Squirrel Problem - Help!

[encrypted]

Hi all - first post here and in need of some help.

Some grey squirrels have decided to take over a part of my loft space that I have no access to from the loft or outside the house. Its almost impossible to get there without scaffolding. I've tried the JML pest shield and ultrasound repellents and they dont work.

What can I do asap? The only means I can think of is using a cage trap and poison around the outside of the house and garden - i can really get to the heights where they are. What poison works best? Any other deterrent? Please note that I don't have much budget so the solution needs to be cost-effective.

They are making such a racket at night that its really disturbing my sleep

Thanks in advance for any help...

[kshotton45]

Your local council should provide a pest control service.
I don't know what area you're in but if you do a google for 'council pest control', you'll get links to various services.
Try adding your local councils name in front of the search.

Keith.

[encrypted]

Originally Posted by kshotton45

Your local council should provide a pest control service.
I don't know what area you're in but if you do a google for 'council pest control', you'll get links to various services.
Try adding your local councils name in front of the search.

Keith.

unfortunately my local council doesn't treat squirrel problems - they recommend getting someone private. My concern is that I might get ripped off - especially if scaffolding has to go up as the only point of access is from the outside...I was hoping of a more 'on the ground' solution.

[salukiwhippet]

Whereabouts are you mate? I'm a gamekeeper, so know a bit about squirrel control. There are a few options, Cage traps, fenn traps, shooting, poison. i wouldn't recommend poison personally, although warfarin is still licenced. PM me if you want more advice and dont want to talk on here.

HTH, James

[Dogghound]

I wouldnt advise putting poison around your house and garden, there are other wildlife, pets children etc that could potentially eat it, would be irresponsible. Traps would be best.

[Ambriel]

OK, daft question, why can't you get to where they are from your loft? Is it just that there's not enough room or is there a physical barrier in the way?

You've got two problems here. Firstly, how to get them out; secondly, how to stop them getting in again.

Getting them out might be easier than you think. If there's anyway you can introduce a loudspeaker into that part of the loft then playing loud music at them might well scare them out.

Keeping them out will require firstly identifying where they're getting in and then blocking this up somehow.

I would be very careful about using poison as not only can other animals/children pick it up but what will you do with a loft full of rotting squirrels afterwards?

You might find you can rent either a tower scaffold (I bought mine on Ebay) or a hydraulic cherry picker lift quite reasonably from a local tool hire store. Depends if you like heights as to whether you do it yourself or get somone in.

Best of luck, anyhow.

[demicav]

I agree with the others, poison is not a good idea as it can get into the food chain, as well as being a danger to children.

[encrypted]

Right - I have set up a cage trap in the garden as there seems to be a flurry of activity from 2 squirrels - i am assuming that these are the same ones that are in the loft space at the front of the house. I have a small child and there are local pets, so decided against the poison given the advice above.

Let me try to explain where the squirrels are. The are at the front of the house (above my bed room) in the space above a bay window which hangs outside the face of the house. I know its hard to imagine, but imagine a card box being the 4 walls of my house; now stick a match box to that and then you have the bay window - which is isolated by the card sides (i.e. the bricks). Therefore I cannot get to the space in the top of the matchbox (where they are nesting). Due to the structure of the house, there are wooden beams that run from the main house (the box) to the bay area (the matchbox), which are surrounded by brick - there is a small gap between the bricks and beams - no more than an inch in diameter. So, it is theoretically possible that the squirrels can get from the bay into the loft via this small gap, but I haven't seen or heard any evidence of this.

The loud music sounds like a good idea, but they seem to make a racket at 4am and i'd prob end up waking everyone!

I have heard fox urine tablets are supposed to work?

I usually poke a stick out of the top window to disturb them, but they seem unbothered now and get quite agressive if i open the window. I was thinking of smoking them out - i.e. holding a broom with a lit towel out of the window, but a bit weary of setting the house on fire!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by encrypted

Right - I have set up a cage trap in the garden as there seems to be a flurry of activity from 2 squirrels - i am assuming that these are the same ones that are in the loft space at the front of the house. I have a small child and there are local pets, so decided against the poison given the advice above.

Let me try to explain where the squirrels are. The are at the front of the house (above my bed room) in the space above a bay window which hangs outside the face of the house. I know its hard to imagine, but imagine a card box being the 4 walls of my house; now stick a match box to that and then you have the bay window - which is isolated by the card sides (i.e. the bricks). Therefore I cannot get to the space in the top of the matchbox (where they are nesting). Due to the structure of the house, there are wooden beams that run from the main house (the box) to the bay area (the matchbox), which are surrounded by brick - there is a small gap between the bricks and beams - no more than an inch in diameter. So, it is theoretically possible that the squirrels can get from the bay into the loft via this small gap, but I haven't seen or heard any evidence of this.

The loud music sounds like a good idea, but they seem to make a racket at 4am and i'd prob end up waking everyone!

I have heard fox urine tablets are supposed to work?

I usually poke a stick out of the top window to disturb them, but they seem unbothered now and get quite agressive if i open the window. I was thinking of smoking them out - i.e. holding a broom with a lit towel out of the window, but a bit weary of setting the house on fire!

I'd drill a hole in the ceiling of the window and by this means introduce a speaker - then play them something with plenty of bass - to resemble gunshots - you dont need to do it a 4am in fact during the middle of the day while they are sleeping might be a better bet - a few days of this and they will probably go elsewhere

then you need a builder / roofer to do the necessary work to stop them getting back in

[encrypted]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I'd drill a hole in the ceiling of the window and by this means introduce a speaker - then play them something with plenty of bass - to resemble gunshots - you dont need to do it a 4am in fact during the middle of the day while they are sleeping might be a better bet - a few days of this and they will probably go elsewhere

then you need a builder / roofer to do the necessary work to stop them getting back in

I was thinking of putting a speaker in the loft - near that hole i mentioned and pumping some gun shot music (i'll have to dig into my gangsta rap cd's). Will this actually get rid of them? what if they are nesting in there? wont they just try to stick it out?

Good idea though - thanks!