Frequently enough to notate well receive phone calls informing us of a critter in the basement. The critters range from bats and birds to raccoons and squirrels. The surprise guest in the house begs the question “what to do if you find a critter in your basement?” The focus of this article will be on squirrels.
When it comes to removing a squirrel from a basement the first thing you need to do is confirm that what you saw was in fact a squirrel. Generally speaking squirrels are red, black or grey in color and have a distinct bushy tail. They’re usually under 3 lbs and have amazing agility when it comes to climbing. After confirming squirrels the next thing to do is set a live trap.
Live traps are safe and effective ways to capture squirrels. In order to trap efficiently you must give yourself every advantage. Sloppy set ups may cause the animal to escape the trap or avoid it entirely. When handling the trap make sure to use gloves. The trap should be placed in the area of most activity. Bait the trap with peanut butter or sunflower seeds. Make sure to place the bait at the back end of the trap. Once the trap has been placed and baited set the trap using the lifting door and latch. Now it’s time to wait and monitor.
Traps must be monitored. We advise checking them in the morning and in the evening. When you find the squirrel in your trap we suggest calling a pest control company to remove it. If you choose to handle the animal yourself make sure to check with local authorities on the rules and regulations for your location. After the critter has been removed from the property it’s important to find out how it entered in the first place as to prevent a reoccurrence. After locating their access point repairs should be completed. Its also good practice to clean/disinfect the area the squirrel contacted. For more information contact Critter Evictors!