squirrel in my celing

[HillStreet]

An exterminator told me a few years ago to do this: place some Decon in peanut butter, then roll them into balls covered in oatmeal, then place one each ball into a sandwich bag and position them around the area.

The squirrels will eat them, then need to get outside to drink water, where they die.

 

[s219]

Do what you can to get him out before he gets into the living area. We had a squirrel get in through a chimney when I was growing up, and he trashed the house -- chewed up all the wooden window sills and sashes. My brother and I came home from school and discovered the mess. Finally caught the bugger in a fishing net, and took it outdoors. I was going to let it go, but my brother got a crazy look in his eye (like a shellshocked war vet) and insisted we shoot it. I decided not to argue with him since he was already holding a .22 :confused2:.

 

[MarkF48]

An exterminator told me a few years ago to do this: place some Decon in peanut butter, then roll them into balls covered in oatmeal, then place one each ball into a sandwich bag and position them around the area.

The squirrels will eat them, then need to get outside to drink water, where they die.

Nope, at least for mice and rats which are not much different, they die in the walls or other inaccessible locations. The odor is not pleasant for a long time. If it's an old house with a stone foundation and balloon framing they seem to find easy entry and a pathway up through the walls to the attic space.

 

[Bird]

In the mid-70s and into the '80s, my parents spent summers in a house in Oklahoma that was build about 1929 and winters in an old mobile home on the Texas coast. One Spring, when they moved back to Oklahoma, they found a squirrel had gotten into the attic, gnawed or dug through the ceiling and fell into a bedroom. We can only guess that it starved, but it was lying in the middle of a bed, shriveled and dried up.

 

[MH8675309]

I was going to let it go, but my brother got a crazy look in his eye (like a shellshocked war vet) and insisted we shoot it. I decided not to argue with him since he was already holding a .22

Brother was right - he would've just got back in and did even more damage.

 

[check]

In the mid-70s and into the '80s, my parents spent summers in a house in Oklahoma that was build about 1929 and winters in an old mobile home on the Texas coast. One Spring, when they moved back to Oklahoma, they found a squirrel had gotten into the attic, gnawed or dug through the ceiling and fell into a bedroom. We can only guess that it starved, but it was lying in the middle of a bed, shriveled and dried up.

My daughter found a dead flying squirrel in the toilet at the cottage one time. Scared the **** out of her. With those great big eyes, and the fur all puffed out and floating in the water, she thought it was a racoon!!

Then we discovered that there was more of them that had gotten into the cottage through the attic. They had broken into a big bag of peanuts in the shell, and stashed peanuts everywhere throughout the cottage. Over 100 of them in one light fixture!

Still finding peanuts here and there. Finally got rid of them with rat traps. Also, I blocked up the hole where they were getting into the cottage down from the attic. Also blocked up the hole where they were getting into the attic from the outside. Unfortunately, they had left behind some youngsters, who were old enough to be on their own, but who had gotten trapped in the attic. I let them chew on the exterior hole that I blocked up for a little while, then went up and took the piece of tin down that was blocking the hole. Sat back for about 10 seconds, and three of the little buggers came climbing out of the hole and scooted off, whereupon I blocked it up again. Haven't seen anything INSIDE since then, but I have seen the youngsters searching for a way back in.

Yep, squirrels can be a real adventure.

 

[MacLawn]

Raccoon chewed through shingles AND 1x6 roof sheathing on a house we had. Made his place in attic. Crits. I love'em, but ye do have to keep an eye out for the rascals.

 

[EddieWalker]

There is another way in that you haven't found yet. They have probably been storing nuts in your attic and it's become their home, so anything you do to block them from getting in there just means they will find or create another way of getting in there. Wood does not work. I've found that when filling, replacing or covering a hole with wood, they focus on that exact same spot to get in again. I've found the electrical metal cover plates work great. Four holes at each corner for screwing them in and they never get through that spot again.

You really have to look at every square inch of your eaves, gable ends, dormers and flashing. It doesn't take much for them to get through and they will do whatever it takes to get there. The giveaway is they are creatures of habit and they will leave a trail showing where they are going.

Eddie

 

[tjcarguy]

Chipmunks are the worst ! cute and destructive ---Trevor

 

[wmonroe]

I love chipmunks...they make for good target practice with the .22. By the end of summer I get pretty good.