A Guide to Humane Squirrel Trapping
If a squirrel has decided that your attic, chimney, shed, or garage would be a cozy place to call home, then you may be thinking about trying your hand at squirrel trapping. This method of pest removal does not have to involve taking the life of the animal, and indeed is a very humane alternative to poisons and toxic gas. Besides, using a poison to kill a squirrel—or any rodent, for that matter—will only result in the rotting of a carcass somewhere that will have to be retrieved. Let’s take a look at some of the information you should know before setting out to trap yourself a squirrel.
Assess the Situation
One of the most crucial steps in ridding yourself of a pest is to assess the situation. Begin by confirming the signs of a stowaway. Is there scratching in the walls? –Black, powdery residue surrounding the fireplace (when there hasn’t been a recent fire)? –Bits of insulation strewn about the attic? These are all signs that you may have a fuzzy fugitive hiding out somewhere in the house. As for an outdoor building, it is pretty likely that you may find signs of a nest, especially if it is early spring or autumn, as this is when most female squirrels reproduce. This is something that requires further consideration. Do you really want to risk trapping a mother squirrel and leaving her babies to die and stink up the joint? That question might be a little blunt, but we have to be practical here, especially if the nest is in a place that you cannot easily reach.
After confirming that there is definitely a critter present, you need to confirm the type of animal that has taken up residence in your home or shed. Never assume what type of animal you are dealing with. It is always best to get a visual confirmation, as you could have an entirely different situation on your hands than what you originally assumed (such as opossums, raccoons, rats, and even large birds). If you simply cannot catch a visual on the animal, then it is strongly recommended that you call for a pest removal specialist.
The next step in assessing the situation is finding out whether or not it is even legal for you to trap in your area. Some cities and even counties prohibit or strictly limit who may remove wild pests. Some places have no restrictions, others require you to obtain a permit, and there are others which mandate that only qualified persons may remove wild animals from buildings. You can find out by calling your local wildlife agency.
Setting the Trap
Assuming it is legal for you to go squirrel trapping, you will need to find yourself a trap. There is no need to scour the internet for a specialized squirrel trap. Your local sporting goods store should have plenty of live animal traps to choose from. As long as you choose one large enough to fully enclose the squirrel but not so large that the squirrel won’t set the trigger, you should be good to go. If you were trying to trap a raccoon, there would definitely be a cause for purchasing a specialized trap, but that simply isn’t necessary for a squirrel.
Once you have the trap, the next thing to consider is bait. The squirrel isn’t going to scope out the trap unless you give it a good reason to. As squirrels love nuts, the recommended form of bait is crunchy peanut butter. Simply place a dollop of peanut butter on the end of the trip lever and then set the trap according to the directions that came with it.
The next step is to find a place to put the trap. Just like you would do for trapping a mouse, you need to find out where the squirrel frequents and place the trap nearby. The best option is to discover the “path” which the squirrel takes, as they often maintain the same path in and out of their habitat. It might take a few days to actually trap the squirrel, as squirrels are weary creatures and it may take several days for them to “trust” that the trap has become a natural part of the environment.
Releasing the Squirrel
Check the trap every day to see if you have trapped the squirrel. The idea of using a humane trap becomes moot if you leave the squirrel to starve in the trap. Once you’ve caught the squirrel, it’s time to prepare for the release. Releasing the squirrel is a fairly simple task, but it is not for the faint of heart. Just like any other wild animal, a scared squirrel can do some serious damage to a human’s sensitive flesh. Be sure to wear heavy duty gloves, jeans, and thick, long-sleeved top. Protective clothing is merely a precaution in case the squirrel decides to flee in your direction. Although this is an unlikely scenario, you should be prepared for it.
Ideally, you should release the squirrel at least three miles away from your home, otherwise it is likely to simply return to the comfort of your home or shed. If you find that the squirrel has returned or if there are more than one squirrel present, you may have to simply re-do the process.