Austin Area Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.

info@austinareawildliferehab.org

Squirrels

Gnawing and scratching during the day will probably be squirrels, while gnawing and scratching during the night will probably be rats. While squirrels can be destructive, they also eat undesirable insects (roaches), along with seeds and nuts. They can cause damage by chewing both wood and wiring. They do carry diseases (fleas and other parasites) but are not a rabies threat.

Trapping is not a long-term solution, as another animal will just move in. Solutions for keeping them out of your house should be addressed when they leave home every day to forage for food.

To remove squirrels from a fireplace, lower a rope (at least 3/4 inch thick) down the chimney and tie it securely to the top of the chimney. Leave. The squirrel will climb the rope to freedom, assuming it has not been injured. Once it is gone, cap the chimney with a commercially made chimney cap.

For long-term success in removing squirrels from the attic, spray fox/predator urine or lay rags soaked in ammonia around entry/exit points. Place a radio in the attic tuned to an all-talk or hard rock station. Once the squirrels have left, it is imperative that repairs be made. If you are unable to determine if all the squirrels have left, install a one-way door. Wait until the animal has left for the day, and loosely close the opening with netting or straw. It should be placed loosely enough so that if an animal is trapped inside, he can still push the material out of the way to get out. Wait until no more sounds are heard for several days, then permanently seal the opening with hardware cloth or welded wire.

If the nest is inaccessible or out of sight, or if the squirrel has been in the house for a couple of days, and if it is March through May or August through October, then there are probably babies. Please wait until the babies are old enough to come out on their own and then install a one-way door.

Hardware cloth or welded wire can be used to construct an L-shaped footer to exclude animals from underneath decks. However, it is imperative that no young are trapped inside after the adult has been excluded.

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