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

[Mark & Andrea Jones]

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.

I agree with Steve. Isolate the house. Trim the trees back so that they cannot leap from the end of the branches onto the house. That also includes running your electrical wires (if you have any!) underground. Otherwise you've got a wire highway to your house.

Other than that? Well, some strategic use of rat poison, but only in the house! I have a friend who uses rat poison (she has a mini-farm), but she manages to fasten it to the bottom of a can (hot glue? adhesive? not sure. . . .) so that the varmit has to come to the bait and not take the bait outside of the house (if the can is too big to go thru the hole). That way, you will get the varmits that are INSIDE the house and are less likely to get the ones just hanging out and not bothering anyone.

Once they are all gone from the house, block up ALL penetrations of the side of the house with aluminum coil stock. The varmits that live in the woods and just visit are less inclined to try to chew thru it. Simple deterence plus ALWAYS fixing any damage ASAP should work after that.

AJ

[caseydog]

I don't know how practical it is to isolate a house from all routes of travel for a squirrel. Cutting down trees and moving utilities underground, taking down fences, removing tall bushes -- it seems a bit extreme.

I hear squirrels running on my roof all the time at my house. They go from the tree out front, over the roof, down the crepe mertyl in back and run down the fence to my oak tree. But, they have never tried to get into the house.

I really think that once you eliminate the squirrels that are currently living in the house, and clean out all their nesting materials, and then seal up all the holes into the house, you should be able to keep new ones out by just keeping an eye open for any new attempts to get in.

I would do any patching with Hardy Plank sheets and boards. That cement should be hard on the squirrel's teeth.
CD

[mechmagcn]

Cutting all trees within jumping distance is not an option. I will deal with the squirrels before I lose all of my shade.
I didn't make it down to the Bay this weekend and it will be the week after Beaver's Bend before I can get back, so I hate to see the damage by that time. I have a few places where they have started chewing in the middle of a sheet of siding and took off the outer layer of wood in a 6" circle I really don't know what they are after.
I was curious if there was some sort of repellant that could be sprayed on the siding that wouldn't repel me too Oh Well, guess I'll just have to keep throwing lead at them

[Miriam C.]

Ammonia will keep animals off the trash and might work for you. You might ask your local pest control too.

[S. Heisley]

Miriam! You just gave me an idea! To keep deer away, you can buy and apply coyote urine. That just might work for squirrels, too! You do have to reapply it if it rains, though. However, if you are applying it under the eves and under the base of the house, not where water can get to it, you might be okay.

[Miriam C.]

Miriam! You just gave me an idea! To keep deer away, you can buy and apply coyote urine. That just might work for squirrels, too! You do have to reapply it if it rains, though. However, if you are applying it under the eves and under the base of the house, not where water can get to it, you might be okay.

Now where would one go about getting coyote urine?

[dmb90260]

Now where would one go about getting coyote urine?

http://www.predatorpee.com/

Disclaimer. I have no interest in nor contribute to the vendor

[rebapuck]

Cayenne pepper. My suet cakes for the birds have cayenne and the squirrels won't touch them.

[mandy]

Spray the outside with pepper spray. Why not India is considering using chile for a new kind of wepon.

[S. Heisley]

HaHaHa! Combine coyote urine with pepper spray! If one don't get 'em the other will!!!!

[gullywompr]

I know some professional squirrel exterminators who are available. Not sure how good they are...

[mechmagcn]

I know some professional squirrel exterminators who are available. Not sure how good they are...

You got some contact info for that trio, might be just what I need

[gullywompr]

Address your letters to:

Boris Badenov, Natasha Fatale, and Fearless Leader, care of
Local 12 of the Villains, Thieves, and Scoundrels Union
Pottsylvania

[mechmagcn]

Address your letters to:

Boris Badenov, Natasha Fatale, and Fearless Leader, care of
Local 12 of the Villains, Thieves, and Scoundrels Union
Pottsylvania

[cuyeda]

After reading this thread, a news story aired tonight. A portion of the segment talked about this article.http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/03/prince-charles-call-to-arms-squirrel-for-supper.html

What this blog version does not show is the video of people actually cookin up a storm with squirrels, and a even being served in a restaurant. I wish I could find the whole segment to share here. I thought it was funny stuff.