What can I put in my attic that squirrel don't like?
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Besides moth ball (the smell go through the vents) what can I put in my attic that critters don't like?
29 answers
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As a wildlife rehabber, and hearing stories like this all the time; You must figure out where the are getting into your attic. Once you find their passage way it can be sealed by you or a handyman. Remember it may be a vented area therefore it will need vented metal. not just mesh. They can chew thru mesh easily. ALSO very important.~~~ Be certain there isn't a nest up there. They start having babies in Feburary in some states. Probably March where you live. If you seal a nest of babies your are going to have a horrible smell when they die. Search online for Wildlife Control, in your area. ALSO check Better Business Bureau or Angies List once you get a few names There are Wildlife Relocaters that you can hire to fix the openings and guarantee no nesting sites.. Ask it they use humane methods. not extermination. You can get references from Your state's Parks & Wildlife Department for Rehabbers who might recommend someone, Game Warden,
Brenda Wells
on Jan 15, 2015
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Go to a local Feed store and get some stuff. It come in bars it cost me 40 dollars but there is a lot of it( only used part saved the rest can share or save). Can only be sold by box now due to government regulations. I just threw mine in different stops in attic and waited . Don't close hole till about a week later( or don't hear anymore). This stuff they eat and then have to get water. So they leave house to find water do make sure you don't have any water in attic anywhere( air cond. pans and stuff)..After you don't hear them anymore close the whole up.I took me about 4 days to get rid of mine.( Whole was left by window replacement company and I didn't know it.
Wanda.ll
on Jan 15, 2015
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@Frances Washington we had the problem a number of years ago. We called a wildlife specialist and they not only humanly removed the animal, but also assessed the entry ways and fixed them. Best $100 we ever spent.
Gail Salminen
on Jan 15, 2015
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Mothballs are overrated. You can trap them (have-a-heart trap at hardware store; put some apple inside, and bring the squirrel far enough from home so it can't find its way back. Put animal-proof screening on vents, find and fill other holes, and cut overhanging and nearby branches so they can't jump to the roof.
Rocky26
on Jan 15, 2015
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I have successfully removed many squirrels. Find the entryway they are using to get into your house. Buy a small animal trap, bait with peanut butter and trap those little boogers. Take them to a wooded area and set them free. Once all squirrels are gone, seal up and repair the opening.
918210
on Jan 15, 2015
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Trap them, find there entry, or place a Badger in there, solved.
Tim Pritchett
on Jan 15, 2015
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A cat. I'm sorry that wasn't helpful, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind!
OnBlissStreet
on Jan 15, 2015
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We used fox urine to get rid of chipmunks. It stinks for a day. We put it in the attic, the crawl space and all around the perimeter (outside) the house.
Teri Broberg
on Jan 15, 2015
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I used fox urine.......I had tried loud country western music, strobe light, and silent sonic plug in....... my husband put a big catch them alive trap!!!!!.......got the sofit fixed on the under side of the gutter.......no more squirrels!!!
Carrie Krumrie
on Jan 15, 2015
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Peppermint, not candy. Use leaves of your peppermint or peppermint oil. Bugs don't like it either.
Laurie Pruser-Stockman
on Jan 15, 2015
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I lay in bed one night listening to a wobbling noise outside the house nearly every night, along with obviously squirrley noises in the attic. When I happened to notice squirrels on the electric line that came from the pole to the service box on the outside of the house, I recognized the noise. I had several of those silent sonic plug-in things, I put one in the attic (it's only 864 s.f.) That night, I heard those same wobbling noises. They stopped. And then 5 seconds later, the wobbling noise started again as the squirrel ran back to the light pole (I suspect, having not seen it happen.) Never did hear the squirrels in the attic. Again.
Nancy Spencer Carlson
on Jan 15, 2015
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I want a Honey Badger! Not to get out the squirrels tho--- Try using CHOCOLATE as bait--after long years of re-habbing squirrels and raccoons and other small wild animals I can say that CHOCOLATE is squirrel cat-nip. Of course you can also add peanut butter as the scent travels farther. AS far as taking them far away--consider that squirrels have families and friends;;making sure they can't get back INTO YOUR HOUSE is the important thing. Have them in the trap somewhere safe and FIX the entry. I have seen pics of where people have placed colored chalk etc to SEE where they might be getting in and out--chances are they have more than one entry point. Squirrels also can travel very far and very fast so moving them is not always the best idea and may in fact be illegal.
Comet
on Jan 15, 2015
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Don't use poison. You'll just wind up with dead stuff decomposing in your attic & walls. They don't really leave to get water. See if you can find someone with a good mouser. Perhaps you might borrow someone's cat for a day at a time. (Many cats aren't, since mother cats have to teach their kittens how to hunt. Oddly, it's not instinctual.) Maine Coons were known to be excellent mousers. Good luck.
Susie
on Jan 15, 2015
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Put a cat or a small terrier up there!
Matina
on Jan 15, 2015
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My daughter had raccoons in her attic, she put some rags soaked with ammonia up there and never had a problem after that. Maybe it will work for squirrels too!
Diana
on Jan 15, 2015
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If smell is also a problem there are sprays that to humans seem almost odorless but all creatures from deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds ect, all seem to not be able to tolerate and the best place to find such are stores where farmers/ranchers abs even serious gardeners would normally go in your area. And if you so can smell them a tad bit then put a plant to your liking in your home, lemongrass plants, lavander, lilacs, ect whatever you like we'll help with snell even if you have to use moth balls. Lemongrass and spoke other plants like that are suppose to be natural deodorizers and can leave pleasant smells instead.
Nikolaos Bobbie Lea
on Jan 15, 2015
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After reading all the comments seems like the only logical permanent solution is prevention. Must seal every inch of the attics and cover with screening any access points like the vents.
Mary Davin
on Jan 15, 2015
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First I will say Good Luck. Squirrels are very smart, pesky, infuriating critters. I agree that the best thing to do is trap them. Make sure any hole, no matter how small, is blocked. Some suggested taking them somewhere and letting them loose after trapping. Great idea, but you have to take them FAR away from where you live. An article I read recently said that squirrels live within an area that they of course define and will return there if not let out FAR away. They are also destructive and in an attic they will burrow into insulation, destroy things that are stored there. I love all animals but squirrels try my patience.
Colimbia1
on Jan 16, 2015
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It is not d_con and no they don't bleed . It makes them thirsty for water and they have to find it if there is none in attic they can get too.
Wanda.ll
on Jan 16, 2015
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I don't know the name sorry. It came in a box an I got rid of box. It is blocks of stuff that look like sawdust. The blocks have score marks so each block breaks into 4. You don't handle the stuff because if you do the animals won;t touch it. So use gloves. This is the 4 th in different places I've had to use it. It has always worked for me, my mom and daughter and anyone else. Just ask at feed store and describe it.
Wanda.ll
on Jan 16, 2015
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You must eliminate their entry point or they'll be back! I had to replace a single gutter board and trim some tree limbs..I also spread mothballs in the attic, never smelled them in the living area...and never had another squirrel...
Pete Wells
on Jan 16, 2015
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Please don't use moth balls. They can make you sick. My mother put them in her crawl space and she almost died from them. So please don't use them in your house. Catch them in a live trap. Take them 5-10 miles a way and let them go. Go home and fix where they are coming in.
Charolett Wills
on Jan 17, 2015
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I had a pesky squirrel for a couple of years, no matter what we did she (we know it was a she because she ended up having babies in one of the eaves!) came back in the fall and stayed through the winter. As we would patch one area she would eat her way in somewhere else! We finally had a contracter come and replace all the old wood in the eaves with new wood, essentially sealing up the entry points. Make sure you cut down any trees that are near your house as well.
Country Design Home
on Jan 17, 2015
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Ok I stopped and found out the name of Squirrel killer I spoke about. It is called "JUST ONE BITE". It contains denotonium benzoate says just one does is lethal the first night but works on rat, squirrels and other rodents that warfarin won't kill.
Wanda.ll
on Jan 18, 2015
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I hate to use poisons, but with squirrels, sometimes that is the only way.
DORLIS
on Aug 22, 2015
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No much gets in attic that is regular animal. It is generally some kind of vermin the unwelcome kind. But yes it would kill others animals if eaten I'm sure.So it must kept under control .Don't touch with your bare hands they can smell it and won't touch it. We get rats they can come in the smallest area due to can flatten their heads down to nothing almost. Squirrels can too.You don't won't them they are nasty animals.Once in attic you won't have problems over and over again. Stop up any very small area and I do mean tiny.
Wanda.ll
on Aug 24, 2015
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In some states it is illegal to poison squirrels, even raccoons! The raccoons can climb up the side of your house. Call a professional ASAP as these critters can cause A LOT of damage in a very short time!
Lisa House
on Feb 24, 2016
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Try putting some ammonia soaked towels or rags and mothballs in the area, they don't like it. That should drive them out.
Diana
on Feb 24, 2016
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Wondering if you solved your problem? I could use some advice. We have squirrels and raccoons on our deck. Would be wonderful to come up with something that will keep them away.
Colimbia1
on May 31, 2016
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