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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2021 21:59
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About the end of Sept here in south-central WI we had Red Squirrels move into the cabin cath ceiling via the walls. Seems the prev owner/builder left 'some holes'.
Should have realized there might be an issue, when we bought it there was a spray can of Squirrel Repeller.....
Last year I 410'ed 7 of the Red Devils, took months and got the last one last spring; was nice not hearing the digging/scratching/chasing/etc. Through the rest of spring, summer and until the end of Sept we were good, didnt see any in the trees nearby so I relaxed.
They came on quick; hey, they know winter is coming!
By 8 days ago I had popped another 7, along with pulling off siding, finding holes, plugging and filling, etc. But now I know 'they are out there', just waiting for me to let my guard down.
So, Ive left my cheap 400w msw inverter powering up the place (normally I discon/shut down when we leave) and the old GE radio going tuned into 1970s raucous Rock music, at a far loud volume too.
This far, so good; the last couple visits last week we had no sign/noise of squirrels.
Might be good for mice too? We will see....
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2021 23:28
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Probably Inagodadavida that sent 'em packing.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 06:47
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If it's not mouse proof it's not squirl proof. Removing some of the population I'm sure will help but sealing things up will help more and you wont have to do it over and over again.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 10:52
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The problem with sealing up is the poor build quality, the place is a glorified pole building made of rough sawmill lumber with a floor, all the sections between the posts were filled in. In short, it would make a better shed/workshop than a cabin. We love it! 'Rough' cabin livin isnt an issue for us. Btw, Our home is a late 1800's era one-room school house of 940sq ft, 4 rooms + bath and all the amenities; we are used to small.
If we were 10 years younger, or more, we might consider moving in a nice, rustic pre-built and using the current one as my 'shop', but at 70ish and figuring maybe 10yrs, maybe less?, that isnt likely.
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Ptomaine
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 20:05
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I remember eons ago when squirrels made a home in my grandpa's cabin attic. Grandpa stationed lookouts on all four sides of the cabin then let loose the Dachshund into the attic, the little buggers started flying out a hole in the eave. Knowing the location of the hole, it was securely plugged. Grandpa was one smart man!
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 20:28
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Wire mesh, a staple gun or a cawlk gun can really help.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 12:27
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These Devil Reds are tenacious, some years back they nested under the floor of my 22' mahogany lapstrake runabout. They must have got tired of climbing up over the side because they dig a 1' dia hole out through the bottom!
Discovered it in the spring doing a once over inspection before going to the lake 
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 15:23
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Traps?
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 16:59
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We arent full time and we'd hate to catch the wrong critters.
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TranquilMan
Member
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2021 23:01
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NorthRick, are you asking about traps? Here's my mouse trap story. We've had our place off-grid for 28 seasons. It's on a remote island and has gone through cycles of very few mice in a few years to most years with an extremely high population. Some nights I'd hear them and shine a light out on an exterior wall and count 14 sometimes crawling all over a small wall section looking for a way in. I've done a good job of mouse proofing but they wait in the dark outside waiting for someone to open a door and sneak in. Anyway I got into setting traps and poison bait stations outside. Peanut butter works best but I was catching so many that I decided on a better idea (or so I thought). I was getting tired of settling spring traps so I rigged up a 5 gallon (20 L) pail next to a foundation post with a few inches of water in it and smeared peanut butter around the rim. It was very effective and caught a lot of mice! Until one day we were away and a bear happened along. He licked the peanut butter clean from the rim then thought there must be more of this "good stuff" inside. He proceeded to rip 6 screens until he found a door he could rip a window out of. What a mess inside! I arrived in time to happen upon him and scare him off but not before he chewed into all sorts of boxes and cans. Liquid goo everywhere. Still can't find the honey jar. He hung around for days. The mice keep going for the barbecue. It's upsetting to open the lid to cook dinner and find a new litter nested. I've since modified the barrel with a wire mounted horizontally and a pop tin that spins. Just a dab of peanut butter is enough to attract the little buggers. They walk the wire and the can spins when they try to get the bait and they fall in. Anyway, like I said, the population fluctuates probably due to a predator passing through. I've tried peppermint oil and am now experimenting with cayenne pepper which by the way, bears hate.
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