Squirrels in the attic - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kerry · #31 03-01-2012, 04:06 PM

In my neighborhood, the telephone and electrical wires are squirrel freeways. No way to cut them off from the house.

PaulC · #32 03-01-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

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

t walgamuth · #33 03-01-2012, 04:26 PM

The cat in the attic is not an option either.

Mike D · #34 03-01-2012, 04:34 PM

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

That has to be one of the best opening sentences in an "open discussion" post I have ever read.

It just boggles the mind. I bet Christmas around his place was an exciting time.

Can't Know · #35 03-01-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

That has to be one of the best opening sentences in an "open discussion" post I have ever read.

It just boggles the mind. I bet Christmas around his place was an exciting time.

Yeah, the "Late uncle" intro is what sells it.

Stoneseller · #36 03-01-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

I use to have "Bats in my Belfry".

Somehow bats in the belfry and the clk man were the first two things that entered my mind when I read this thread title.

Now why would that be?

SwampYankee · #37 03-01-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

That has to be one of the best opening sentences in an "open discussion" post I have ever read.

It just boggles the mind. I bet Christmas around his place was an exciting time.

He was an interesting dude. Former Navy pilot, Army Guard helicopter pilot, mechanical engineer, never married, didn't like kids so he got himself fixed (certificate hung on the wall along with his dogs' neuter certs), built his own house over a 20 year period on a lake in central ME, built his own submarine to avoid the game warden on his way home from the bar on the other side of said lake in the early a.m. hours, was single-handedly the 10th largest consumer of Busch Light in kegs in the state of ME according to the distributor's records, lived a life of leisure from date of discharge until the age of 50 without any discernible source of income while wintering in the FL Keys or Australia (there's a huge barter economy in the woods of ME so money wasn't really necessary).

He could really fix anything with duct tape and bailing wire if needed, and with the proper tools could fix or make anything the right way. He designed a flash board system for the lake association's dam in his free time (of which there was much) to prevent spring flooding of lower camps, which had plagued them for decades.

At the age of 50, got his first "real" job since the military for a national power company, flying all over as a consultant and trouble-shooter on new and retro-fitted power plants. Primarily to get health insurance since he was so fed up with the VA health plan. Ironically, he lost his battle with lung cancer despite being vehemently anti-smoking and never touching a cigarette.

I learned a lot of things from him over the years. Most of them my mother wished I hadn't.

Hijack over.

Dubyagee · #38 03-01-2012, 06:22 PM

Squirrel Control Techniques | DoItYourself.com

Squirrels with Babies in the Attic

It is best to wait to evict squirrels with babies until the infants are grown and gone. Usually all squirrels leave the natal area 12-14 weeks after being born for territorial reasons. Sometimes, one may stay behind, and then eviction techniques may be used. If you really need them out immediately, then you will want to get the mother to move the babies on her own.

Go into the attic and locate the nest during mid-morning.
Very gently tamper with the nest. Try pulling off the top of the nest and if possible slide the nest over a foot or so. But, remember to be very gentle, babies are quite fragile.
Place a radio, tuned to an all talk station, about 6' from the nest.
Roll rags into a tight ball and tie with twine. Soak rag balls in ammonia until saturated and toss them into the vicinity of the squirrels' nest.
Check the nest the following morning. If the babies are gone, you can usually block the entries. First, make sure the mother didn't move the babies to another part of the attic. The radio usually prevents this.
If the mother has or knows of an alternate nest site, she will usually move her young within an hour or so. If she has to find or build a new nest, it may take 5 or 6 hours.

Note: In the winter, it is harder for the squirrel to find new nesting material. Tree leaves that the squirrel uses to construct a new nest have fallen from the trees. The squirrel may have to improvise to find a new home. This may be sheds or barns, non-running cars or trucks, covered porches, patios or a neighbor's attic.

The Clk Man · #39 03-01-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoneseller

Somehow bats in the belfry and the clk man were the first two things that entered my mind when I read this thread title.

Now why would that be?

Because, there's cats in the kettle at the Silver Spoon.

t walgamuth · #40 03-01-2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubyagee

Squirrel Control Techniques | DoItYourself.com

Squirrels with Babies in the Attic

It is best to wait to evict squirrels with babies until the infants are grown and gone. Usually all squirrels leave the natal area 12-14 weeks after being born for territorial reasons. Sometimes, one may stay behind, and then eviction techniques may be used. If you really need them out immediately, then you will want to get the mother to move the babies on her own.

Go into the attic and locate the nest during mid-morning.
Very gently tamper with the nest. Try pulling off the top of the nest and if possible slide the nest over a foot or so. But, remember to be very gentle, babies are quite fragile.
Place a radio, tuned to an all talk station, about 6' from the nest.
Roll rags into a tight ball and tie with twine. Soak rag balls in ammonia until saturated and toss them into the vicinity of the squirrels' nest.
Check the nest the following morning. If the babies are gone, you can usually block the entries. First, make sure the mother didn't move the babies to another part of the attic. The radio usually prevents this.
If the mother has or knows of an alternate nest site, she will usually move her young within an hour or so. If she has to find or build a new nest, it may take 5 or 6 hours.

Note: In the winter, it is harder for the squirrel to find new nesting material. Tree leaves that the squirrel uses to construct a new nest have fallen from the trees. The squirrel may have to improvise to find a new home. This may be sheds or barns, non-running cars or trucks, covered porches, patios or a neighbor's attic.

I am not nearly enough of a humanitarian as that.

t walgamuth · #41 03-01-2012, 07:13 PM

so I called the turtle man this morning and discussed options. (Actually his company was more like Acme animal removal.) I told him I felt like I was living in a reality show. he laughed.

He made it out this evening. He crawled into the attic and looked all around for the critter(s?). He could not find any.

We discussed options and he set up a lethal trap to catch and kill the (He belives) Raccoon. I have to go check it each morning to see if the critter is caught.

I had a wonderful time talking with him about animals. he is a hunter.