Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
#4139247
11/27/13 12:14 PM
11/27/13 12:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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OP
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Posts: 0
Ohio
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Does anyone know if flying squirrels can survive this time of year trapped in the attic without water? Can they get enough water from berries or any other food they may have stored? I am the homeowner and here is a brief history:
Two local ADC companies have been employed during the last two years and only one southern flying squirrel has been caught. Once the main hole was sealed up, no one has ever been able to identify another entry hole. The first ADC company never went into the attic at all and the second company placed traps on top of 2 feet of blown fiberglass insulation. Both companies admitted before they started that they didn't have much experience with flying squirrels.
Recently the entire house has been sealed up including a new ridge vent. Sadly the Cobra ridge vent did not have hardware cloth installed under it. My carpenter was confident that it wouldn't need it although he has never been involved with flyers. He did however install the shingles very low and tight but even as good a carpenter as he is, I don't think he realizes what we are up against.
I just ordered some stuff to try trapping them in the attic myself. Any advice or information would be appreciated. I am located in central Ohio.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 12/03/13 04:58 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4140721
11/28/13 12:27 AM
11/28/13 12:27 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 30 St. Louis area
Dave Schmidt
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St. Louis area
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Flyers., animals up to grey squirrel size will be supported by the loft of blown-in insulation, but anything mouse-size or larger will make troughs in the stuff relative to its body width. Setting traps on the attic trails can be very effective.
ALL OUT Wildlife Control
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: Dave Schmidt]
#4140920
11/28/13 06:22 AM
11/28/13 06:22 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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Dave, Nate used a nutty fruity lure and placed it on two snap traps and in two small live traps but the flyers never touched them after months and months up there. Nate suspects that they now fear human scent after one of them died overnight in a live trap set on the roof by the 1st ADC company.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 12/03/13 05:00 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4140970
11/28/13 08:05 AM
11/28/13 08:05 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 44 massachusetts
swampdonkey
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massachusetts
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Flyers, I had a customer prefer I cage trapped flyers out of their attic ...took out 63 with the same traps (using 11 cages) one after another..same human scent on cages...same flyers watching me set up.
On another occasion I was kinda in your fix..flyer everywhere and nothing touching a single trap ... I sealed up everyhole they could exit the dwelling ..set gang set with Rat traps....I mean a lot of traps .... I had heard a long time ago that flyers panic when they can't get outside and therefore the only way they calm down is to eat (bait on traps)..I nailed every flyer in that house like they were going out of style...What Gives ?
Joe Robidoux
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4141254
11/28/13 11:41 AM
11/28/13 11:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32 OH
Eric Arnold
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OH
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My first question is why do you think you still have flyers? Is it noises you are hearing or are you actually seeing them? I've had easy flying squirrel jobs here in Ohio along with several very difficult ones. About the only thing they've had in common is that each one was unique to itself.
One of the most unique jobs involved only two flyers. It took me almost three months before I finally removed them as they were not using the house every single day. In fact, they only used the house when the weather allowed an opening to happen on a dormer corner. When temperatures were above 50 degrees, the materials expanded enough to keep them out/in but when daytime temperatures dropped to 35 degrees, a very small opening occurred when you lifted up on a shingle that they could exploit. I had different styles of traps placed at multiple locations on the house and had checked that specific corner at least 6 different times before I finally installed a one way trap out of frustration to prove that nothing was there and caught the culprits.
On another job I removed 47 fliers from a house that to this day I can't say why they even had them in the first place. Do not use any type of poison for anything that it is not registered for and there are no poison's authorized in Ohio for flying squirrels that I'm aware of.
If you plan on using snap traps (which is now legal in Ohio) make sure they are rat size and have the small metal trigger, not the big plastic one. Tie a salted peanut still in its shell to the trigger with a zip tie or bread tie and then put some creamy peanut butter on it. If you don't have a good spot to place the trap, use a 2 x 4 to span the trusses and screw the rat taps to it. Not only does this give you a place to put the traps, but it makes it very easy to maintain.
Eric Arnold Publishing Editor W.C.T. Magazine Editor The Fur Taker Magazine
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4142221
11/28/13 08:58 PM
11/28/13 08:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 44 massachusetts
swampdonkey
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Posts: 44
massachusetts
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Don't use poison...could get to smelling...put a trail cam or 2 up there pointed at a bait pile ...(clear out at spot in the insulation for one and put the other on top)... of black oil sunflower seeds and some lure for a few days...see what you see how about droppings of any kind...relevant or no ?
Joe Robidoux
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4143709
11/29/13 05:25 PM
11/29/13 05:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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Ohio
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Shelves installed in the attic, 3 snap traps set and I plan to have someone seal up the top ends of two dormers which have yet to be plugged. Need to wait until the ice and snow melts first. And the trail camera is on. I won't even go up there for a week so I don't disturb their environment.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 11/29/13 05:26 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: Paul Antczak]
#4145098
11/30/13 10:17 AM
11/30/13 10:17 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 830 Waterford, WI
Nathan Krause
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Waterford, WI
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Like me I'm always learning!!! Paul we ALL seem to learn something new every day. For instance I learned yesterday when you put a cage trap in a cellar and the customer says "I will monitor it and call you if we catch anything" you should probably verify that he isn't leaving the next day for a two week trip to Florida.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: Peskycritter]
#4150327
12/03/13 08:37 AM
12/03/13 08:37 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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Looking back, I would agree that a good exclusion is what was lacking. Neither of the two ADC companies told me that a full house exclusion is the only way I would be successful. My carpenter and I may have done it now though. It's so quiet now in the middle of the night that you could hear a pin drop. We'll see what happens.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 12/03/13 04:56 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4150468
12/03/13 10:36 AM
12/03/13 10:36 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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Sure in hindsight, it would have been best to have a company like yours(assuming you would travel that far) come down here and seal the house with a 5 year warranty, but these are things I didn't know back then. Going forward, until I've got some evidence that this new Cobra ridge vent(without metal screen) vent is not doing the job, I'm going to assume that the house is sealed and if I hear anymore wire slapping, I'll keep trying to trap/kill flyers which must be trapped in the attic getting enough moisture to survive. But right now things are very very quiet. If in the spring(when they become active again) all this optimism of mine blows up in my face, I'll probably throw my hands up and give you a call Peskycritter.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 12/03/13 04:53 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4150484
12/03/13 10:54 AM
12/03/13 10:54 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 69 Central Ohio
Dirk Shearer
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Central Ohio
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My company is the company in question.
It is true that we do not have much experience with flying squirrels. There simply are not that many calls for this type of service here in Central Ohio (6 flying squirrel jobs in over 20 years).
After a service fee of $149 we worked on this job for four months and charged NO additional fees. We identified the best possible entry point as the ridge vent and our client chose to have a roofer do the exclusion rather than us. I do not blame him as our price would certainly have been higher than that of a roofer. However, our recommendation to add wire mesh under the ridge vent was not followed. Apparently he is attempting to follow up on the other recommendations we have given also.
While I do not have the exact number in front of me, I am pretty sure we could have done a full exclusion for less than the $6000 quoted above.
I am not posting this to bash "Flyers in Ohio". I know he is frustrated, as am I. I searched the archives and old WCT magazines to try to come up with something. In fact, I was picking brains at the WCT and asked numerous people questions to try to see what other techniques would be feasible to try. Some of you may recall the question I asked the Critter Control presenter at the end of his presentation. This was just after his story about capturing the Flying squirrel in the drawer!!! Unfortunately I did not get the answer I had hoped for.
I will also admit I am a bit embarrassed that I didn't try our trail cameras, I thought a flyer was too small to trip it. After seeing LAtrapper's post I see I was wrong in that.
The main reason I am posting is so that you may see you only get one side of the situation when you reply to posts. Try not to make assumptions about what someone may or may not have done and whether it was appropriate for the situation at hand.
With the number of visits, the time searching for solutions, overhead, etc. etc. we certainly did not make money or rip anyone off (which I do not think "flyers in Ohio" was saying at all, but some others may have thought so). We made professional recommendations for exclusion that the client is following up on. If those recommendations are done in the appropriate fashion, it will solve his problem.
I must admit, after a lifetime of capturing animals and over 20 years in business I am still learning (and trying to improve)!!! I will also say that I am pleased and proud to see everyone here in our community so willing to share their knowledge and information to help someone solve their problems.
Dirk E. Shearer, President The Wildlife Control Company, Inc. "Cause if you won't put your real name on it, you probably shouldn't hit send"
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4150516
12/03/13 11:27 AM
12/03/13 11:27 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 0 Ohio
FlyersInOhio
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Everyone, if I had a problem with raccoons or any other kind of animal, I would be calling the 2nd ADC company in a heartbeat. That's how comfortable I feel working with Nate and Dirk. In fact the mention of $6000 for a bat exclusion may have come from the 1st ADC company and not the 2nd. And Dirk, is correct, it looks like his recommendations are going to work.
Last edited by FlyersInOhio; 12/03/13 12:05 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4154680
12/05/13 11:16 AM
12/05/13 11:16 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 69 Central Ohio
Dirk Shearer
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Posts: 69
Central Ohio
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Flyers in Ohio, we would be happy to provide services. Fortunately, in this instance, you were understanding and patient (not all clients are like that to be sure).
I appreciate you taking the additional time to respond and am pleased that you feel confident enough that you would contract our services again if need be. We will continue to work on our flying squirrel acumen, we just don't get that many chances here in central Ohio.
We certainly learn more from our mistakes than we do our successes.
If there is anything we can do to assist you, feel free to give me a call!!!
Dirk E. Shearer, President The Wildlife Control Company, Inc. "Cause if you won't put your real name on it, you probably shouldn't hit send"
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4172899
12/13/13 12:20 PM
12/13/13 12:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,341 Northern MN
Osky
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Not that I would deal with this normally, but to add to what you pros have said. I had trouble this year in my far northern bear camp with flyers. Strawberry rhubarb pie. Found by accident with cameras on bear baits they came at all hours, and also while I was still standing there, early evenings to less than 3 feet from me. Crazy for that stuff is all I can say. Cleaned them all up in no time then around the camp.
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4278063
01/29/14 05:57 PM
01/29/14 05:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,361 mequon, wisconsin
Paul Winkelmann
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Steve, if my wife ever found out that I had flying squirrels all over the basement because I forgot to close the cage, I would be living in the attic for decades.
Last edited by Paul Winkelmann; 01/29/14 05:58 PM.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4279459
01/30/14 09:13 AM
01/30/14 09:13 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 129 Dudley NC
Muddawg
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Dudley NC
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I'm working a flying squirrel job right now. It took me some time to figure out what bait would catch them but I've pulled 9 out since Monday.
They are endangered here and protected so I'll keep the ones I caught until I can get the whole family. Then when the weather warms up, I'll release them all together.
When I first looked at this house, I had gray squirrels in mind and was baffled as to how they were getting in. I could find no holes or cracks anywhere that they could slip through. It was only after I caught the first one and realized what I was dealing with that I was able to find entry exit points. Now I'm finding places all over everywhere where these little bitty boogers can slip through.
When I get them all caught out, me or the carpenter one, is gonna have a LOT of work to do.
Muddawg
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: ritrapper]
#4280731
01/30/14 09:15 PM
01/30/14 09:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,706 Virginia
52Carl
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Virginia
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Ok, You're weird. Have you ever seen or smelled the mess they make. Don't get me wrong I think flying squirrels are very interesting creatures. I really wouldn't want them in a structure that I live in. Well stated. Many of us in the business spend a lot of time doing a lot of lethal control, and many of us have a weakness for certain critters. I felt the need to share mine.
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Re: Flying Squirrels Living in Attic for Decades
[Re: FlyersInOhio]
#4308870
02/12/14 07:40 AM
02/12/14 07:40 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2 Six Mile, SC
cannonx4
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Six Mile, SC
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Muddawg what kind of bait you using? If you don't want to tell it here in public but don't mind another company to know just shoot me a pm.
Upstate Varmint & Predator Control Ronnie Cannon
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