Squirrel Control: How To Get Rid of Squirrels

This page is a general Squirrel control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get rid of Squirrels in your yard. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Squirrels. Consult your local and state guidelines to see if your species of Squirrel is a protected species in your location before conducting squirrel removal.

If you own a yard, there’s a large chance that you’ll sooner or later have to deal with Squirrels. Most squirrels are relatively harmless and some are even nice to have around to observe but they can be considered a pest similar to rodents when they begin to get too close to us and our property.

There are many species of squirrels but the most problematic are Tree Squirrels. However, there doesn’t necessarily need to be trees around for squirrels to be present on your yard or garden as there are also Ground Squirrels that commonly rummage around residences as well.

When displaced from their natural habitat in the woods, squirrels go on a hunt for new shelter. If the conditions allow it, squirrels will move into attics, eaves, and soffits of any structure. Once inside a building, they can potentially cause damage to insulation, rafters and electric wires. This is a particularly dangerous hazard as squirrels damaging wiring has been known to be the cause of electrical fires in a home. 

Squirrels move very quickly so it may seem that they would be difficult to control, however it is possible when you implement the right techniques and products. If you have Squirrels invading your property, follow our guide below which will show you how to get rid of Squirrels quickly and affordably.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment approach you need to identify and make sure you’re dealing with Squirrels in your yard and not some other creature. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods, costing you time and money. Fortunately, squirrels are very easy to identify. Below you can find the common characteristics of Squirrels.

• Squirrels range in size from very small, to medium-sized depending on the species.
• Squirrels generally have slender bodies with long bushy tails and large eyes.
• Their fur is usually soft and silk. They also vary in color, from brown to grayish depending on the species.
• Squirrels can be categorized into three main species: Tree Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, and Flying Squirrels.
• Tree squirrels are the most common culprit and like to live in trees but are frequent invaders of wooden structures.
• Ground squirrels like to live in the ground, digging underground tunnels to live in.
• Flying squirrels are found living inside attics, eaves, and soffits. They are distinct from other squirrels in that they have excess skin that when extended allows them to more easily glide through the air when leaping.

Use the image and description above to properly identify the squirrel you are seeing. If you are not totally sure, contact us and we will try to assist with proper identification.

Inspection

After you have properly identified that you are dealing with Squirrels and the type of Squirrel it is, you will need to perform an inspection to note the areas that Squirrels are infesting, or where damage is occurring. During the inspection, you will focus on finding these areas in your property where there is the most Squirrel activity.

Where To Inspect

Indoors, search for squirrels in attics, basements, utility rooms, and in cracks and crevices. Outdoors, search for squirrels in your yard, in woodpiles, leaf litter, yard debris, gardens, around trees, in your roof, in every vent outside of your structure, in eaves, soffits, rain gutters, and in any crack or crevice outside your property.

What To Look For

You’re looking for Squirrel activity in your attic, yard, or other areas where they have been active. This could mean finding damage signs, like small holes in turf and or gardens where they hide food, chewed or gnawing near cracks and crevices, and hearing sounds inside the home, both at night and during the day.

If you have noticed any of these signs, and have seen squirrels around your property causing the damage, take note of the areas where you have seen them; this is where you will apply the treatment.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Squirrel activity, it is time to begin treatment for squirrel removal. Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

To get rid of Squirrels, we recommend using the Solutions Humane Live Trap as a squirrel trap and applying Critter Ridder repellent.  The Solutions Live Trap will allow you to catch the Squirrel creating problems while Critter Ridder will drive away Squirrels that might want to visit your yard.

Step 1 - Strategically Place the Live Squirrel Trap

Prior to setting up the Squirrel Trap, it is important to first remove food sources that may compete with the trap once you bait it. This includes fencing away fruit and vegetable gardens and sweeping away any fallen fruit, berries and seeds.

Place the trap near their entry points into the home. Indoors make sure to place it in areas with high activity (where there are lots of droppings). Outdoors, place the squirrel trap near their foraging areas in the yard. You might have better success by building a trail of bait that leads into the cage.

• Squirrel Trap Placement In Attics: To get rid of squirrels in your attic, you will want to be on the lookout for squirrel nests, as well as any droppings or chew marks. Check for scratch marks or damage to insulation and wood. You will also want to search for damaged electrical wiring and piping. These areas of activity in the attic should be where you would place your squirrel traps.
• Squirrel Trap Placement In Basements: Similar to placing squirrel traps in the attic, placing squirrel traps in the basement will depend on observing active areas where the squirrels have left evidence of their activity. Key areas will be along walls, crawl spaces, narrow spaces between furniture or storage bins, etc.
• Squirrel Trap Placement in Garages: Squirrels are most likely in your garage looking for shelter once the temperature has dropped. If you have any clutter or storage bins in your garage, they are most likely burrowing in these particular spots.  Place your squirrel traps in these active sites around your garage.

Step 2 - Bait and Arm the Squirrel Trap

Once you are satisfied with your trap placement, you’ll want to place bait inside the squirrel trap. For Squirrels, we recommend using peanut butter, sunflower seeds, nuts, and apples. A combination of these baits inside the squirrel trap will work best.

When baiting your trap it's important to place the bait on the far end of the trap behind the trigger plate to make it so the animal will have to come in contact with the trigger to get to the bait. The bait can be either in a cup, placed directly on the trigger plate or freely placed behind the trigger plate depending on the bait being used.

After positioning the bait inside the trap, set your squirrel trap door open by pushing on the door lock and lifting the door plate. Keep the door plate lifted while pulling the trigger arm forward to set it. You will know the squirrel trap is set when the trigger arm's hook catches the door.

Check your trap twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Once the squirrel is captured, place a towel over the cage to keep the rodent calm and call animal control for proper releasing instructions or relocate the Squirrels at least 5 to 6 miles away from your property.

Step 3 - Apply Critter Ridder

Critter Ridder is an organic repellent that works for a number of animals that may frequent your yard, including Squirrels. The 1.25 lb. container will cover and protect approximately 50 sq. ft. You can either use repellent alongside a live squirrel trap, or use repellent as an alternative to trapping.

Using gloves, lightly sprinkle granules directly from the container or using a spreader at a rate of 1 lb. per 40 sq. ft. It can be applied to lawns, garden paths, and flowerbeds. To treat specific sites such as garbage bags, ornamental plants, trees or shrubs, spot treat ground around the area to be protected, or if possible, apply granules to ground as a border around the entire area to be protected.

Apply the Critter Ridder repellent around your yard where you have noticed Squirrel damage especially around wooden structures that have been damaged, around trees, and where Squirrel activity has been most prevalent. Reapply as needed every 30 days for continued protection.

Prevention

After you have controlled the Squirrel invasion on your property, your job is not finished until you implement preventative measures and modify your environment to be less suitable for Squirrels.

• Start by cleaning up debris in your yard. Get rid of woodpiles, leaf litter, and general clutter.
• Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of your structure. Use caulk to close and seal off any potential entry point into the home where Squirrels might be able to get inside.
• For bigger holes, use Stuf-Fit copper mesh to plug them up. Make sure all the vents in your home have the proper screening.
• Inspect the roof of your property for entry points and fix them. Make sure all basement, attic, and crawl spaces, have closed windows, and no obvious points of entry.
• Trim back vegetation from your property, especially tree limbs or branches that overhang on your roof. These branches make it easier for squirrels to reach your roof, and possibly get inside.
• And finally, use repeat applications of Critter Ridder regularly to keep squirrels at bay.

Key Takeaways

What are Squirrels?

• Squirrels are small rodents that usually live in woody areas and wildernesses but commonly invade residential areas and cause destruction.
• The squirrel family is quite vast, consisting of many different types of squirrels. Most species can be classified in one of 3 categories: Tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels.

How To Get Rid of Squirrels In Your Yard or Home

• Conduct a thorough inspection of your yard or home to identify which squirrel you are dealing with and where their habitat is. If they are a Tree squirrel, they will likely be up in a tree in your yard. If they are a ground squirrel, they will have made a burrowed hole in your yard. A flying squirrel may be frequenting your attic.
• We recommend using a Live Trap to capture active squirrels on your property. Bait and set the squirrel trap strategically in an area where you have noticed activity in attics, basements and garages.
• Use Critter Ridder to scatter around your yard and deter Squirrels from sticking around.

Preventing Squirrel Reinfestation

• Proper control is not finished until you modify your environment to be less suitable to Squirrels.
• Creating exclusion measures (such as using copper mesh), and closing entry points in your home will go along way in preventing squirrels from getting inside.
• Reapply Critter Ridder as needed for continued protection from Squirrel activity.