Peanuts work especially well
Peanuts are some of the best squirrel baits.
Never use poison bait to catch a squirrel.
There are two types of humane squirrel traps: One-door and two-door cages.
Place squirrel traps on flat surfaces where you can check on them twice daily.
They’re cute, they’re funny, but they’re making a mess of your yard. The squirrels have got to go. With the right bait, squirrel trap, and release strategy, you can successfully keep these critters out of your yard. Here’s a look at the best bait for squirrel traps, plus how you can catch and release squirrels safely and humanely.
A peanut and peanut butter combo is popular squirrel bait. After all, squirrels gather nuts and seeds from your yard (though they will try to eat just about anything). You can bait a humane trap with peanuts to entice a hungry squirrel by smearing the pan with peanut butter and embedding a few unsalted, in-the-shell peanuts in the peanut butter.
Since just about any unsalted nut will grab a squirrel’s attention, the particular nut is less important than finding a way to keep it in the bait pan. So, if you don't have peanuts or peanut butter—or you're allergic to them—consider alternatives such as walnuts or acorns.
There’s a reason squirrels like to dig into those bird feeders of yours. They love grains and seeds, and unfortunately for the birds, this means major competition. On the bright side, that same birdseed works wonders as bait.
If you face a scurry of squirrels (more than one), you need to catch and relocate the group quickly to prevent damage to your home. Double the temptation with the next best bait for squirrel traps: fruit. Second to nuts, grains, and seeds, citrus and apples are the most effective. Oranges are sweet and juicy and have a strong, pleasant aroma, which is very tempting to thirsty squirrels on a hot summer day.
You can also use bread in the bait pan. Simply smear peanut butter or even gooey marshmallow onto some soft bread as an edible glue in the bait pan.
You should strive to prevent squirrels from getting in your home, but once they're in, poisoning rather than trapping them could have unintended consequences. For example, a squirrel may die in your attic, within a wall, or in a location you can't reach.
Not only will it smell, but it will create a disease risk and may attract other pests. There’s also a chance that your household pet will get ahold of a poisoned squirrel if one escapes to the yard, poisoning your cat or dog.
The best squirrel trap in the world won't be effective if it’s not baited and placed correctly. By combining the right squirrel bait with intelligent trap placement, you will increase your chances of success. Follow these three steps on how to set up and place your squirrel trap to increase your chances of catching one:
Make sure you pick a live trap. There are two types of cages available for catching squirrels humanely: one- or two-door traps. One-door traps have a door with a trigger plate in the back for placing the bait. This setup makes it less likely for squirrels to take the bait without setting off the trap. Two-door traps have a dual entry that allows squirrels to enter from both sides, increasing your chances of catching one.
This could be in front of an entry point, next to a tree, close to a bird feeder, or even on a flat part of your roof. Squirrels enter your home through openings in the exterior, so look for dislodged soffit screens, loose flashing around chimneys, or holes in gable-end louvered panels. Put the trap at the opening and be sure to check it twice a day.
If you want to stop squirrels from nesting in your attic, DIY attic traps are seldom effective. For one, most people are unlikely to climb into the attic two or three times a day.
Not to mention, it’s inhumane to let a trapped squirrel suffer in the attic heat, especially during the summer. Plus, it endangers your own health by encouraging disease and other pests like insects and bacteria.
You’ve caught a squirrel! Now what? Relocating a trapped squirrel is easy, but there are several things to keep in mind:
Don't release a squirrel into a neighbor's yard. Squirrels tend to be territorial and unwelcoming to an uninvited guest. Plus, it’ll probably come right back!
Pick a large, wooded area for the release. This will give the squirrel food, water, and shelter. The larger the area, the easier the squirrel can become part of the local population.
Release at least five miles away, preferably at night. The distance and darkness will disorient the squirrel, discouraging it from returning.
Don't relocate during the winter. According to The Humane Society, the squirrel will starve if you release it in the winter. Instead, contact pest control or a humane squirrel removal professional in your area.
If you’d rather leave this job to the professionals, wildlife removal costs between $200 and $600 on average but will vary widely depending on factors such as the extent of the infestation or intrusion. For more complex situations that involve multiple animals and extensive damage repair, the costs can escalate significantly. It's essential to address wildlife issues promptly, as delays can lead to more significant problems and higher removal expenses.
While a one-squirrel invasion might be simple enough to tackle on your own, a larger-scale infestation will likely require the help of a wildlife removal specialist. Squirrels can cause damage to your walls, wiring, and insulation if they are left unchecked. Plus, finding and eliminating all the entry points they could access is essential for a successful extraction. If you’re confident that you know exactly where they are coming in, DIY removal might work, but be cautious when collecting and releasing trapped squirrels—even the fuzziest ones will bite when threatened.
Scents such as peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic, and cinnamon can help deter squirrels from your property. Squirrels also have a strong aversion to the scent of capsaicin, the naturally-occurring compound that provides the characteristic heat in chili peppers. This makes capsaicin-based repellents an effective way to deter squirrels from specific areas like gardens or bird feeders. Additionally, squirrels aren’t a fan of strong, fresh scents, so you may have success placing strong-smelling soaps or dryer sheets near where they frequent.
Generally, squirrels are not considered aggressive toward humans. They are more likely to flee than confront people. However, like many animals, they may exhibit aggressive behavior if they feel threatened or cornered. If you approach a squirrel too closely or try to handle it, especially if it's a mother protecting her young, it may resort to defensive tactics such as biting or scratching.
If you’re having trouble with your traps, first examine them for flaws that would allow a squirrel to escape easily, such as loose doors or hinges. It’s also important to consider the location of your trap: Place it in areas with higher squirrel traffic, and make sure it’s on a sturdy surface so it can’t wobble or tip (squirrels aren’t likely to walk in a trap that isn’t stable). Lastly, try changing out your bait—in-shell peanuts or peanut butter often work best.
Squirrels tend to forage, traveling along roof and fence lines. To trap a squirrel, placing a baited trap on the roof near the point of entry is the best option. If you can see them going in and out or recognize the damage they might be causing to the exterior of your home, you can also try placing traps near those locations.
