GREY SQUIRREL

Description:

The head & body of the Grey Squirrel ranges between 8-10 inches, with the tail measuring approximately 7 ¾-10 inches. They weigh between 0.75-1.6 pounds. Grey squirrels will usually birth 2 litters of 2-3 young per year, one in early spring and then again late in the summer.

Habits:

• Active year round, but mostly active in the morning and evening on dry days.
• Feed primarily on nuts, especially hickory nuts, acorns, beechnuts, and walnuts.
• At times they feed heavily on maple or tulip tree seeds, fruit, opening buds, and can cause considerable damage to a corn patch.
• Nest in tree cavities or build leaf nests in branches (mostly in summer) usually at least 25 feet off the ground.
• They most often enter structures such as attics and garages for shelter, to store food, and/or to nest, which can result in damage to the structure and/or its contents. Have been found tunnelling and nesting in/under blown-in fibreglass insulation between attic floor joists.
• Outdoors, they can cause considerable damage to electrical and telephone cables.

Control:

Exclusion

• The access holes used by the squirrels SHOULD NOT be sealed until ALL activity has ceased. Holes can be sealed with metal flashing, steel wool, “Stuff-It”, or ¼ inch galvanized steel mesh. Be proactive and seal holes before they enter.

Trapping

• Trapping using rat-sized wooden-based snap traps; secure with a nail etc. so they cannot be drug off .Use live traps in the area of activity (in attic, garage, on roof, trees, etc.) 
• Place the traps along runways between the entrance hole and nesting site. 
• Check the traps daily to re-bait, reposition, and to remove trapped or dead squirrels.  
• Peanut butter is the best bait to use when baiting any type of trap 
• Be sure to check local laws before trapping. 

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