Anyone else with gray squirrel problems in their attic?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

We've been hearing squirrels running upstairs, behind the attic walls, but inside the house. The little bastards! There must be some hole somewhere. Perhaps the cold is making them want to find warm places, not sure. Is this common in Somerville? I see lots of squirrels around... Is there an easy solution to get rid of them? Should we call pest control or try to do something ourselves (dunno, traps, poison...)?

Comments

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

Squirrels can cause a lot of damage, so you want to be rid of them. Call pest control - they will set traps and then dispose of them for you. Once that is done, find the hole(s) and cover them up.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

We had this a few years ago. My landlord got a no-kill animal control company to come out and trap/release elsewhere, then plug up the holes. That took care of it.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

It's part of an evil conspiracy. I, too, was subjected to the attic dwellers (actually my tenants...I can't hear them on the first floor).

I used a local pest control company, they set out traps and caught two of them (at $250 a pop).

It's another sign that they can communicate and are developing intelligence. I welcome our new squirrel overlords.

Re: Trapping

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I've been reading up a bit. I'm not entirely sure that poisoning is even allowed around here. In addition, if the animal dies somewhere buried inside the walls, it would be hard to get it out... Yuck.

Would HandyMan

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

be able to find and fix such hole(s)? I used them once for a simple job and they were OK, but I cannot tell if we got lucky... I suppose I'll call them. And I can predict they'll say they can do it, which is why I'm asking...

Best Pest

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Best Pest took care of the problem at my house- and did it a no kill way

Re: Would HandyMan

[plumice.livejournal.com]

Five years ago, we had them trapped and sent far away. Then hired a contractor to close up the hole. They replaced a lot of wood around the gable where the hole was, and then hammered small sheets of lead over the corners and other places where two lengths of wood meet. The lead is pliable and easy to shape around corners and nooks, and it's harder to chew through than wood. With matching paint applied to the lead, the repair is unnoticeable from ground level.

That was five years ago, and no critters returned until this winter--they have chewed themselves a new hole elsewhere. Time to find that contractor.

I'd do the work myself except it's on a third-storey gable. If your handyman can get at the hole, look into using metal as part of the repair. I also successfully used aluminum flashing to seal an interior corner in another building where mice were chewing through.

Re: Best Pest

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm OK if they kill them, there are too many squirrels anyway.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

I've heard others say you can use things like moth balls or fox urine to keep them away. But I think once they've really nested, they're here to stay.

I used Critter Control for this exact problem about a year ago. They were awesome. They trapped 5 squirrels and then sealed up the openings. Be aware, however: I know several people say they've used no-kill services, but my understanding is that under state law, if you have trapper's license, you can NOT release.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Nice picture!

And yeah, it's pretty common :/. It is the cold driving them inside.

Re: Trapping

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

By the way, if you relocate the squirrels far away they are likely to die because they wouldn't know the area. They build nests for hiding from predators around where they leave and they wouldn't have them if you take them far away.

Re: Trapping

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as long as they don't have a way to get in, it should be fine - unless they chew in a new hole :)

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Eastern grey squirrels have two litters a year. The first in late-February/March, the second in June/July. You might have a squirrel who is building a nest in your attic.

We watched a squirrel building a nest near the bike path last week. It would run down the tree, grab a mouthful of leaves, rush back up, and repeat the process ad infinitum. They're crazed right now.

Re: Trapping

[ksushis.livejournal.com]

wow! I'm glad there's someone looking out for squirrels :)

[solarpanda.livejournal.com]

Heh, fox urine. Thank you for revealing a whole new world of amusement.
(i.e. http://www.predatorpee.com/)

[laryu.livejournal.com]

No kidding. The real question is, How do they collect the urine in the first place?

Re: Trapping

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

But it's legal to kill them, I hope.

rats with fluffy tails

[firepail.livejournal.com]

Squirrels are rodents, and they aren't endangered. If you want your squirrel problem to end, call a professional who will use rat traps and cages to get rid of them. The squirrels will continue to return to your house and try to gnaw a new entry if you plug up the current entry point. I had a squirrel problem earlier this year.

Gray squirrels can cause extensive damage to your house--they can cause a fire by chewing your wiring and they can ruin your walls by filling your insulation with waste.

Re: Trapping

[laryu.livejournal.com]

Yes, and trappers will do that when they catch them.

Btw, the problem with just plugging the holes is that you must first make sure all the squirrels are out. That's why you generally trap the squirrels first, then plug the holes.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Waltham Pest did a great job of ridding us of our plague of squirrels without concomitant piles of squirrel corpses.

Re: Trapping

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

OK, then I may save some money, trap them myself and kill them myself, then call somebody to plug the holes.

Re: rats with fluffy tails

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

And they are quite delicious...

Re: rats with fluffy tails

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

. . . according to Mike Huckabee, who used to fry them in a popcorn popper in college.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj3QAzSWVA4

Re: rats with fluffy tails

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

That Huckabee is a real man! I'm a peaceful person, but squirrels declared war. They'll get what they deserve! :)

Re: rats with fluffy tails

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Well, you outed me as a Arkansas refugee... Have I shared my recipe for raccoon?

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

We were told years ago during a similar outbreak that they are endangered. You couldn't prove that by a walk through my neighborhood, or by the 7 in my yard last week trying (successfully) to get at the bird food. Getting them out and plugging the hole is certainly a good start, but they will indeed chew a new hole. One of the most important things to do is make their access more difficult. Most people with squirrel problems have a tree near their house. The tree makes for very easy access to your attic. Have the tree trimmed so that the branches are not hanging near your roof and that will help. And if you trap and move them yourself.......keep it to yourself, it is indeed illegal.

Re: rats with fluffy tails

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmm...