Update

Just a quick update to let you know that the mothballs are deployed, the squirrel excluder seems to be holding up, and the squirrels seem to be observing the truce.   However, I don't think they can be trusted so I am going to pledge to remain vigilant. 

Round 2

Hi,

I went up in the attic yesterday to have a look around and I saw the damn squirrel again.  I don't know for sure if it is the same one but this time it was crawling along the edge so I didn't get as good a look as last time but it definitely seemed to be a squirrel.  I went down and took a look at the screen material that I had stapled up over the wooden vent over the garage door and I saw that the squirrels had ripped it loose.  This was very upsetting.  When I put that heavier screen up, I thought I was done and was very proud of myself.  You can only imagine the natural dismay to realize that the squirrel was not phased and it was probably up there peeking out of the vent laughing at me.


The whole thing really ruined my evening.  I just couldn't relax knowing that there were still squirrels up in my attic probably nesting and planning to raise a family.  I imagine they have stored some nuts in my attic also. 

Late last night, and by that I mean early this morning, I decided to do a Google search and find out how to deal with squirrels in the attic.  There are all kinds of ideas about this but the one thing I was picking up was that it was not usually an easy thing to do.   I was feeling even worse.   I had gone up in the attic and chased the squirrel out and I was now finding out that they are not so easy to train.

There are all kinds of suggestions.  Some people just use rat traps and kill them.  Others suggest trapping them with a box trap and setting the free somewhere else.  One page suggested soaking pieces of cloth in amonia and hanging them around the attic.  I didn't like the idea of that since I could picture myself up there getting overwhelmed by the amonia and passing out in the attic right there in front of the squirrels.

There is a strobe light that will run them off but it cost about $399.  I also saw a youtube vidoe of a guy showing how to install an "excluder".  I wasn't familiar with excluder technology but it is pretty simple.  You build a door that lets them leave but doesn't let them back in.  

After that I did some searches for "Homemade squirrel excluder" and "how to make a squirrel excluder" and I finally found some typed out instructions on how to make one but it didn't have any pictures.

I went out to the garage and found some  screening material and it seemed like it was just enough to get the job done.  Basically the idea is to build a rectangular shaped screen box and then make a door that opens just one way.  The door is long enough that it is slanted in the box.

I started working on it in my living room and by the time I was done I took a look a the clock and saw it was almost 4am.   I got up this morning at about nine and after eating breakfast and goofing off, I  went out and installed the fabulous squirrel excluder device which is pictured above.  I took another picture but there was a shadow and it doesn't really show up unless the sky is the background but you can get a general idea.

I also read that mothballs are a good repellant so I am going to go and buy some of those and throw them around where the the squirrel has been hanging out.  After that, I will have to wait ans see.  I have been humbled once so this time I am going to stay humble before I re-declare my arrogance and supuriority to the squirrels.  For all I know they have figured out how to get past the excluder device and they are up there mocking me right now.