It would be wonderful to be able to predict the behavior of squirrels and other wildlife. Some people are confident  that squirrels will leave after a few days or months. However, based on our 30 years of experience and research, unless structures are sealed and protected against squirrels, the persistent animals will live and nest inside for long periods of time (usually years). It is common to see squirrels return to the same spot year after year, as they prefer to have their young in the same spot they were born.

Many homeowners try poisons, repellents, rat traps, and/or live cages to rid their structure of squirrels. While all of these are pest control techniques, in the case of squirrels the approach should be totally different. The use of poison is definitely a “no-no”. Poisons are many times slow acting and will be carried out by the squirrels into other environments where other types of animals could gain access to it, including pets. In addition, poisons that have been consumed by the squirrels could be ingested by non-target animals that will eat or carry dead squirrels in their mouths. This secondary poisoning could be fatal to other animals. Forsyth Wildlife cautions homeowners that poisons should not be used to control squirrels.

The use of repellents is common, but could be toxic to humans. A prime example of a repellant is moth balls. For years this poison has been used to repel snakes, squirrels, and other animals, but the negative effects moth balls have on humans far outweigh the benefits. Squirrel repellants usually work for a very short period of time and are carried away from target areas by rain or other environmental factors. Using snap or rat traps to control squirrels may work in some cases, but killing the squirrel is not the easiest or best way to control these animals. Squirrels many times are a little bigger than what snap traps are designed for, so the squirrels may not die and will carry the trap to areas where human access is restricted. The injured squirrel many times carries the trap into areas like wall voids or under insulation, and once it finally dies, can be difficult to locate. Now you have a problem that still hasn’t been permanently resolved, and a foul smell to deal with.  Snap traps are also hard to set and dangerous to remove.  Human injury can occur for those who are not trained to set and/or remove traps.

Live cages are a better option, but if not combined with a full home exclusion this can be a never-ending job. Squirrels leave pheromones behind when they infest attics, which are highly attractive to other animals,  making it almost impossible to catch all squirrels. Rats and mice are also attracted to this scent, which sends the message that says, “Come live here, it’s nice and cozy!” Other animals will also figure out the location of the trap, or the way it works and will avoid the devices altogether. Professional trappers will know how many traps to place, the optimal placement for them, and more importantly what entry areas to seal to prevent re-infestations.