How do you get a squirrel to move out??

[poohs_hunny]

I've got a squirrel issue. On the front of my house, there is a small opening where the roof meets the siding. Birds love to make their nests in there during the spring and summer. I was supposed to have the opening sealed up, but every time the guy was supposed to come, I could hear birds in there and we'd have to wait until they "moved out". Recently, I've heard noises in that area again, so I figured it was more birds. Then I saw that a roof shingle was hanging loose in front of the opening, which I thought was odd. Today, I was that the noisemaker is actually a squirrel (saw him climb in the opening). I guess the shingle came loose from the squirrel climbing in and out repeatedly.

How do I get Mr. Squirrel to move out? I really want this opening sealed up NOW, but I don't want the guy to come to do it, only to get attacked by a squirrel! I am also afraid that eventually, it'll find its way into the attic and wreak havoc there.

So, any advice on how to evict a squirrel?

 

[KittyHellstrom]

a humane trap with food in it might lure him out.

-Kitty

 

[jparc]

I wish I knew. We have the same problem and we think he has made his way into the attic because he wakes my daughter up from his nails scratching the dry wall of her ceiling when he walks around. Banging on the ceiling with a broom stick scares him away at least for awhile. We have just kept banging whenever we were heard him and my daughter says she hasn't heard him for a while now. Good luck with getting rid of yours!

 

[tvguy]

Pest control company is probably your best option.

 

[luvmy3]

I would call someone ASAP since the squirrel is probably starting to get ready for winter and you want to give him a chance to find a new home.

 

[golfgal]

I would call someone ASAP since the squirrel is probably starting to get ready for winter and you want to give him a chance to find a new home.

And a place to have babies-which will lead to a whole family of squirrels living there. You could watch for the squirrel to leave and then put something over the opening so he can't come back in.

 

[CleoPahd]

If you were my parents you'd have a Chevy Chase National Lampoon's moment which would include opening all the doors and windows, a high pitch blood curdling scream and a broom - all while the squirrel swings & jumps wildly from curtain to curtain in the formal living room.

 

[surfergirl602]

go to a sporting/hunting store and get some consentrated animal urine, like coyote, something that will be a predator, and put it in there. The squirrel will leave.

 

[Green Tea]

Red Fox Urine. Their most feared predator. You can get it at a garden center. I got disks with the scent or they sell it by the bottle. It it outside the hole. Squirrel will flee in rapid order.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would call pest control and include clean up of the droppings and nesting materials in the service if they provide that.

I certainly would not seal it up until it was cleaned out.

 

[Micca]

Throw all his stuff out on the lawn and embarrass him in front of the neighbors?

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

Call a pest control company tomorrow, first thing! I know TWO families whose houses were burned down thanks to squirrells in the attic gnawing on the electrical wiring. Please, call tomorrow. Don't waste your time trying to take care of it yourself. One of the families had only been hearing scratching for a week or so before their house went down... they were waiting for a family friend to come over the following weekend to help the father "evict" the squirrell.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Put moth balls in the hole.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

One of my sisters tried and tried.

She finally gave up, sealed the hole and called a guy who came and trapped him while he was inside her attic.

 

[Mickey527]

They sell this stuff in Home Depot that is called "Squirrel Away" that my brother used once and it works great. But when I read the ingredients I saw it was cayanne pepper and cellulose. So basicly cayanne pepper and wood shavings.
I had a problem with a squirrel and I bought cayanne pepper and used a turkey baster to "shoot" the pepper into the hole. I wasn't about to get close enough that the little guy could take a bite out of me...
that little guy hasn't come back at all this year and I still haven't had time to plug up the hole.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would call someone ASAP since the squirrel is probably starting to get ready for winter and you want to give him a chance to find a new home.

Actually, the humane thing would be to kill it. They are pack animals, and can't survive in the wild without a pack, because squirrels are very territorial. If you set it lose, it will either move into someone else's home, or be killed by other squirrels (learned this when we had squirrels).

 

[arminnie]

My sister has had this problem in two houses. There is a special company that she uses to deal with it. Not the regular pest control guy.

I'm not sure what they do - but they make sure the rodents, animals or birds are gone before they come in and do the final sealing. It's all part of the service. It works.

 

[luvmy3]

Actually, the humane thing would be to kill it. They are pack animals, and can't survive in the wild without a pack, because squirrels are very territorial. If you set it lose, it will either move into someone else's home, or be killed by other squirrels (learned this when we had squirrels).

I didn't know squirrels will kill other squirrels, and I have never seen them in packs, just 2 at most playing chase. (Or one running for his life ) If what you say is true, I'd definitely call someone to come and take it away so they can find a safe home for it.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

Actually, the humane thing would be to kill it. They are pack animals, and can't survive in the wild without a pack, because squirrels are very territorial. If you set it lose, it will either move into someone else's home, or be killed by other squirrels (learned this when we had squirrels).

Sorry, but this is just not true. I have rehabbed orphaned baby squirrels for years and know for a fact that squirrels are not "pack animals" unless they are flying squirrels, which do live in family groups. Grey squirrels and fox squirrels are solitary animals unless it's a female with her young. The squirrels you see playing together are likely young siblings.

A squirrels' territory is about a square block, so if you evict the squirrel it will probably find a nearby tree to live in, not be killed by a another squirrel for invading its territory. It's probably already living in its own territory which is the area surrounding your home. If not, it'll move on down the road a few blocks. Squirrels will chase each other out of their territory but I've never heard of one killing another squirrel.

As far as getting rid of it, sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally, and seal the place it's coming in during the day when the squirrel is likely out and about, getting ready for winter. It's true that many homes are burned down because of squirrels chewing the wires in peoples homes. And to the poster who said a squirrel is waking her DD during the night. More than likely it's a rat or mouse if you're hearing it scratching around at night. Only flying squirrels are nocturnal and a regular squirrel would be asleep like your DD. I'd put out some traps or poison in your attic and catch it.

 

[KittyHellstrom]

ack! killing is NOT humane.