Have you considered that they may have a healthy food stash, and don't care about what baits you're leaving for them? Is there any way to block them indoors so they can't get to their stashes? If they get hungry enough...

Thought of this because of our ground squirrels here. In the early spring, when there's green stuff everywhere for them to eat, they're almost impossible to trap. Once things start to dry out, WHAM. They'll enter anything to get food to eat and cache.

Thank you, Uwe. But I've learned that in this business you're always having to up your game.

good point dezert trapper, that seems to be one of the issues here, they were not interested in any of the baits, no matter what. exception of the one I got on a black walnut. They were in the attic of a tall 2-story house and chewed a large opening at one corner of the roof. I am not set up to climb around on a roof like that, so no good way for me to block them from the outside.

With our demon squirrels here, I have to change baits several times per season, based on their activity for that specific time of year-AT THAT LOCATION. One bait doesn't fix all for our guys (I wish it did!) For me: Are they just out, and eating post-hibernation? What is available? Or, are they looking for food simply to nibble, and cache? Did they have a lot of green to eat in spring, or was it a dry winter? If they didn't have sufficient green forage, have they switched preferences to finding seeds for carbs? If a residence-have they been after fruit trees? If so, what fruit? I often don't use the same bait in the same place twice in a day, I sometimes have to dial down to what they want "right now." Once I get them dialed in, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Until then, they can be a test of my patience (and my gas bill) Maybe a whole walnut is like gold right now, at other times, not so important? If you crack that walnut a bit, to increase the odor of the meat, might that be what they can't resist?

Good luck!

It's a squirrel, don't over think things. Catch them coming or going.

I wish I didn't have to keep changing my game-but an invasive species is a real PITA to deal with.

This is actually the problem in this particular job. Trapping inside is almost never effective, as you are entering into their domain. They know every inch of that interior, and being very neophobic, will typically avoid traps inside for a week or longer, regardless of bait.

I rarely even enter an attic on the initial visit, as it can spook the squirrels away for a few days due to the invasion. Of course I check for wiring damage and insulation damage, but only after the trapping/removal is completed.

Setting very near the entry hole (outside) is the key to catching the resident squirrels. Either open, baited sets or multi-catch posi-sets over the hole... or a combination. Personally, I won't install a one-way door (trap or escape) until catching the first few squirrels (a day or two) as it often causes them to chew a new hole (in OR out). But everyone has a different method, so do what works. I also haven't used more than one or two body-grip traps in the past 10 years for squirrels. I can be just as effective using cage traps with good bait and lure, or posi-sets.

Working on a squirrel job right now on a huge lake house, and of course they are entering 3-stories high on the downhill side of the home. Had to park my towable boom lift below the hole and leave it there during the trapping program (and for repairs). Homeowners don't care at all, as they've been fighting these squirrels for months. As in every type of wildlife control, being able to access the issue is the first priority.

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=721731&cmd=apop

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=16456&pageNumber=2&pageSize=15
look for squirrel phases part 2 on the page old pod cast but may help.

Took a couple pics at the squirrel job today. 3 stories high, 6-foot overhang on the soffit. No safe way to use a ladder, and I'm not hanging over with a rope. I bought this towable lift 10 years ago, and it has been the best investment ever for my wildlife control business. I do a ton of jobs everyone else walks away from.



Homeowners are fine with me leaving in place until the squirrels are trapped and repairs made. I'll also trim the tree branches away from the home, all from this single set-up.

That's very nice!

Ron, how tall is your lift?

Platform about 35 feet, so work height around 40. Looking into purchasing a newer one, and leaning toward the Niftylift TM-40. It has a 40-foot platform height, so work height of 46 feet. The 50's (any brand) are a bit too big and heavy for many residential lawns and landscapes. On the bigger jobs, I rent the big lifts anyway. Figuring out what is actually NEEDED and not WANTED is important if someone is planning to buy one.