Winning the War Against Squirrels

There was a 24 hour party in my attic; squirrels during the day and rats at night.  We spent months fixing all the entryways that had been created allowing the presence of these party animals.  I even encountered a squirrel face-to-face when I was replacing the screens over the ventilation holes - not sure who was more startled. Since then I have referred to squirrels as rats with fur coats.

For many homeowners, January marks the beginning of a battle against squirrels living in their attics. A Sherman wildlife rehabilitator is winning the war in an unusual way - she's building and installing squirrel nest boxes.

It may sound counter-productive to provide the "enemy" with a cozy place to raise offspring. However, as a wildlife rehabilitator, Veta Tupper has a keen understanding of squirrel behavior.

"Contrary to popular opinion, the squirrel's mission isn't to antagonize humans by invading our homes," explained Tupper. "Squirrels give birth twice per year. The first litter usually is born in February. The squirrel chewing a hole in a roof in January is most likely a pregnant female desperately trying to find a place to give birth."

Tupper uses a two-step process to solve the problem. First, she installs a nest box in a tree in the embattled homeowner's yard.  Next, she installs a simple exclusion device over the hole the squirrel created in the roof. The exclusion device has a spring door that closes behind the squirrel when it exits the attic to look for food. The one-way spring door prevents the squirrel from re-entering the hole.

"Upon discovering the hole is blocked, the evicted squirrel usually moves into the nest box immediately," said Tupper. "Squirrels are quick to recognize potential den sites, and they prefer to move into an existing den rather than go to the trouble of chewing a new hole in the roof."

Why not remove the squirrel instead of installing a nest box?

"Trapping or shooting squirrels is like digging in sand," explained Tupper. "When you remove a squirrel, it's like putting up a flashing vacancy sign. Another squirrel quickly takes its place."

When a squirrel moves into a nest box, she continues to fiercely defend her territory. She won't allow other squirrels to nest within a half acre of the nest box. So if your house is within a half acre of an occupied squirrel nest box, it'll be safe from invasion by any furry tailed rodents.

What prompted Tupper to start building and installing nest boxes?

As a wildlife rehabilitator, every year she raises scores of baby squirrels and raccoons that are orphaned when their mothers are trapped or shot by frustrated homeowners. Determined to find a way to prevent animals from being orphaned, Tupper joined forces with another wildlife rehabilitator, Bonnie Bradshaw.

Bradshaw is the owner of 911 Wildlife, the only wildlife control company in Texas endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States.

"We don't use poisons or traps of any kind," said Bradshaw. "We use our knowledge of the animals' natural behavior to solve wildlife problems quickly and permanently."

Based in Plano, 911 Wildlife is the only wildlife control company in Texas owned and operated by wildlife rehabilitators.  The company provides wildlife solutions for homeowners and property managers in Grayson, Collin, Denton, Tarrant and Dallas Counties.

"We decided if we wanted wildlife control done the right way, we needed to do it ourselves," said Bradshaw. "We're wildlife conflict mediators. We're peacemakers in the war between humans and wildlife that's being waged every day in residential neighborhoods."

As cities grow, most native species of wildlife disappear from previously undeveloped land. However, a few species are able to adapt and thrive in urban areas. Research has shown up to 20 times more squirrels, raccoons and opossums live in cities compared to rural areas.

"Ironically, a person living in the city is more likely to have wildlife in their attic than their country cousin," said Bradshaw.

More details on effective, humane ways to solve problems with squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks and other wildlife are online at www.911wildlife.com