[champion6]

You can trap them with a Have-A-Heart trap. <snip>Have you done this? What steps did you take after trapping the varmint?

[retiredguy123]

I have heard that, if you wrap sheet metal around the trunk of a tree, they can't climb the tree. I don't know if it works or if it is legal. My street has no squirrels because we have no trees.

[biker1]

Yes, I have trapped 4 or 5 at our previous home. They were becoming a serious problem after chewing through a soffit. Once trapped, you have essentially two options. Drown them or relocate them. Some have the opinion that relocation must be far away. I took them about 10 miles away on the other side of an interstate so returning was going to be a real challenge. Good luck.

Have you done this? What steps did you take after trapping the varmint?

[dewilson58]

I'm surprised they would bother a Bald Eagle's home.

[DonH57]

I don't think the squirrels here are good for stew. Too dry.

[dsbouley]

Maybe someone near you has a bird feeder they are attracted to. Get rid of the food source and maybe get rid of the problem

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Rapscallion St Croix]

The squirrels here look like dwarfs compared to those back home in the swamp.

[DonH57]

The squirrels here look like dwarfs compared to those back home in the swamp.

I think it's the poor quality in sources of food available for them. I'm thinking the palm nuts wouldn't be that nutritious, but then again I don't eat them myself!:agree:

[karostay]

Relocating you may be breaking the law

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I think it's the poor quality in sources of food available for them. I'm thinking the palm nuts wouldn't be that nutritious, but then again I don't eat them myself!:agree:

Palm nuts or squirrels?

[MACH7SS]

Easy solution. Have-a-heart trap from Amazon for 26 bucks. They are easy to trap and relocate to "greener" pastures. If you take them to a wooded area, they will not return. To squirrels, one place is as good as another if they have a food source.

[DonH57]

Palm nuts or squirrels?

The palm nuts!

[BobnBev]

Yes, I have trapped 4 or 5 at our previous home. They were becoming a serious problem after chewing through a soffit. Once trapped, you have essentially two options. Drown them or relocate them. Some have the opinion that relocation must be far away. I took them about 10 miles away on the other side of an interstate so returning was going to be a real challenge. Good luck.

I heard they taste like chicken..:1rotfl::1rotfl::a040::a040::boom:

[Doro22]

I understand your problem, and...we may be crazy but...wait for it, wAit for it...it’s coming.

We put a few black plastic forks stuck in the ground around the beds, teeth side up. Honestly the squirrels avoid our yard mostly. We see them running all around and they do come across for a few minutes. But they leave pretty quickly. They must think it’s the teeth of a predator. A few neighbors have noticed and think we are nutty. But that’s ok. Lol!

[Topspinmo]

I think it's the poor quality in sources of food available for them. I'm thinking the palm nuts wouldn't be that nutritious, but then again I don't eat them myself!:agree:

About every oak around here produces acorns.

[aninjamom]

Make sure that you don't have anything inside your screen that they would want; grease trap in the grill, birdseed, pet food, etc. If there's no reason to get inside, they won't.

[Topspinmo]

Relocating you may be breaking the law

I can read the headlines now, Man get beat to death at square, accused gets 6 months probation, other gets charges dropped. Man caught relocating nuisance squirrel gets 6 months in jail.:faint:

[Topspinmo]

Make sure that you don't have anything inside your screen that they would want; grease trap in the grill, birdseed, pet food, etc. If there's no reason to get inside, they won't.

In fall and before mating season squirrels look for shelter, food has nothing to do with it.

[Fredman]

Squirrels were living in my soffit used a hava heart trap and got a young one. Momma left with remaining young ones never to be seen again.

[Vladimir]

Yes, I have trapped 4 or 5 at our previous home. They were becoming a serious problem after chewing through a soffit. Once trapped, you have essentially two options. Drown them or relocate them. Some have the opinion that relocation must be far away. I took them about 10 miles away on the other side of an interstate so returning was going to be a real challenge. Good luck.

In my previous suburban home a neighbor would sit in the back with a pellet gun and shoot them. He was a pretty good shot.
I had some squirrels get into my attic in my previous home so I put up cage traps, put peanut butter in the trap and caught 4 of them. Took them to the lake and drowned them since they would come back even if released a few miles from the house.

[DonH57]

About every oak around here produces acorns.

True. I just wonder why the squirrels around here compared to the ones up north are smaller, skinnier, and their tails are not as fluffed and full. Just an observance.:popcorn:

[retiredguy123]

True. I just wonder why the squirrels around here compared to the ones up north are smaller, skinnier, and their tails are not as fluffed and full. Just an observance.:popcorn:
Diet and grooming.

[DonH57]

Diet and grooming.

Yep, good point. I forgot maybe the little fellows are running around searching out sucking down the remaining alcohol from all those nips villagers throw out !:ho:

[New Englander]

Yep, good point. I forgot maybe the little fellows are running around searching out sucking down the remaining alcohol from all those nips villagers throw out !:ho:

I've never seen any empty nip bottles on the ground in TV.

[GoPacers]

Nuisance Wildlife Regulations and Information (http://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/assistnuisance-wildlife/faqs/)

I've found a Have A Heart trap and euthanizing with a good pellet gun does the trick. Some of the advice given in this thread is illegal in Florida but I agree with one of the other posts, it's not likely that anyone will know unless one of your neighbors complains.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ya6z-NlDo

[Rango]

Two weeks ago a squirrel chowed thru the wiring harness on my car transmission. It cost $330 to fix. Other people paid as high as $3,000 to repair wiring harness after squirrel damage.

After the repair I painted the wiring harness with a mix of olive oil and habanero. Habanero is a spice 80 times hotter than Jalapeno pepper.:boxing2:

You can purchase automotive anti rodent tape for wiring harnesses. will probably last longer than olive oil

[billethkid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ya6z-NlDo

Perfect. Where can I get one?

[justjim]

Ultimate solution is to get rid of the oaks. However, not possible when the oak tree gets a certain size. Two of our new homes in TV had an oak when we purchased - - gone shortly after moving in. Squirrels are not a laughing matter.

[karostay]

About every oak around here produces acorns.


What else would it produce ?

[pheffner]

I had a screen house over my pool at my last house in Jupiter. Down at Costco I had bought a 2-pack of water guns which worked like a 3-foot syringe. (they gave out a helluva blast, the kids loved them...)
Whenever a chitterbeast dared to jump on the screen house I'd yell at it and if that didn't work, I'd grab the "squirrel squirter" and let 'em have it. It was hilarious, they'd get off the screen and jump into the palm trees
behind the deck and do that outraged "chirk, chirk" act with accompanying tail flick.

Good times...

[DonH57]

I've never seen any empty nip bottles on the ground in TV.

Oh yeah, they're there along many of the MMP cart paths and tunnels more so than other areas in the villages.

[Topspinmo]

What else would it produce ?

Squirrel food

[starman]

I use the Have A Heart trap to catch the squirrels. The only way to eliminate them ( and I mean eliminate ) is to ELIMINATE them.. I use an exterminator commonly referred to as a pellet gun. Once they are trapped, you have to give them a headache, one shot does it.. Squirrels are not only bothersome, they harbor disease and are incredibly destructive to our property. Last year a house burned and the cause was found to be squirrels chewing through wiring in the attic.. Our squirrels up north are much bigger probably because food is more abundent Florida squirrels are scrawny little buggers who cannot find enough food wo they come to our property scavaging.. They are prolific so please no comments about me disturbing the balance of nature.. Anyway, this is my way of handling the PROBLEM

[shawano1]

Put out a bird feeder and enjoy, and be thankful for the free show that God and Mother Nature has given you.

[Hermit]

We have also trapped and relocated squirrels. Here is a website that may be helpful. It reiterates that you must take them at least 5 miles away, but preferably 10 miles. Relocating Squirrels - Release them into the Wild (http://www.squirrel-attic.com/relocating.html)

We have been using the electric plug-in pest repellant for mice, and so far it has worked. You might check to see if this would work on squirrels. I have a tendency to overdo things...if it says to use one, I use two. :-) Best of luck...the cute little guys are quite annoying.

[OhioBuckeye]

No. They are smarter than humans.

I have spoken.

You got that right! Like a human with a gun, LOL. Let them get into your house & they'll destroy it.

[grecoref]

Yes, I have trapped 4 or 5 at our previous home. They were becoming a serious problem after chewing through a soffit. Once trapped, you have essentially two options. Drown them or relocate them. Some have the opinion that relocation must be far away. I took them about 10 miles away on the other side of an interstate so returning was going to be a real challenge. Good luck.

My mom has trapped and relocated 40+ squirels. She has the have a heart trap and then takes them for a ride 10-15 miles away and releases them in a park..

[OhioBuckeye]

Have you done this? What steps did you take after trapping the varmint?

I had trouble with squirrels & chip monks back in Ohio & I caught them in cage trap that you catch musk rats in. I bet I caught 50 of these little critters in one summer. I didn't want to kill them after I caught them so I would take them about a 1/2 mi. form my house at a field & release them. So of my neighbors ask me why I just didn't drown them. I just thought it was easier to release them than to have to dig a hole & bury them. Beside some animal environmentalist would probably get wind of it & turn me in. Hope this help somewhat.

[phil9200]

Do not have any bird feeders in or near your home

[Villagesgal]

I put vinegar in a spray bottle and sprayed them when I saw one, they hate the taste and run right past my home now. When a new one shows up I spray him and he leaves. I no longer have a problem, but my neighbors still do. They don't spray them with vinegar. Doesn't hurt the squirrels but they hate the smell and taste when they clean themselves. Try it, it works.

[genobambino]

They will try to get into the attic by banging their heads on the soffit until they find a loose one, then you REALLY have problems..One of the biggest problems is that people feed them, we had folks in our old neighborhood that refused to stop feeding them, so we had a real problem with them. A couple of my neighbors used havaheart traps and took them out in the country and let them loose, last count I think it was in the 40's that were trapped. They will rip holes in the screen with their sharp claws on the lani to get in

[injunlee]

Had problems with squirrels eating the wood trim around garage doors. I smeared peanut butter with D-con mixed in and they never came back....

[jefforyj]

We had trouble keeping the little squirts away from some of our exterior furniture, and othe plastic items. I tried pepper, (like red pepper) in a spray bottle with some oil and always keeping a fresh pepper in the water. That seemed to work for a while but they would return. I later found out what the real problem was/is. Seems many of the manufacturers are now using soy oil to make their products with and guess what . . . . they really like the soy oil..... I know that may not solve your problem but the pepper oil might help. Good luck.

[Henryk]

Do not have any bird feeders in or near your home

I never Place bird feeders in my home. :shocked:

[TOMMY D]

I had to deal with squirrels and racoons. They are not smarter than humans because they have this thing called hunger. Invested in a have a heart trap. Large one $52. I call it a Relocation Trap. When doing that make sure your going 2 or better miles away from your home. A bobcat came through my yard one night after setting the trap. Lucky it didn't eat marshmallows.

[karostay]

I never Place bird feeders in my home. :shocked:

Me either birds can't open the door :1rotfl:
But the wood peckers knock

[karostay]

We have also trapped and relocated squirrels. Here is a website that may be helpful. It reiterates that you must take them at least 5 miles away, but preferably 10 miles. Relocating Squirrels - Release them into the Wild (http://www.squirrel-attic.com/relocating.html)

We have been using the electric plug-in pest repellant for mice, and so far it has worked. You might check to see if this would work on squirrels. I have a tendency to overdo things...if it says to use one, I use two. :-) Best of luck...the cute little guys are quite annoying.

It's illegal in many states to relocate raccoons, because they are rabies vectors. However, it's legal to relocate them here in Florida. However, it's not legal to relocate them on public lands. You must do so on private land that you have permission to relocate on.

[Rich42]

Shotgun should work!

[New Englander]

Shotgun should work!

So would common sense!

[marianne237]

how about spraying the area with ammonia? We spray the inside and outside of the garbage bags before they go out for the pick up guys. keeps the feral cats and coyotes from ripping up the bags.

[Investment Painting Contractors]

Tune in tonight at 8:00 pm to PBS all your Questions will be answered. ( I HOPE ) Len

[dewilson58]

Shotgun should work!

Too many holes in the screen

[BK001]

I don't think the squirrels here are good for stew. Too dry.

Well then try this:

Smother Fried Squirrel and Gravy in the Dutch Oven - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge2e_UXtUkw)


Me? -- I think I'm going vegan!

[New Englander]

Well then try this:

Smother Fried Squirrel and Gravy in the Dutch Oven - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge2e_UXtUkw)


Me? -- I think I'm going vegan!

I had that last night. Tastes like chicken. :mmmm:

[BK001]

Tune in tonight at 8:00 pm to PBS all your Questions will be answered. ( I HOPE ) Len


Thanks Len,

I just set my DVR -- in case I fall asleep.

[Carla B]

Tune in tonight at 8:00 pm to PBS all your Questions will be answered. ( I HOPE ) Len

Yep, that show answered a lot of questions about how smart and adaptable they are, from Prairie Dogs to Flying Squirrels. And I disagree that the small gray squirrels here don't get enough to eat, they're just small because that's the species of tree squirrels they are.

[thetruth]

Have you done this? What steps did you take after trapping the varmint?

Fortunately, we do not have squirrels at our location. I see them as cute and amusing when they are at YOUR home.

The truth is they are RATS with fuzzy tails.

As to using a have a heart trap, which I've used at our previous home. The appeal is that it does not kill or injure the squirrel. You had better check, where we used to live it is not legal to trap or kill squirrels. I doubt it is legal for you to release a squrrel into what you think is a better place for it to live.

Also, to let the squrrel out of a have a heart trap, you are very close to an agitated rat.