Dealing with pesky squirrels

A friend of mine has been losing sleep. Not because of the economy and not because of violence on the news. He's kept awake by the squirrels that seem to be winning the territorial battle for his attic.

Other than the bothersome clatter of squirrel movements throughout the evenings, squirrels can be destructive when they get into an attic because of their gnawing habits and the collections of nest materials they leave behind.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, fox and gray squirrels are among the most commonly observed Missouri animals. Because they populate as many towns and cities as they do forests, conflicts occur year-round when humans and squirrels live close together. Flying squirrels are less common, and are nocturnal. If the noise in the attic continues throughout the night, you can bet the intruders are flying squirrels.

The important factor to remember is that the squirrels aren't purposefully keeping us awake at night. Just as we check the insulation in our house and start turning up the furnace as the autumn air gets cooler, squirrels must survive the cold weather, too. Unfortunately they often choose an accessible attic as their favorite shelter.

The Missouri Department of Conservation offers several options of conflict management when it comes to dealing with squirrels in the attic.

One way is to exclude squirrels by preventing them from climbing isolated trees and utility poles that are near your home by encircling the trees with a two-foot-wide collar of smooth metal six feet above ground. Attach the collar with encircling wires held together with springs to allow for tree growth. Trees adjacent to buildings should be trimmed to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs. Also, cover all openings to your attic with 1/2 -inch wire mesh or make other necessary repairs. However, care must be taken to ensure that no squirrels are unknowingly kept inside.

Live-trapping could be necessary in some situations. Metal live traps can be found at farm supply stores or can sometimes be borrowed from your local Missouri Department of Conservation office. Baits attractive to squirrels include unsalted walnut meats or other nuts, slices of orange or apple and peanut butter. Please keep in mind that live-trapped squirrels should be released at least two or three miles away to prevent their return.

Moth balls are another option that will repel squirrels and temporarily discourage them from entering attics and other enclosed spaces.

My favorite option is to provide a place of shelter other than your attic where you can welcome the squirrels and even have an opportunity to watch them. This way you not only get the rascals out of your attic but give them a shelter made just for them. Blueprints and directions to build a squirrel box can be found on the Department of Conservation website.

My friend has gone to great lengths to locate and repair any possible squirrel entrances to his attic. But there are more steps he must take to completely eliminate the problem. Hopefully he and the squirrels will eventually coexist in the neighborhood now that he's armed with these methods of squirrel conflict management.

Candice Davis is the Media Specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southeast and Ozark regions.