How to Catch a Squirrel with a Live Animal Trap

Watch how to humanely capture squirrels with live traps using the Solutions four step process! This video will show exactly what to do when you have squirrels on your property!

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Want to skip ahead?

1) IDENTIFICATION & INSPECTION: 0:21
2) TREATMENT: 1:18
3) PREVENTION: 3:16

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It’s not uncommon for squirrels to wander onto your property in search of food, water, and shelter. Having squirrels can cause damage to your property or even health issues. In this video, we’ll go over how to identify squirrels, how to trap them using professional live traps, and ways to prevent them from coming back.

Squirrels can sometimes be mistaken for other rodents, but can easily be identified by their bushy tails. If you suspect you may be dealing with squirrels, look for common signs that indicate squirrel activity.

Bird feeders and gardens are likely hot spots for squirrels, as their diet consists of nuts, seeds, and fruits. You can also examine nearby trees for any nests among the branches or carved into the tree itself.
If you suspect squirrels may be indoors, listen for thumping sounds during the day and check for any open voids.

Squirrels are attracted mainly to nuts, so using mixed nuts as bait is an effective bait option.

In order to maximize our chances of catching the squirrel, we need to remove food sources that may compete with our bait. This includes picking up pet food after dark, fencing away fruit gardens, and sweeping up fallen fruits, berries, and seeds.

Place your live trap far away from human or pet activity, along the edge of your property. Physical boundaries like fence lines, dense foliage, and garden edging make great placement guides, so set your trap along such structures. It’s important to make sure you place your trap in the shade, as a trapped animal can die within a few hours if left to overexposure from the sun.

Once you are satisfied with your trap placement, you can bait and arm it. Check your trap twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Do not keep an animal trapped for more than 24 hours.

Be sure to contact local authorities like animal control to confirm laws in your area about animal trapping and make sure you are correctly relocating the animal. Travel to your release location, place the trap on the ground facing away from you, and open the trap.

Maintaining a clean area indoors and outdoors is an important step to take in preventing future squirrel encounters. Remove any clutter or debris from your property, as this could be used by animals for nests or burrows. Regularly check the property for spots that retain water. Any potential food sources such as fruits and grains should be properly sealed in a container and stored away.

Prevent squirrels from entering your property by sealing any openings you may have found along the perimeter or foundation.

Be sure to visit our website for an in-depth guide and access to each of our products. We guarantee that these live traps and tips will help catch squirrels around your property, and we offer same day shipping to help you get control quickly.

Solutions is a small family owned business, and we rely on referrals from customers like you. So if you liked this how-to guide and when the products work for you, please share and tell your friends and family about us.

Thanks for watching!

[skymagruder]

Squirrels just chewed down 10 bush bean plants without even eating them. I think squirrel heaven is a safe place to release them

[GluteusMax]

I've "caught" a dozen or more squirrels using my Gamo . 177 cal pellet gun. They don't come on my property any more. Smart.

[MegaGuitarpicker]

They are smart critters. They will reach through that trap you show and get the bait. Be prepared to catch the neighbors cat, a possum and other animals. Wrap that trap with a black plastic bag or something so it has to go in the door to get the bait.

[patrapper]

Is 20 miles away really far enough? I mean with Uber and Lyft they seem to keep coming back.

[SickNaban]

BUT WHAT SEASONING IS THE BEST WHEN YOU DEEP FRY THEM?

[stubert]

Small red squirrel about to find out. He's been a bane for the past 3 years.

[charlescastle]

Need this, as I am a city dweller and will probably have to catch squirrels for a meal if society collapses 💀

[LemonySnicket-EUC]

They are chewing holes in the drip irrigation tubing on many of the properties that I take care of. Anyone else had this issue ?

[noorjahanb]

Which trap do you have to get? Like which size for grey squirrels?

[brettscullen]

Umm - I'm not driving one squirrel at a time 20 miles....

[jacknickson]

Once I've caught a squirrel in the trap, would I need to clean the trap of the previous squirrel scent, relocate it to a different part of the garden, or do both of these things?

[barneymiller]

I sure wouldn't drive 20 miles! to release a squirrel.

[chasemills]

The best way is once you trap him show ‘em your rifle

[danks]

Yes I am watching this to catch a squirrel and call animal control. Not to eat it when we run out of food in a few months.

[hisdukeness]

Just got two out of my soffit.. mama n papa
peanut butter, no jelly.. medium size trap. Also have caught them in the small open two sided trap, unintentionally trying to catch voles.. not moles

[Knappa]

It’s illegal to release captured grey squirrels in the UK so in this case it would have to be dispatched.

[Jeff_R]

There is a Stupid squirrel in my roof .

[stephenchang]

Peanut Butter on any sliced bread. 100% effective.

[baysidetravel]

We have a red squirrel in a tight space above our bedroom ceiling. No human access. Where should we place the trap?

[JoeBob]

Videos real helpful. Ive been catching squirrels for years and can't find the right method, unlike this video, it was easier to catch and skin those tiny critters.