Although squirrels are cute furry animals and many times we love to observe them in the park, they can do a lot of damage if they nest in an attic, crawl space or in any other area of a home. Mostly, because they chew indiscriminately without knowing the damage that they are causing. It is not advisable to hand feed squirrels as they will get used to this and will come back for more. Soon, you will have more than one squirrel around and you do not want them to get used to that type of routine.
With that said, if you have a squirrel problem in your home, the best way is to trap the squirrel in a humane way and release it. Squirrel form clans, and while releasing in another area is preferable to killing the animal, the best compromise is to release it in the nearby area and block the entrance to the spot it has chosen to do its nest. You can also apply chemicals to the spot to discourage building a new nest.
You can trap the squirrel yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. They have the necessary equipment, experience to do the job efficiently, and safe. One of the most important aspects when trapping a squirrel is to check the cage at certain periods to make sure that the animal does not stay trapped without food or water in the heavy heat for a long period. Professionals who use humane trapping techniques usually have staff available to check during weekends, as in the case of businesses, and when homeowners may not be around.
If you are doing the job yourself, you may have to get a squirrel trap and the necessary bait. You can find a one-door trap at a feed store or animal shop. Next, you will have to observe the squirrel’s daily routine to see which the best spot to set the trap is. Usually the best spot is the feeding area, for example if you have a bird feeder, they will be around for sure. Set the trap on the spot you choose. Anchor it well so it does not move around. You can use any heavy object on top or tie it down.
Next, you will have to make the squirrel trust the cage. The best way to do this is to place the food in the cage with the door open and let it go and find the free food for a couple of days. Once the animal is used to the cage as being part of the landscape, set the trap and this time you will catch the squirrel. It is important to remove any other source of food from the surrounding areas, so the only source of food is the trap.
If you do not get the squirrel used to the cage first, and it fails the first time, then it will know to avoid it. Check the cage several times to make sure that you have trapped the animal. Once trapped, take it to a park or a rural area where it will find plenty of nourishment. If the squirrel has babies and you know of the nest, contact animal control in your area before releasing it. They will relocate the squirrel and the babies safely. Sometimes they work with local veterinarians or wildlife agencies for a safe release program of mother and babies.
