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getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!!

Posted By: Traps R Us

getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 02:14 PM

going after some squirrels in the attic of an older home in WI, they are running amok in the attic and also up and down inside the walls, easy access for them as the walls are open at the top to the attic.
First I tried a rather conventional set up with a few rat traps and some cages of different sizes. Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and black walnuts as bait. In the first 3 days, I got completely cleaned out!!! Almost every trap was sprung, every rat trap was licked clean. Cages flipped over, it was a nightmare!

What just happened?

Now trying to go after them with a little bit of outside the box trapping. Setting some 110 with silicone pucks, with peanut butter and sunflower seeds, one wire trigger with a black walnut fixed to it. And also a make shift positive set made from a colony trap over one of the main holes.

What do you think - Any critique?




Posted By: LAtrapper

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 03:05 PM

Uwe- What species of squirrels are in the house- eastern gray squirrels, pine squirrels or flying squirrels?

Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 03:08 PM

grey squirrels
Posted By: bob pake

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 04:44 PM

The victor rat trap probably gave the squirrels a nasty smack on the noggin and a great education. In many cases the colony trap doors will be opened buy the squirrel in a matter of minutes.
With Un educated squirrels your cages should work like a charm.
I seldom get educated squirrels. I trapped for about 10 days once without a capture, only to find out that the home owner previously had cages at the same location for about 2 1/2 months (ouch). Fortunately the critters had never seen 110s in mink boxes with a little bait. I then took all the squirrels out in two days..
Loose the traps that are doomed to failure.
Set more traps than you think you need. Kiss. If it is easy to trap the home exterior consider keeping out of their home area (attic ). Quickly followed by location, location, location.. Just a few thoughts
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 04:57 PM

thanks Bob! it is very urban area so setting outside has too many unknowns, I was thinking to try the good old water bucket with seeds next, probably would do that outside as upstairs might not be too good an idea.
I do suspect the critters are very educated in handling traps. I have a weasel box set with a round hole in the front and Victor inside, that is pretty much the only thing that was left untouched.
Thanks, again for the input!
Posted By: warrior

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 08:23 PM

If you're good on ladders and roofs then get outside and set 110s over the holes so they have no choice but to get caught. Be sure to anchor off the chain though. A box swivel j-hooked to the ring leaves the other swivel hole to put a screw as an anchor.
Ultimately you will need to fix all the holes and potential holes or you will be doing this again.
Posted By: warrior

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 08:29 PM

Half of your problem, aside from educated critters, is location. Greys are hard wired to go out to eat. They cache/bury their food outside. Food/eating inside is not natural to them.
Fliers cache food inside so trapping inside works well for them. Plus they are "litter box" animals so setting on latrines works as well. Replace the 110s on the outside with snaps screwed around the entry for these.
Someone else will have they weigh in on pines as we don't have them down here.
Posted By: BigBob

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 09:18 PM

That 110 in the top pic needs to have the safety removed! LOL, (sorry) Might try an oversize pan on the trigger and lay them flat in the runs to suitcase them. No bait.
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/01/17 11:25 PM

the top pic is still on my work bench, but gee, now I know why I never catch anything! crazy
Posted By: traprjohn

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/02/17 01:49 AM

I cut a sponge into 1"x3" strips, thread onto the 110 wires, which I've pulled tight together, then smear PB on both sides, and catch them 2 at a time.
Also, 110's over the entrances.

Did you tune the triggers of the cages for SMALL weighted critters? Most squirrels don't weigh enough to trip a standard treadle. You can also add a wood ramp to extend the treadle which by default adds some weight.
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/02/17 01:52 PM

good ideas, trigger are pretty light on these.
Posted By: TDHP

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/02/17 02:25 PM

Originally Posted By: Uwe


What do you think - Any critique?







Personally I'd 86 that whole setup and run double door 5x5's with a greased trigger. With the right bait and lure in the cage even an educated squirrel as some may put it will enter into that cage. You shouldn't have to make a mess with all types of bird seed, feed and different grains. I would only use Colony traps or positive sets over the entry and exit points.

5×5's in an open area like that is the way to go. imo


Posted By: EatenByLimestone

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/03/17 10:18 AM

Force them into tube traps (or your 110s) with hardware cloth at the hole they chewed in.
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/04/17 05:26 PM

ok, quick update, all the hard work has finally paid off, caught the first critter today. Got his head stuck in one of the 110's with a walnut mounted to the trigger. I took some of the other traps down and set out a few cubbies with conibears and also a nifty little squirrel pole at 45 degrees. Will see what happens. not too much of the other bait was taken, most left untouched, but saw another one at the entrance today, so there are more.



Posted By: bob pake

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/04/17 06:15 PM

I have found that 110s with baited triggers were not 100% capture.With Mink boxes and 120s suit cased squirrels are expected. Perhaps Trapper John could explain the fine points of baited 110s if there are any.
Posted By: traprjohn

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/06/17 02:10 AM

Bob,,I'll answer all I can, but I've told as plain as I can how I do it.

Sometimes I'll add a trip wire on the 110 triggers though....when set over an entrance.
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/16/17 02:05 AM

ok, any further advice is appreciated. Can't seem to catch more of them. Homeowner says she still hears them in the attic and walls.
None of the traps or bait in attic were touched last week, not the baited trigger 110s, nor the cubbies, nor my little squirrel ladder. I added some live traps outside. no luck either, I am about running out of ideas.
what else could be done? Or is it just patience now?
Posted By: TDHP

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 11/16/17 07:16 AM

Put a cam up, hopefully that will shed some light on what's going on. Personally I would not block off traps like you had in one of your pictures with the wood and the cage. I personally like to leave the trap's out in the open and obviously in the activity areas , and if you can't find an activity area set based off of an educated guess. No need to brush or cover them in an attic. Sometimes the more things you throw in during the setup sometimes tends to complicate the process. If you're hearing them in the wall still then I'd be looking for more entry points or activity areas. I use the homedepot specials which are the 5x5 double door traps. Little smear of bait on the pan, and a squirt of bait at the entry points to the trap. Just my opinion but bait and lure are big when it comes to squirrels in a stucture. It's not like throwing a bunch of seed out side along with a few cages. Those are easy to catch but when they have certain areas where they frequent the house what you can't get to at times is when it becomes complicated. Jmo
Posted By: Muddawg

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/01/17 02:36 PM

Okay... Here is my best solution. This picture bellow shows a couple of my 110 boxes.The one on top shows the closed box with side panel in place and traps set and waiting.

The one on bottom has the side panel removed so that you can see the inside construction. Note the bait tray in the center. Note the blocks where my 110's mount and stay secure. I normally start with the traps set but open so that the squirrels can go and come as they please and get comfortable feeding inside the box. Often, I just set the dog on the opposing jaw outside of the trigger, leaving the trigger to swing free. Then, after a few days of that, I return to set my dogs and leave then set for sure.



As you can see in the next photos, the results are excellent.




I can improve the odds by setting this box in a positive set where they are traveling in and out. Yes. That is a tripple box I have been experimenting with.



But, this triple set box and the double above it cleared out all the squirrels in this lady's attic from that one set in 4 days.

Crap! .... I just gave away some of my most protected secrets!
Okay! You guys owe me! BIG TIME!!
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/01/17 03:09 PM

Very clever Muddawg!
Posted By: DezertTrapper

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/02/17 07:07 AM

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.
Posted By: Muddawg

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/03/17 07:46 AM

Originally Posted By: Uwe
Very clever Muddawg!


Thank you, Uwe. But I've learned that in this business you're always having to up your game.
Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/03/17 02:35 PM

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. frown
Posted By: DezertTrapper

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/04/17 06:27 PM

Originally Posted By: Uwe
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. frown


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!
Posted By: NE Wildlife

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/06/17 04:35 PM

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

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/07/17 05:06 AM

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

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/07/17 05:28 AM

Originally Posted By: Uwe
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. frown


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.
Posted By: Jonesie

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/11/17 01:53 PM

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.
Posted By: Ron Scheller

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/12/17 02:10 AM

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.

Posted By: Traps R Us

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/12/17 02:46 PM

That's very nice!
Posted By: Jim Bethell

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/12/17 03:23 PM

Ron, how tall is your lift?
Posted By: Ron Scheller

Re: getting schooled by attic squirrels - HELP!!! - 12/12/17 10:32 PM

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.
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