Squirrel removal needed

[eastsidechris]

My next door neighbor called me the other day to say that there are animals scratching inside the roof of her house and it's so loud she has to turn up the TV to drown the noise out. [[I'll add here that she didn't have a home inspection before she bought the house, and if she had, any good inspector would have seen that squirrels tore open some paneling under her roof and apparently have a nest in there.)

Anyway, I gave her a number I had for somebody that traps animals--but he wanted $175 to come out and lay down 2 traps, and an additional $100 for the second trip out to remove them. Sounds like highway robbery to me, and she can't afford that price [[she's older and on disability).

Can anyone recommend a reasonably-priced animal removal specialist that I can pass on to her? Thanks.

[UpTown]

Might I suggest going to Harbor Freight and purchasing a live trap? I had some possums in my garage, as well as a few squirrels eating some plant bulbs I had planted. I put the trap down, put some peanut butter and some other foodstuffs and they sprung the trap in no time. It comes with a handy dandy handle. Take the animal and drive a few miles away and drop it off. They are hearty enough to survive in this weather.

[Johnnny5]

Live traps and peanut butter will work well for squirrels, but I have to disagree about the squirrels being hardy enough to make it if they're relocated. Realistically, moving a squirrel this time of year is probably a death sentence. With the ground frozen solid under 6" of snow there's simply no way for them to acquire food or build the shelter they would need to survive. That's why they spend nearly every hour of daylight in the Fall collecting food and building nests for Winter.

Another reason for not relocating squirrels is that they make awesome soup! Honestly if they weren't so difficult to clean they would probably be on the Endangered Species List.

[Packman41]

Another reason for not relocating squirrels is that they make awesome soup! Honestly if they weren't so difficult to clean they would probably be on the Endangered Species List.

Time for some DIY.
First, cover the hole in the roof to stop any additional invaders.
Second, use a rat sized spring trap as opposed to a mouse-sized one. Agree that peanut butter is THE bait of choice.
While I've never tried it, Bon Appetit:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/...f-war-12386789

[milesdriven]

Throw a rag or two soaked in ammonia up in the attic, and they'll soon leave out the way they came in. After they're gone, figure out how they got in and seal it off.

[gazhekwe]

There is a kind of thing you can put over the opening so they can get out but can't get back in. Once they are gone, the holes must be closed up and any weak spots repaired, or they will just get right back in. Their food and comfy nests are in there, naturally they, or others in their absence, will want to get in and be comfortable and warm.

It won't be free to do this, so the neighbor should be calling for assistance. If she gets state aid, there is a state emergency repair program. If she doesn't, there are senior help organizations in many communities around here that can refer her to low cost help. If she has homeowner insurance, she could try filing a claim for damage repair.

If, heaven forfend, they are raccoons or possums up there, the repairs will be more costly, raccoons in particular can cause major damage.

[Ravine]

When I had a 'possum on my property, I ended up going to Detroit Animal Control's office-- it was down-river, on W. Jefferson-- and picking up the long, metal, spring-operated trap described above.

I don't remember, but I assume there was some kind of deposit required for taking the trap with me. If it had been a large amount, I would remember, I believe.

The trap worked within 24-48 hours. Animal Control told me to call them once I had the critter trapped, and they would come out to fetch him, which they did. Why they didn't take the entire trap with critter inside, I don't know, but they didn't, so I had to return the trap, but I sure didn't care, because getting rid of the opossum was a huge relief.

Good Luck to your neighbor, whatever she ends up doing, but danged sure there is no need for paying out the ridiculous sum of money the first guy wanted.

[JJD]

Yup, I had squirells in the attic of our house and I got a trap from the human society for free [[have to return it). Caught 3 total, closed all the opening they were using. [[2 different holes for sure and I closed a couple others just in case.) Sure enough I heard more squireels scratching where I covered the holes, so thank goodness I used metal roof flashing to cover the holes so they couldn't re-open them. I used peanut butter on ritz crackers as bait. AlsoI reccomend throwing a blanket over the cage before removing them, otherwise they go a little nuts in the cage.

[GOAT]

I had the same issue. I bet there is a fmaily of them and removing one, only for another to take its place. She needs to seal off that hole [[and do it well because they will chew through the fascia).
See if she can get a live trap that won't hurt the animal. Put peanut butter way inside and the squirrel will set off the trap. Make sure to remove the squirrel to an area over 2 miles away because they can find their way back.
If need be I have a live trap that can be used but I live in Windsor. PM me if need be.

[Whitehouse]

Removing squirrels might backfire on you....

[RickBeall]

I had a possum in our back yard. I chased it around with knives, cornered it in its lair, and then drowned it with the garden hose.

Uh, that's probably not the way a professional would do it.

[jcole]

I had a possum in our back yard. I chased it around with knives, cornered it in its lair, and then drowned it with the garden hose.

Uh, that's probably not the way a professional would do it.

No, but I would have paid to see it.

[Meddle]

Why does she think it's squirrels and not raccoons?

[ggores]

Why does she think it's squirrels and not raccoons?

You never really know until someone who knows something investigates.

Pigeon infestation is a first look. They [[the pigeon) can infiltrate and make home wherever. So can Crowes & Blackbirds.

But more often than not, whenever you hear those creepy, scratching, digging sounds... may very well be just a field mouse.

One of my compatriots, who resides over in that place, well, once told me a story.

Upon inspection, a very carefully thought-out inspection, he determined that the intruders were, in fact, Oppossum.

For free-of-charge he set up "THE TRAP".

As the story goes, I believe that he told to me that.....

"So I went over there and crawled upstairs and into the attic-crawl-space. There they were - little baby Raccoons."

"No way!", I said.

"Yeah. They was nothing, really. There were six of them. So I went back home and thought about it all night. Next day, I went back over there and knocked on the door. The woman was suspicious of me, thought I was a fraud. I asked her for a flashlight. I crawled up there, cut a hole, and carefully lifted each and every one of those Possums out and onto the roof of the house. Then I nailed that mother-fucker UP! It took three hours. At first, the rodents were snarling and afraid and about ready to bite. But I just carefully lifted them up, one by one, and set them on top of the roof of the house. I found some shingles and nailed them onto the rafters. Since then, no critter problems. She offered to pay 150 bucks. I said, 'Nah, that's Okay."

That's what my friend told me a story about.

[eastsidechris]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.

I'm pretty sure it's probably a squirrel issue because I've witnessed them running up the side of her house and then jumping into the hole that's under her roof. I doubt that raccoons and squirrels would share the same space, but God help her if they do because then she has real issues!

If she does use a trap, it's probably going to have to go on the ground because she says there is no attic--there's probably not enough clearance space under the roof to stick a trap in there. The rag with ammonia sounds like a good idea, now she just needs somebody to seal up the opening.

[CLAUDE G]

Depending on the city, they might loan you a trap to use free of charge for several days.

I had the same problem 5 years ago with loud noises coming from the attic. Went down to the Department of public works [[GP) and requested a trap.

I put the trap in my attic and put a peanut butter sandwich inside of it, and about 10 minutes later had caught the critter. Origionally I thought I had squirrals, and it turned out to be a raccoon. It scared the crap out of me when I went up in my dark attic to check and saw the raccoon face to face.

Went to the park a few blocks away and let it go.

[Malcove Magnesia]

Go to YouTube and do a search on "Squirrel Catapult".

[davewindsor]

Here's a thought to keep squirrels from coming back. Leave some cat food outside during the day. Then, you'll notice a bunch of stray cats show up. The stray cats will hang around, climb up the brick facade, trees, fences, etc. and chase after the squirrels and rats. Sometimes they'll even leave a dead mouse or squirrel at your doorstep to show you their appreciation for feeding them. The squirrels will be scared to set foot around the property and leave. Just don't leave the cat food out at night as that's when the skunks show up, eat all the cat food, kill the cats and stink up the area. I'm not saying that I do it because there's a bylaw against it in my area, but how does the city know they're not your pets? Just a thought.

[Eric_c]

Buy a cheap strobe light from Radio Shack [[or online, I suppose) and just leave it flashing in the attic.

Anything with eyes that lives up there will be gone by the end of the day!

[RYANGUARD]

I had a squirrel in my attic and borrowed my friends live trap and sure enough there was the squirrel the next day.I covered up the cage with an old rug,took it down to belle isle and let it go out there.I went to a spot where i saw lots of squirrels before i let it out.There are so many squirrels on belle isle that i thought one more wouldn't matter.also,there are lots of oak trees and other types of nut and acorn bering trees out there so that would give it the best chance at survival.Also,once you have found the way that the critters were getting in and you covered them up with screens or some type of heavy mesh wire,spread some good old fashioned moth balls everywhere around up there and your problem should be solved.Good luck...
.

[SWMAP]

There's a young opossum on my street. Why would I want to kill it? I know they have a terrible snarl, but I read that the snarl is their only defense. Do they kill dogs or cats? If not in your house or garage would they be harming things? I thought it was interesting to have wildlife on the street. Now concerned.

[gazhekwe]

The possum won't hurt anything. They love to clean up garbage. Leave him alone and enjoy his presence.

[detroitanimalcontrol]

If you have squirrels in your attic do not delay in getting them out. Squirrels will drag in debri, poop and urnate, bring in fleas, ticks and other parasites and will chew on everything incuding any wiring that may run thruogh the space. The best way to remove squirrel is to trap them or to use a one way door system. The first thing that needs to be done is a inspection on the out side of the home. You need to find all entry holes. Once you have the inspection complete, seal all holes found but one. Then start the removal process. When you are sure that every squirrel is out of the attic seal the hole with metal or wood. Common mistake is to seal the hole or holes and trapping the animals inside. I have been in the wildlife control business for several years and would be happy to answer any questions you may have feel free to call US Animal Control and ask for Cheryl @ 888-228-6073

[Johnny Boy]

I went to the Humane Society on I75 service dr. They loaned me a trap for a $25.00 deposit so I would bring it back which I did the next day with the captured squirrel inside it as they instructed. They returned my deposit to me. Peanut butter works well.