How to Catch a Squirrel in the House

You don't want a squirrel in your house, and usually, the squirrel doesn't want to be there either. Typically it's red squirrels who find their way in, as they can fit into small points of entry, and they are also livelier and more inquisitive than the larger gray squirrels. If a squirrel gets inside, the first thing to do is secure any pets in a different room with the door closed. Next it's time to deal with the squirrel itself.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plywood
• Live trap
• Peanut butter
• Sunflower seeds
• Vehicle

A Room With a Doorway

1. Barricade the squirrel in one room if possible, either by closing a door or setting up a large sheet of plywood.

2. Move slowly and cautiously in this room so as not to antagonize the squirrel.

3. Open windows so the squirrel can get out. If the room has a door to the outside, open that too.

4. Pop out any window screens.

5. Leave the house for 10 minutes. The squirrel will usually find its way out quickly.

Open Spaces in the House

6. Open some windows and doors in the rooms near the squirrel, if the animal is in an the basement or an open space that you cannot barricade.

7. Pop out any window screens.

8. Leave the house for 10 minutes. Again, the squirrel will probably find its way out quickly once it realizes no people are in the house.

Live Traps

9. Set up a live trap to catch the squirrel if it is still inside. These are available in single- and double-door models from companies such as Havahart. Single door traps are about 18 inches long, while double door models are about 24 inches. Both are about 5 inches wide and tall.

10. Use peanut butter, nuts or sunflower seeds, or any combination of the three, as bait.

11. Leave the house for at least a half hour so the squirrel has a chance to find the trap and be caught.

12. Release the squirrel outside the house if this is a one-time fluke occurrence. You can than block or repair the place it entered.

13. Release the squirrel at least five miles away if you have good reason to think it will come back inside. This is considered a less animal-friendly option, however, because squirrels are very territorial: if you move a squirrel in this way, the animal can find it extremely difficult to survive.

14. Try calling Animal Control if you're not sure what to do, but they probably will not come over for a squirrel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can hear squirrels in the walls or the attic, you might have to call a professional to solve the problem.
• Avoid going near the squirrel because these animals can become nasty and bite if they feel cornered or threatened. Avoid using poison, because a sick squirrel will probably crawl into the wall to die, causing that area of the house to stink.

Resources

• Detailed information on dealing with squirrel problems