The flying squirrel in my attic apparently does not take hand outs...
by
Roger S
+11
I hear him up there but he's not interested in the free meal in the traps. I have peanut butter and nuts & he hasn't touched it for 4 - 5 days. But I have heard him up there gnawing on something. Any suggestions?
14 answers
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How many entrance points have you found and closed?
Walter Reeves
on Oct 31, 2011
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I found two and closed them both.
Roger S
on Oct 31, 2011
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when I worked at a horse center we used a product called "chew stop" to keep some of the horses from "cribbing" this is a intense cinnamon oil based product that irritates their lips...perhaps applying something like that to the chewed areas will deter him
KMS Woodworks
on Oct 31, 2011
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You need to install a reverse funnel shaped wire mesh device over the last hole in the attic. This will allow the critter to get out, but will prevent him from getting back in. They must come and go for water and food, as they will not get any nourishment from anything else within the attic area, except your traps which I assume they are not into the peanut butter mood. Once they are out, you must check all your wires in the attic as these little buggers love to chew on the coatings of them and oftentimes can cause all sorts of shorts and fires. Are you sure you have a squirrel? Mice can make quite a racket in an attic. Also Rats can be quite damaging and make the same noise at your little possible flying buddy does. And they may not be attracted to the same type of bait. Squirrels can be very difficult to deal with. Once they establish a nesting location they will attempt to try everything they can to get back into the home. I have had them in clients homes where we installed new wood to replace what they chewed out to get into their attic only to have them chew again through the new material even after we trapped them.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Oct 31, 2011
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Have you tried a moose? If not KGB Boris and Natasha -- oh wait, they never had much luck. Seriously though, I recently saw an attic where somethng had seriously chewed most of the wiring. What a nightmare. Be sure to check for your own safety.
Kevin M. Veler, Law Office of
on Oct 31, 2011
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Roger...closing the holes is the best option...I hope you are able to relocate him in a safe and humane way. He sounds like he might be trying to settle in for the Winter! TMW
TonyaM Williams
on Oct 31, 2011
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I saw him once so I am sure it is a flying squirrel. I had some gaps in the facia board. I stuffed them with steel wool (heard they don't like that) and then put a wire mesh "screen" to keep them in. There may be more areas - I can't get to everything from inside. I can't see what they've been chewing on. No evidence other than the sound. I've cleared some of the insulation in the area I hear them and can't find anything. My next step may be to clear the area of the blown insulation and see what I can find?
Roger S
on Oct 31, 2011
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You do not want to keep them in. When they die they will make a big stink that you do not want to have. Let them out through a funnel shaped wire mesh screen.. Once out they will not come back in. Once your sure that they are gone. Seal the hole. Forget about steel wool, only works with rats and mice. Squirrels will clean their teeth with the stuff. They can hide real well in blown in insulation, You will have to spend a lot of time looking for them. Not fun.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Oct 31, 2011
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We trapped and "road tripped" 18 flying squirrels in one winter. Mother and Daddy had multiple liters it seems! Finally cut down a tree that was very close to the house. Have A Hart Trap with peanut butter on a saltine worked great! But you have to change it daily!!! They had nested in everything from a box with Christmas decorations to a box of old books. I took everything in cardboard boxes and put it into plastic boxes. They didn't like the plastic and seem to have decided we are not good hosts. Look for a pecan tree in your neighborhood. They had brought pecans into our attic and the closet pecan tree is two miles away!! Good luck!
Elinor C
on Nov 05, 2011
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I had a mother squirrel w/newborns back in Aug. She didn't fall for the trap w/ nuts or pb either. Left them alone till they were old enough to travel (4 weeks), then make the attic a less homey place so they left on their on. Close to the nest, I blasted music from a boombox, filled socks with mothballs, then attached to long string to throw back into the low corner, and poked area with a long pole. Sandy the Squirrel would come out and fight the pole which was kinda scary. Terrorized her every day for about a week, they left and no damage was done
Susan
on Nov 05, 2011
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we thought we had squirrels in the attic but it was roof rats, they gnaw on the wires, the insulation, wood, etc. We tried everything and ended up calling Cook's pest control to put out traps and they caught 7 rats within a few days.
Cheryl A
on Nov 05, 2011
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That's great news. Glad you found them. I kinda thought you had something other then a squirrel from my first post. Be sure to have the wiring checked out. These critters do even more damage then their gray furry counter parts. I also suggest that you if you can find their nesting areas and have them removed. Urine and droppings can be a breathing hazard as they begin to dry up.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Nov 05, 2011
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I have no idea how they work, but they really do, Riddex plug ins... We have NO new evidence of mice inside, or rats getting into the dog food bowls outside. We haven't even seen any bugs inside! (The joys of country living...)
Sandra S
on Nov 05, 2011
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The key difference between squirrels and flying squirrels is that flying squirrels are nocturnal and thus you hear them during the night. Squirrels though, are mostly active early in the morning and late in the afternoon that they go out in search of food. Check squirrelsremoval.com for more info on getting rid of squirrels in the attic
Porcupine
on Dec 01, 2012
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