* Dealing with problem squirrels humanely and effectively
- Problems live-trapping squirrels
- Alternatives to trapping (repellants, barriers)
Young squirrels are very curious and active and will stray short distances from their nest to explore or look for their mother, who may be away gathering food. They are often times blown from or fall from their nests to the ground during storms or windy days. They will usually call or chirp for their mother, who generally promptly retrieves them and carries them back to their nest. If you find an alert young squirrel on the ground, you should provide the mother some time (at least one hour for furred young) to retireve her young, unless the baby squirrel appears in distress or injured (eyes closed, lying on its side). The mother will only come down to the ground when it is safe to do so, so you should watch closely from a fair distance away or from a window in a nearby house. If you know the location of the nest, you can promptly return the baby squirrel to it. The mother will not abandon her baby because you have handled it.
If the mother does not retrieve her young and you have to take the squirrel to a vet or a wildlife rehabilitator, place it in a box with a warm towel and a WARM hot water bottle. BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT BURN THE SQUIRREL.
Problems live-trapping squirrels
Many people believe that live-trapping squirrels is the most humane and effective option in dealing with squirrel problems. There are, however, many problems associated with live-trapping, as follows:
* squirrels have two litters a year and if a mother is caught and removed from an area, it will result in her young starving to death.
* relocated animals are at a disadvantage as they have no nest or food stores, and will likely be chased from the area by more dominant squirrels. If the squirrels are relocated too late in the year, this will almost certainly result in their deaths.
* Removing one animal from an area will only create a habitat void which will encourage another squirrel or other animal to take up resisence in that space, and home owner problems will begin again. If squirrels in the attic is your problem, a better solution is a repellant and a barrier device, such as blocking the attic hole with wood or mesh.
* Squirrels are territorial, so the squirrel in your yard is actually preventing other squirrels from moving in. Mothers will drive their own babies from there terrirtory when they are old enough, so if you are afraid that the four baby squirrels in her nest will also be permanently living in your backyard...do not worry. They will leave the area they were born in after a few weeks out of the nest.
Squirrels in attics and places you don't want them to be
The best way to prevent squirrels from nesting in attics, etc., is to block the entrance hole with wood or a piece of wire mesh and use a repellant. First, check the area to make sure the squirrel is out of the area and make sure there are no nests with babies. If there is a nest with babies, very carefully move the nest a few inches away from its original spot, being careful not to harm the delicate young. Once the mother returns and notices that her nest has been discovered, she will move her young. Give her at least a couple of days to do so. Once the squirrel and her young have left the area you can block the entrance hole and place repellants in the area. There are commercial squirrel repellants available or you can use mothballs, cayennan pepper or the following organic repellant recipe:
Squirrel repellant recipe - 2 Tablespoons of tabasco sauce in one litre of water. (Fill squirt bottle and spray the area you don't want chewed or the squirrels accessing.) *Note: reapply every few days.