Squirrels

[TakingThe5th]

Looking for effective solutions against grey squirrels. We were prepping for our first trip of the season and discovered that Mom had found a home for the 3 little ones in the rear of the 5er, mainly on the street side. She gained enterance at the bumper support by jumping on the bumper and chewing thru the chloroplast. Here may have been a small hole there but it's hard to tell now. The other side is pretty tight. She chewed away some of those pesky wires for tank sensors, tail lights, and interior electrical but she did not get inside.

When we winterized last fall we used all the usual stuff to deter mice-cloves, dryer sheets, electronic device, and lots of mothballs all around the exterior and especially around the tires and landing gear. Stabilizer jacks were up. We still had the strong odor of moth balls all around and mothballs still in the gravel driveway.

The nest inside was made primarily with leaves and there must have been a small amount of water in the hose leading from the water tank because she chewed through the hose and tank fitting to get the water. About 1 foot of hose was half chewed off.

We are finally the road after three hard days work to fix things up and so far all looks good except my back and fingers which look pretty raw.

Any suggestions on how to avoid this next year?

[Bobbo]

Pellet gun.

When we bought our S&B house, it had squirrels in the attic, and they had been there for years. We tried everything. Trapping/relocating. Sealing entrances. Moth balls.

Nothing worked until I bought a .22 caliber pellet gun. In the 4 years since I have eliminated about 250 squirrels from my yard. We have not had a squirrel in the attic in 3.75 years.

It is the only thing I have found that works.

[DavidP]

If she had her babies there she will most likely come back. Not only will she come back but the offspring in many cases will come back where their mother nested to have their young. You need to be vigilant during the two times a year they nest to have babies. If you notice they get access again you need to trap them immediately and relocate them at least 10 miles away. The only way to rid them is a trap, preferably an exit trap. They are very persistent and will not give up. I had a neighbor battle them in his attic and he finally called in a pro who set exit traps and relocated them. Sprays may work but I would worry about the smell. A firearm would work too. A stakeout and a .22 would rid them quickly.

[BB_TX]

They chewed up wiring in my previous 2007 truck four times to the tune of about $400 each time. And built nests under the hood while they were at it. Tried mothballs, fox urine (from hunting supply store), dryer sheets. Nothing worked. Found Cridder Ridder at Home Depot. Sprayed all wiring under the hood every couple months and no more problem. Don't know if that would work in your case or not.

Found out later that some wire manufacturers used a soy based insulation material that attracted rodents. They never bothered my wife's car, daughter's car, or my newer truck, or my older truck. Just that one.