How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Attic - Live Trap and Relocate
You may wonder why I would have such a page on a squirrel loving site, but as much as I love my backyard critters, I don't want any of them living in my attic!
I make sure to feed the squirrels with their own feeders towards the back of the yard, but they are smart creatures and even if you are not a "feeder of critters" they may still like the look of your attic when house hunting.
How Do You Know if You Have Squirrels in the Attic?
The easiest way of course would be to go up there and look, but if you are hearing scratching and animal noises in the roof during the day, it is most likely the squirrels. They operate in daytime hours more like us, whereas bats, and mice prefer to keep you up at night.
That being said, now what do you do? If you are like me, you don't want to hurt them, you just want them out.
I make sure to feed the squirrels with their own feeders towards the back of the yard, but they are smart creatures and even if you are not a "feeder of critters" they may still like the look of your attic when house hunting.
How Do You Know if You Have Squirrels in the Attic?
The easiest way of course would be to go up there and look, but if you are hearing scratching and animal noises in the roof during the day, it is most likely the squirrels. They operate in daytime hours more like us, whereas bats, and mice prefer to keep you up at night.
That being said, now what do you do? If you are like me, you don't want to hurt them, you just want them out.
Step 1 - Inspect! Every vent, soffit, places where roof lines meet. Take a flashlight and really look. My dad found that a squirrel had chewed the edge of a roof vent. They need a bit more room to get in than a mouse, so there will be an obvious entryway most of the time. Sometimes there will be multiple entry ways. This is when you do a bit of sleuthing.
Step 2 - Take a day, sit outside or somewhere where you can see the holes you found and watch for any activity. Once you see a squirrel coming or going, don't yell at it, simply take note as to which hole is their main entrance.
Step 3 - Enlist some help if needed but repair and seal up any other holes, but leave the main entrance you see them using open. This will force them to only use this hole and this way you don't have trapped squirrels in the attic.
Step 4 - Use a one way exclusion door and secure it over the main entrance. This is a really cool and yet simple device. You can buy them online at Amazon (below) or you can make your own. But basically it does not hurt them, it simply lets them out, but they cannot get back in.
Step 5 - There may be more squirrels than you think, so give it a day or so. If you don't hear anymore attic noise, then they are out, and now you must seal up that hole well.
Step 6 - Enlist some help, in this case professionals to clean your attic. If these squirrels have been in there for a long time, there will be chewing damage, insulation moved and definitely a toilet area. You need to wear a mask for this part. But if you can at least get the squirrels out first this will help.
Step 2 - Take a day, sit outside or somewhere where you can see the holes you found and watch for any activity. Once you see a squirrel coming or going, don't yell at it, simply take note as to which hole is their main entrance.
Step 3 - Enlist some help if needed but repair and seal up any other holes, but leave the main entrance you see them using open. This will force them to only use this hole and this way you don't have trapped squirrels in the attic.
Step 4 - Use a one way exclusion door and secure it over the main entrance. This is a really cool and yet simple device. You can buy them online at Amazon (below) or you can make your own. But basically it does not hurt them, it simply lets them out, but they cannot get back in.
Step 5 - There may be more squirrels than you think, so give it a day or so. If you don't hear anymore attic noise, then they are out, and now you must seal up that hole well.
Step 6 - Enlist some help, in this case professionals to clean your attic. If these squirrels have been in there for a long time, there will be chewing damage, insulation moved and definitely a toilet area. You need to wear a mask for this part. But if you can at least get the squirrels out first this will help.
INSPECT Your Roof and Soffits
Try to make a habit of inspecting your roof and soffits for damage that may be a critter trying to enter your roof. Look for chewing at the base of roof vents, or on older homes with wooden attic vents, check for a slat missing, or chewing.. Maybe you could do this when you get your eaves troughs cleaned?
If you can stop them before they decide your house is it, this would be better. Older homes that have many wooden features are easier for them to enter as they love to chew. So, try and make it difficult for them. There are many metal vents that make it harder for any critters to get in, but inspection is still needed.
You Can Build Your own Live Squirrel Trap Too
Below is a video of a person making their own one way exclusion door and just how he attached it. I hope this helps. If you have a big enough property you could give them their very own squirrel houses in the back of the yard. This maybe more appealing to them.
If you can stop them before they decide your house is it, this would be better. Older homes that have many wooden features are easier for them to enter as they love to chew. So, try and make it difficult for them. There are many metal vents that make it harder for any critters to get in, but inspection is still needed.
You Can Build Your own Live Squirrel Trap Too
Below is a video of a person making their own one way exclusion door and just how he attached it. I hope this helps. If you have a big enough property you could give them their very own squirrel houses in the back of the yard. This maybe more appealing to them.