Power Pole Squirrel Guard

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How To Remove Squirrels Before They Damage Your Property

Squirrels are continually active by jumping from limb to limb in trees, playing with each other, and in general, are very entertaining. Unfortunately, they also reap havoc on utility lines, telephone lines, and other equipment required to keep homeowners' property running smoothly. What are homeowners to do to keep these rascals under control?

Most people do not want to harm squirrels' offspring or use methods that could potentially kill them. In the same breath, squirrels can cause a lot of damage to homeowners, farmers who grow nuts, and forest rangers.

For many years, people have battled to keep the surrounding areas protected from these clever little creatures' antics which can be harder than you think. Once in a while, squirrels will chew through electrical wires in vehicles costing the owners a great deal of money in repairs. They are responsible for approximately 24% of all outages. Although it's not known exactly what damage squirrels have caused, there are some statistics that should be considered:

In 2010, Nebraska's annual costs were around $64,005 for repairs and lost revenue, and $94,237 in Omaha. After the installation of squirrel guards over pole-mounted transformers, the annual costs dropped to $10,290.

Critter Guard®

Critterguard.org has created a tool to stop squirrels from moving over wires. Keep in mind, NEVER install this device on or near electrical lines, it's very dangerous. Only professional electricians and power companies should handle power lines.

Doors & Openings

A squirrel exclusion is a pest control that can be altered by mounting an 18-inch section of 4-inch plastic pipe over an opening. The pipe should point down at a 45° angle, just make sure very young squirrels are not being harmed. Having a one-way door can be quite effective. Use a one-way door along with a large one-foot square apron (minimum) around the hole to reduce chewing.

If freezing rain sets in, the entry could become frozen in an open or closed position. Some critters will fight harder to gain access to an opening or get out, just be prepared. When it comes to flying squirrels or red squirrels, their jaws are not strong enough so they can be kept out easily. Also, one-way doors work best with sturdy structures making it difficult for them to chew somewhere else to get in.

Make sure all openings are closed including chimneys and vents before you install a one-way door. Some Woodland Culture Centers use one-way doors along with traps. Squirrels will possibly check out the traps. In general, if you make sure all openings, doors, and other entries are securely shut or sealed, you won't need traps.

Close openings using heavy 1/2-inch wire mesh, aluminum flashing, but make sure all repairs are made where needed. Custom-designed wire mesh fences with electric wires on the top may keep squirrels out of gardens or small orchards.

Cage And Box Traps

Cage and box traps are 5 x 5 x18 inches or larger and are perfect for capturing large squirrels. The cages made from 1/2-inch x 3 inches mesh will reduce the chances of damage to the surrounding materials by trapped squirrels. The cage traps can be attached to trees and plywood shelves. Just be sure the squirrel has a 2-3-inch area to stand in front of the door. If it's legal in your state, you can have many traps that are very effective for capturing flying squirrels as well as other squirrels.

Body-Gripping Traps

These traps are enticing to squirrels and very inconspicuous. These traps have a positive effect because they are set over the only available entrance. Tunnel traps are perfect for catching squirrels because they are almost completely out of sight.

Drill small holes at the end of the trap to secure the trap in different ways. Another trap normally used for catching rats known as a glue trap is not recommended for squirrels.

There are certain foods squirrels love including slices of apples and oranges, nuts removed from their shells like pecans and walnuts, and a little peanut butter on the side. Other foods squirrels are familiar with include corn or oil-sunflower seeds that might do the trick. For your information, nuts are not appealing to squirrels in the fall when other foods are available. You should alternate foods if trapping in the fall months.

Traps known as snap traps are built for rats but are very effective for red or flying squirrels. Place these traps in cubby boxes forcing squirrels to come up and set off the trigger or you can place them vertically on walls with the bait side facing down. They can be used both inside or outside as long as birds do not have access.

Getting A Squirrel Out Of Your Chimney

Secure the opening of the fireplace and place a baited trap, then open the damper. Place a one-inch thick hemp rope in the flue and come back the next day to check on the situation. Squirrels that are healthy should be able to climb out. If you see a squirrel, use tongs to grab cornered squirrels or a hand net for loose squirrels. As squirrels will head toward light, see if you can light the area that leads to the outdoors.

Not everyone is out to harm squirrels but if you have an infestation, you should contact wildlife experts to help you out. In most cases, you can deal with the situation on your own. The chances of a large number of squirrels invading your property are slim to nil. Make sure you do not have any openings that lead into your home as squirrels are very inquisitive.