How to Build a Box Trap for Squirrels
If you have a squirrel problem in your home, attic or shed area, you may want to get rid of the little critters without permanently disabling or destroying them. When you want to trap humanely, a box trap is a great way to corner squirrels and lets you transport them elsewhere for release. Here is an incredibly simple design that is a takeoff on the old box trap but is less expensive, requires far less work and is extremely effective.
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Things You'll Need
- 2-inch-long-by-4-inch-wide PVC pipe
- 2 4-inch wide screw on end caps.
- Drill with ½-inch bit
- Lard or grease
- 2-foot long piece of sturdy hemp rope
- Bird seed or half of a cob of corn for bait
Instructions
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Tightly screw on one of the end caps. It should fit snugly onto the end of the PVC pipe and you should turn it until it will not screw on any further.
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Use your drill and bit to make a couple of dozen holes directly through the sides working your way front to back in a zig-zag pattern. While you are doing this, also drill two holes an inch from the top of the pipe (the uncapped end).
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3
Make a handle. Thread your rope into the upper holes and knot them to form a handle.
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4
Bait the trap. Place bird seed or a half cob of corn in the bottom. Using lard or grease, grease up the top 1 ½ inches of the PVC pipe.
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Set the trap. Using the rope, hang your little box trap up in a tree or bush frequented by squirrels. You can also actually put it up in your attic, but you will need to hang it so that the squirrels will have to climb in. There is no need for camouflage because squirrels are curious and will be attracted by the food. A hungry squirrel will find the opening to the PVC pipe. They like a small opening to begin with. They will notice or smell the food on the bottom and then crawl into your little box trap. Once inside, they cannot back out because the grease has made their feet so slippery, they have no traction.
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Release your squirrel in a safe place. When a squirrel is inside, merely take your other cover and screw it on the top side. Now you have a self-contained squirrel cage that you can take anywhere and release it.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not handle squirrels. Just because they are cute does not mean that they are friendly and you can get severe bites from squirrels as well as potentially contracting rabies.
