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Squirrel trouble! How to keep them away?

Even though squirrels look cute and cuddly, they can be extremely vicious as squirrel attacks are quite common. They also carry fleas and other parasites which could potentially be passed to your home. They are part of the rodent family which is well known for their habits to chew through things. If it does get into your home it could chew through woodwork, cables, tear through loft insulation and they can even drown in water tanks which can cause further problems.

Environmentally they are pests as they strip the bark off trees causing young trees to die and they also destroy garden plants. If not controlled quickly, squirrels can cause a lot of damage.

Differences between ground squirrels and tree squirrels

There are three different types of squirrels. These are:
  • Ground Squirrels
  • Tree Squirrels
  • Flying Squirrels
The most common squirrels are the ground and tree squirrels. The flying ones generally do not become pests and in fact are rarely ever seen.
Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrels are also known as gophers, Tawny American Marmots and Prairie Gophers. They are mainly found in North America and they live in underground burrows.

Most people consider these squirrels to be pests due to burrowing habits. They leave mounds of earth everywhere and they also eat seeds from farmer's fields. Many farmers do not tolerate and they will eliminate the ground squirrels any way that they can including using squirrel traps or shooting them.
Tree Squirrels
There are different varieties of tree squirrels and this type of squirrel is the most common squirrel pest. Grey squirrels are the worst pests which most homeowners have problems with and they grow to around 10 inches long.

As their name suggests, they mainly live in trees. They raise their young in trees, they escape from predators and they take shelter from bad weather in trees. They can also jump quite far and they feed on things such as nuts, fruit, flowers and plant buds.

How Can Squirrels Cause Damage to Buildings?

Squirrels can cause damage to buildings in a variety of ways. Usually they tend to stay outside and are outdoor pests, but occasionally they can find their way or become trapped indoors and they can really cause havoc. They usually gain access to indoors through the chimney as they run along the roof. Unlike Raccoons, squirrels usually end up in the chimney accidentally.

Shredding wires is a common problem with squirrels, as they can chew through cables such as television cables and phone cables. They can ruin insulation and make nests. Attics tend to make extremely good breeding and sleeping grounds so it is always worth checking to see if any offending squirrel has gotten in.

The real danger is that when a squirrel chews through wiring, it could easily spark a fire and your home could be potentially burnt down. It is always safer to have some form of squirrel control to avoid potential disasters within the home.

Tips for Squirrel Control

The best way to control any pest is to prevent them in the first place. Squirrels naturally go for old food and a safe place to build their nests. If they stumble upon the chimney and make their way into an attic, it is a perfect place to make a nest and they do not understand that they are doing anything wrong. If you leave pet food out then a squirrel is more than likely to eat that and come back later. The same goes for bird feeders.
Move Bird Feeders Away From The Home
Many people complain that squirrels feed from bird feeders and scare away birds. What people don't know is that if the feeder is too close to your home, they could easily try and venture into the home to see what else you have for them to eat.

So a good tip is to make sure you have your bird feeder at least 20 feet away from your home.
Protect Any Plants
Squirrels will eat a variety of plants, especially fruits. So if you have a problem or you are worried about squirrels eating your plants, the best way to prevent it is to cage them. This way the squirrel can't get to them and your plants are safe.
Create Moth Balls
Some people swear by moth balls but they have to be continually changed to work effectively. To create effective ones you should place the moth balls in a metal screening to form a bag. Next tie the bag to a tree or a solid object and make sure you change the contents. If you do not change the contents the squirrels will get used to the smell and they will simply push them out of the way.

Use Squirrel Traps

Sometimes it may not be ideal for you to trap a squirrel yourself so you should first call your local government agency to see if you need some kind of permit first. The time of the year makes a big difference on whether or not you should use squirrel traps. In early spring, female squirrels are likely to have babies. So if you catch mother squirrel you may be left with abandoned babies who will no doubt die without mother. This not only sad but once they die they will end up leaving a nasty smell.

Traps can be purchased from places that sell sporting goods. They usually come with instructions on which bait to use and how to set the trap. They come in different sizes and so it is important to make sure you get the right size for your squirrel.

Traps can be ideal for squirrel control but sometimes it may be safer to leave it to the professionals.

Bait Suggestion for Squirrels

Squirrels eat a large variety of things so finding bait for traps should be easy. Some good bait ideas are:
  • Cereals
  • Peanuts
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Popcorn
  • Apples
Squirrels especially love peanuts but a variety of the above is a good idea if you really want to catch the squirrel.

Overall, squirrels can be serious pests but they can also be fun to watch.. So if you can survive without trapping them or hurting them in any way, it is advisable.

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Squirrel removal

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