Squirrels in the attic - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SwampYankee · #16 03-01-2012, 11:22 AM

My late uncle rigged a very Rube Goldberg-ish contraption featuring a .357 Magnum loaded with birdshot shells, some micro-switches, an actuator and a camera mounted to a beam in a crawl space area in his attic and aimed where they were coming in. He wanted to be sure they were either dead or out before he closed up the hole. I have some pics of it somewhere.

The Clk Man · #17 03-01-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

My late uncle rigged a very Rube Goldberg-ish contraption featuring a .357 Magnum loaded with birdshot shells, some micro-switches, an actuator and a camera mounted to a beam in a crawl space area in his attic and aimed where they were coming in. He wanted to be sure they were either dead or out before he closed up the hole. I have some pics of it somewhere.

Your Late uncle had Macgyver like tendencies didn't he.

The Clk Man · #18 03-01-2012, 11:37 AM

I use to have "Bats in my Belfry".

SwampYankee · #19 03-01-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

Your Late uncle had Macgyver like tendencies didn't he.

"MacGyver" implies a certain degree of sophistication. Wile E. Coyote is probably more like it.

Mistress · #20 03-01-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I discovered that the squirrels are in the attic of my rental house again. When I first bought it they were in there living merrily. We closed off the points of entry which were under the roof overhang and shot the squirrels. Wednesday I was down that way and decided to look at the roof and spotted an area that looked as if a small section of the roof had exploded up.

Yesterday I got up on the roof with a roofer and found that the squirrels have torn off three layers of shingles and chewed a hole large enough to crawl in.

So fixing the roof is something that is very understandable and doable but I am a bit at a loss as to how to remove the furry friends and make sure they don't come back.

Suggestions?

Use a bigger gun or call animal control...

lutzTD · #21 03-01-2012, 12:57 PM

live trap and then drown them. I used rat poisened peanut butter but it ended up dying in the yard and killed my room mates dog (assumed because of the timing)

Mistress · #22 03-01-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

live trap and then drown them. I used rat poisened peanut butter but it ended up dying in the yard and killed my room mates dog (assumed because of the timing)

that's aweful...

TwitchKitty · #23 03-01-2012, 01:01 PM

Be very cautious about alerting authorities. They might "help" by condemning your place or ordering inspections, etc.

Be glad you're not dealing with raccoons. They knock down sheetrock, insulation, etc.

lutzTD · #24 03-01-2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

that's aweful...

it was, I felt terrible

t walgamuth · #25 03-01-2012, 01:44 PM

Poison is not an option for me.

PaulC · #26 03-01-2012, 02:04 PM

The problem with poison as a deterrent is that the little fellow may have his meal, then crawl into a nice, inaccessible area to expire.

Can't Know · #27 03-01-2012, 02:23 PM

Once you are sure they are out of the attic, then rigging an electrical grid at the opening (on the inside, but VERY close to the hole they come in) is the most effective and non-lethal deterrent available.

However, you do need to trim those branches. That's the most common access point. If they can't get to the roof, they won't be coming in, and those tenacious enough to drop in from a wire will get zapped once or twice and then leave for good. They are very smart little critters and they learn pretty fast.

There are also repellent sprays at pet stores for dogs and cats, that might be worth testing.

Can't Know · #28 03-01-2012, 02:38 PM

Oh, and I have to add that before I opened this thread, I thought it was going to be a discussion of a new metaphor for someone who's off his rocker.

I still think it works well for that, though.

Brian Carlton · #29 03-01-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

I wonder if allowing a cat to inhabit the infested area for awhile would leave a scent that would override the attractiveness of the squirrel scent?

The cat would need to live in the unheated attic. Not a comfortable environment for any pet.

dynalow · #30 03-01-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I don't like killing animals if not necessary but am very willing to kill the little bastards if necessary to keep them out of the house.

I wouldn't want to think relocating them would work. It also seems as if there might be baby squirrels in there now.

I took my trapped squirrels about 11 miles away on the other side of the County Zoo. They didn't come back. The trees limbs were cut way back, had the soffet trim replaced and gutters hung. Problem solved.
Got trees near a house? Might just as well leave the front door open.