Squirrels, destructive little...........

[mechmagcn]

I haven't been around much lately due to construction on a house my Dad left me years ago. It is located on a bay off of our local river. A lovely, quiet place that I intend to move to once finished.
The problem is the squirrels think of it as home, they have had free range for the last 10 years or so. I have replaced T111 wood siding only to come back the next week to find holes chewed in it. I even went as far as putting aluminum flashing over some of the spots, they even chewed through that
My question is, is there any way besides lead shot to stop the squirrels from eating my house? I really don't want a steel clad home, although I have resorted to putting galvanized flashing over some of the worst holes. I have totally rewired this place due to some chewed wiring that I found, I really don't want them to chew the new wiring too I am open to any and all suggestions. So far I have resorted to shooting all that have been in range of a .22 rifle, but I can't stand guard 24/7.
Stop the squirrels, save my house, PLEASE!!!!!!

[steve smoot]

One of the cabins here on our mountain has been taken over by squirrels too. It seems there are too many trees right up near the house. I have watched the squirrels hop from the trees over onto the house. Maybe if you were cut the trees back, so they do not have easy access? Also, I would think you are going to have to kill most all of the old ones that already view your place as their own.

[mandy]

Barrow a few cats from the cat lady down the road. I have seen farmers use live traps baited with bait blocks . Like these: http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft1_pest_rodent_control.html

[rebapuck]

If you decide to trap, you'll need the"raccoon" size. In the "squirell" size, they can go in, grab the bait and exit before it closes. I know.

I spent a summer trapping 78 squirrells. Used pecans as bait.

[flip18436572]

Contact your local DNR person. They usually can get you the live traps and will move them to a different location, like a state park. Once squirrels get in, they are tough to keep them out. There is a house in our town that has the same problem. They actually trapped them inside the attic with aluminum covering the holes and they scratched/chewed their way out within 24 hours.

I have gotten a pellet pistol and shot them enough to stun them, but not kill them to hopefully keep them away. You could also ask if anyone else traps them. I am not sure if anyone traps squirrels around here anymore.

[Ken A Hood]

I know people who have mothballs on the ground all around the outside of their house...

[Miriam C.]

DINNER! I mean really! Or just get a dog or cat. Now about this campground you are building.

[mechmagcn]

Now about this campground you are building.

Well, there is a state park right across the bay from me where there is a campground, http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/morobay/ but getting the teardrops to my place would be a little difficult. Last year the water level dropped for about 2 weeks that we could have driven in, so far this year it has been flooded since Sept. If the river continues to fall, the road will be out of water in about a week, but I wouldn't want to travel it for quite a while yet. Also, it is a 3 mile trip through the river bottoms after you leave the gravel road to my place.
My place is located where I will have to boat in for most of the year
Here's a few links to some pics of the place, it is still a mess, but I am getting there. The first link is how I inherited it, they were taken in 2005. The 2nd link is during the period since my wife passed away, almost 7 months now.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mechmagcn/M ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/mechmagcn/M ... directlink

[bohemian]

I'm with Aunti M on this one. I smell squirrel on the barbie. When you make them a food source it's amazing how quickly they will disappear. - Wayne

[Shadow Catcher]

A band of steel around the poles and or grease it. Use hardware cloth. Use pepper, re apply after a rain.

[mechmagcn]

I'm with Aunti M on this one. I smell squirrel on the barbie.

Well.... so far there has been one pot of squirrel and gravy....... Mmmmm Mmmm Good!

[Miriam C.]

Jeff the place has wonderful potential. I could put up with a boat trip to camp.... One of these days we will retire.....

[mechmagcn]

The place has lots of potential, if I just had more time to work on it. And of course there is the issue of having enough $$$$$ to put into it too I hope to get far enough along so that I can move in sometime this summer. Might have to take the teardrop and stay at the state park so that I can work on it without having to drive 52 miles round trip a day.

[S. Heisley]

The squirrels think the house on posts is a huge hollow tree trunk. They think they've died and gone to heaven!

You could open a couple of their holes back up and put rat poison in the house but, then, you couldn't eat them or have a dog or cat around.

[caseydog]

The squirrels currently living in the house will have to be removed or killed. You won't be able to drive them out and keep them out. Once they set up home inside a structure, they are not going to give it up without a fight.

Once the current infestation is gone, you'll be able to clean out the nests, repair the holes, and take other measures to keep new squirrels from moving in. It is easier to keep them from moving in, than it is to get them to move out.

There are professionals out there who will live trap and remove them. That may be your best solution.