Squirrels in the loft - help!
Discussion
I have a squirrel and her 2 baby squirrels in my loft and they are making a bloody racket! Have had pest people round a few times but their poison is doing nothing. How can I get rid of them?
I bought a rat trap (tom & jerry style) but cant get near enough to lay it. I read somewhere on the internet that a recent mother squirrel will attack humans, which worried me a bit!
I bought a rat trap (tom & jerry style) but cant get near enough to lay it. I read somewhere on the internet that a recent mother squirrel will attack humans, which worried me a bit!
Edited by wilbo83 on Saturday 31st March 17:40
I had 2 in the loft a while back - Used a cage trap, baited with peanut butter, and got one the first day and the second (smarter one) less than a week later.
The smarter squirrel was getting the peanut butter off the trigger with his claws from the side of the cage, so I wrapped it in a bit of old carpet so there was only one way in.
The smarter squirrel was getting the peanut butter off the trigger with his claws from the side of the cage, so I wrapped it in a bit of old carpet so there was only one way in.
They also have a liking for chewing the insulation on electrical cables so if you have cabling in your loft you need to get rid of them ASAP.
We had a small fire in an outbuilding caused by that. Fortunately it was spotted early & no great damage was caused. There was a LOT of insulation missing!
We had a small fire in an outbuilding caused by that. Fortunately it was spotted early & no great damage was caused. There was a LOT of insulation missing!
And what will you do with them once they're trapped? If you release them you're breaching Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 s.14, once they're in your trap they're covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and if for some reason you wanted to keep them you need a license.
Basically, your options are appropriate and humane destruction or to take them to a wildlife centre that has a licence to release them.
Basically, your options are appropriate and humane destruction or to take them to a wildlife centre that has a licence to release them.
Wigeon Incognito said:
And what will you do with them once they're trapped? If you release them you're breaching Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 s.14, once they're in your trap they're covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and if for some reason you wanted to keep them you need a license.
Basically, your options are appropriate and humane destruction or to take them to a wildlife centre that has a licence to release them.
So you can kill them, but not release them or look after them... only in England eh?Basically, your options are appropriate and humane destruction or to take them to a wildlife centre that has a licence to release them.
mrsshpub said:
Halb said:
Just spend the £20 catch and then release them.
If they're grey squirrels, my understanding is that it's illegal to release them back into the wild.
They're a non-native pest species, so where's the problem? VinceFox said:
mrsshpub said:
Halb said:
Just spend the £20 catch and then release them.
If they're grey squirrels, my understanding is that it's illegal to release them back into the wild.
Halb said:
VinceFox said:
mrsshpub said:
Halb said:
Just spend the £20 catch and then release them.
If they're grey squirrels, my understanding is that it's illegal to release them back into the wild.
The secret to dispatching them is to corral them in the end of the trap so they keep still (I have a wooden box a posh bottle of wine came in) and then shoot them in the head with an air rifle.
As said, squirrel meat is delicious, though only the rear legs and 'saddle' have enough meat on to be worth eating. I skin and gut them outside and put all the mess in a carrier bag and straight in the bin.
Wear latex gloves if you're squeamish (which I am). I also wonder if they harbour fleas / lice, hence doing the skinning and gutting outside.
As said, squirrel meat is delicious, though only the rear legs and 'saddle' have enough meat on to be worth eating. I skin and gut them outside and put all the mess in a carrier bag and straight in the bin.
Wear latex gloves if you're squeamish (which I am). I also wonder if they harbour fleas / lice, hence doing the skinning and gutting outside.
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