What to Do When you Have Squirrels in your Home
Although squirrels can be a very cute and important part of a natural ecosystem, the same cannot be said when they turn your house into their home.
These rodents are known for causing havoc among electrical wiring, woodwork and gardens if not controlled properly, and can be the cause of dangerous diseases finding their way into your house.
Because of this, we bring you some of the most notorious reasons to use a squirrel trap to catch them.
How to tell you have squirrels living in your home
To choose the best trap for your situation, first, you have to make sure that you’re actually dealing with chipmunks and not something bigger and riskier. These are some of the things to look for to find out if there are squirrels taking residence in your house:
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Backyard damage:
Take a look at your patio, garden, and backyard and search for signs of damage like mangled plants, ruined barks, and damaged fruit trees.
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Chewed off wiring:
One of the most telling signs of rodents inside the house is chewed off and broken wiring. Since attics are one of the most likely places for squirrels to hide in, make sure to look there first for these signs.
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Droppings:
As with every type of animal that might be living in your house, look for feces and fur in the corners of the rooms you think they might be living in.
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Noises:
listen up for the telltale sound of small paws racing along your walls, over your ceiling, and even inside your chimney. This could also mean that baby squirrels have been born into your home, which is another good reason to use a trap.
Health risks of having squirrels in your house
Mice, rats, and raccoons are all famous for being disease carriers, and squirrels are no exception. These rodents can pose a significant risk to your family and pets because of the following reasons:
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Ticks and fleas: Each small squirrel that finds its way into your house can carry an amazing amount of ticks and fleas that could easily jump into your carpeting, your drapery, and your pets’ fur, filling the space with the potential of Lyme disease.
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Contamination of food and water:
Squirrels dig around the garbage for things to eat, and if you have outdoor water storage that is not secure, they are likely to drink from it as well, contaminating the water with dangerous bacteria. The same happens if you have fruit trees or orchards in your yard.
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Dangerous diseases:
Some of the most common diseases you can get from being in contact with squirrels are rabies, Salmonellosis, and Tularemia, which can be infected through the ingestion of feces and by getting bitten by a carrier bug-like fleas or ticks.
How to safely get rid of squirrels
Easily, the best and safest way to get rid of your squirrel problem is by using a trap. These are the most humane contraptions to use to make sure you securely trap these little animals without harming them and without coming into contact with them, avoiding touching their fur or getting bitten, which may lead to risky infections.
The best traps for squirrels are those made with strong and resistant materials that can last you several seasons, seeing as if you don’t keep up a consistent repelling plan, you might not be seeing the last of these rodents.
As for the options you have regarding the types of traps, you can choose between a one-door or a two-door
Each one has its own set of pros, with the first one allowing you to set the bait farther into the trap to make sure the squirrel gets securely inside, while the latter gives you double the chance of catching the chipmunk, and you can use it as a one-door trap as well.
When using a trap, you get the opportunity to get rid of the squirrel by setting it free miles away from your home and into a more suited environment, but also keep in mind the risks of coming into such close contact with a wild creature that could possibly be infested with diseases, so wear gloves and a mask while dealing with the trapped animal for maximum safety.
Once your home is squirrel free, thoroughly clean any droppings left behind, check that no younglings’ nests are left, and close any entry holes made by the animals. Also, research and follow a regular plan that involves using chemical repellents to prevent having to use the trap at all.
Our Top Pick – Overall Best Squirrel Trap
Havahart 0745 One-Door Animal Trap for Chipmunk, Squirrel, Rat, and Weasel, X-Small
(Pack of 4)
On A Budget? – Best Value Trap for Squirrels
Havahart 632 Medium 2-Door Safe Release Live Animal Cage Trap for Squirrels, Rabbits, Skunks
