How to get rid of flying squirrels naturally.

How to Get Rid of Flying Squirrels in the Attic (Naturally)

So, you have to get rid of the flying squirrels in your attic.

They’re eating your attic insulation, squirreling about and making noise, and they’re contaminating your house with bacteria!

They’re driving you “nuts.”

(Sorry- had to do it.)

You’ll learn about these topics in this article:

  • How to ID a flying squirrel
  • Why you have flying squirrels
  • How to get rid of them from your attic
  • Ways to keep them out of your home permanently
  • And more

Feel free to drop a comment if you have any questions.

Bookmark this page for ready reference on your journey.

Sound good? Let’s get your attic back.

What’s a flying squirrel?

Flying squirrels don’t actually fly.

They “glide” from one area to another, unlike bats or birds. Their furry patagium acts as a parachute to let them glide through the air- like from a tree into your attic!

These squirrels are able to control and steer their direction with precision through the air with their tail and limbs.

They are generally harmless towards humans as they prefer to hide rather than fight but may transmit disease through a bite or contaminated foods or feces.

Some people even keep them as pets.

For your attic, they’ll make a mess, damage your walls and ceiling, and even contaminate your home with viruses and bacteria.

Just think about an airborne virus making its way into your HVAC system and blowing right into your next omelet. Yikes.

Other names

Flying squirrels don’t have many other names or aliases.

However, people are who scientifically versed may refer to them by their scientific name.

They’re also known as:

  • Glaucomys sabrinus
  • Glaucomys volans
  • Sugar gliders (mistakenly)

Confusingly, they’re known to share their nests/dens with other animals like screech owls and bats. Flying squirrels are also highly social animals, as they live in the same holes in trees together- and may even share a woodpecker hole!

You’ll often find multiple squirrels in your attic together.

Do they actually fly?

No, flying squirrels aren’t capable of flight like a bird.

These rodents glide through the air like a frisbee using their parachute-like patagium.

Appearance

Flying squirrels attic.
Flying squirrels look almost like regular squirrels.

They literally look just like a squirrel with “flaps” on both sides. There are over 50 species of them and they’re found all over the planet.

Perhaps in the US, the most popular species is the North American and South American squirrels, which range from Canada to the US. They’re commonly found in forests with deciduous or coniferous trees.

They’re usually about 12″ in length from nose to tail and weigh about 4 ounces. The males and females both are nearly identical in appearance.

They have fur on their backs with lighter shades of silver on their sides and white on their underside. The tail is flat and large to the rest of their body. They actually use their tails to glide through the air and control their “flight” patterns.

They’re capable of doing complete 180 degree turns and usually glide between 30-40 feet.

Flying squirrels have paws coated with thick padding for constantly jumping and landing. They will usually climb up to a tall place, jump, and then soar. They have large, beady eyes that allow them to have night vision as they’re active during the night.

Flying squirrel vs. regular squirrels

The easiest way to tell the two apart is the appearance of their patagium.

This lets the flying squirrel jump and fly through the air. Regular squirrels don’t have this parachute-like structure on their sides.

Additionally, flying squirrels are the only nocturnal squirrels, whereas regular ones are active during the day (diurnal).

Flying squirrels are also the only type to crack their nut shells with a single hole. So if you see nutshells that have a single crack, this is probably a flying squirrel.

Life cycle

Flying squirrels have a unique lifecycle. Most of the squirrels that live in the wild are killed when they’re young by disease or predators.

But captive squirrels tend to live out their lives because they’re protected, such as those in zoos or kept as pocket pets.

Mating

Flying squirrels mate during February and March.

The litter is born and nurtured by the female squirrel in an established nesting site, which can be anywhere that’s favorable (attics, abandoned buildings, farms, or in the wild).

They mate in the early spring to late summer and produce a single litter yearly. Gestation is about 40 days and each litter size ranges from 2-7 baby squirrels.

Raising the litter

Males will abandon the nest while the female protects her litter until they leave the nest themselves.

Baby flying squirrels have little to no hair other than whiskers. They have no vision, smell, or other senses. Or they may be dulled. They’re blind with shut ears and fused toes. They can hear after 2-6 days and fur appears after a week. Their vision enables after 25-30 days.

Growing up

About 30 days later, their senses will be fully developed and they can start to forage.

This is when they start jumping and “flying” for the first time. After 60 days, they’re experts and will abandon the nest.

The cycle repeats and the next generation does the same. They typically seek out a new nest and don’t return.

Flying squirrels do NOT hibernate, but they do slow down over the cold season because of low food reserves. They survive by hoarding food throughout the year before winter comes and eat it throughout the colder months. They can collect up to 15,000 nuts per season.

Do flying squirrels bite?

Flying squirrel pest.
Flying squirrels may bite, so don’t provoke.

Flying squirrels don’t usually bite unless they’re threatened, cornered, or your hand/foot/body part smells like food.

They’re not any more dangerous than the regular squirrel you see outdoors running up and down trees. You should never handle it regardless, as disease transmissions from squirrel to human is possible.

These squirrels can host a variety of dangerous disease and viruses such as:

  • Fly squirrel typhus
  • Lice
  • Fleas
  • Mites
  • Parasites
  • Rabies

You should never attempt to handle or trap one as it may retaliate and bite you. If you do get bitten, seek medical attention.

The attacks from flying squirrels are low, but still present. You should treat all of them as diseases ridden pests and deal with them accordingly. This also applies to their young, urine, feces, and eaten food.

Are they dangerous to humans?

Because of the possibility of being bitten or scratched, flying squirrels pose a threat to humans.

Though attacks are rare as they’re afraid of us, you should always avoid confrontation and never attempt to handle one without protective equipment.

Are flying squirrels bad to have in your attic?

Flying squirrels can cause damage to your attic, walls, floors, and ceiling as they rummage around to build a nest and search for food.

This can pose a threat to your home as repairs can be costly.

They can also carry and bring in diseases, bacteria, viruses, fleas, ticks, and other pests that can possibly infect you.

You should handle the situation ASAP as the longer you let them run around your attic, the more chance of damage being done.

They can also be found in your basement or garage, like chipmunks.

How do you know if you have squirrels in your attic?

Flying squirrel outdoors.
Flying squirrels are easy to spot when you know what to look for.

There are some telltale signs that you have flying squirrels in your attic. Some of the most common ones are these.

Food waste

If you see pieces of eaten food on your attic floor, then you probably have squirrels.

They’re messy eaters and trash the place with urine, feces, and partially eaten food.

You may also find peanut shells, acorns, sunflower seeds, or other seeds and shells. Squirrels often eat their stuff and leave the mess behind, so it’s easy to spot.

Sounds

You may hear the sounds of footsteps and scratching on your ceiling.

This is also a common sign of flying squirrels in your attic. The sounds should only be heard at night, as that’s when they’re most active.

Feces and urine

Squirrels will leave their droppings and urine stains behind. This is an obvious and easy one to spot.

The droppings are usually scattered and all over the attic and roof. Do not handle them with your bare hands, as feces contain bacteria that can pose a threat to humans. Consider the poop to be dangerous.

Flying squirrel droppings are usually clustered together and may look patchy. They look like rat feces.

Flying squirrel droppings

You can tell that it’s from a squirrel by the dark coloration with cylindrical, rod-shaped droppings. They’re larger and longer than rat poop.

Squirrel droppings are tapered at both ends similar to rats, but slightly bigger and longer in size. Squirrels can hide their poop well, so you should be sure to check your entire attic.

Squirrel nests

Your attic insulation provides a comfortable material for them to nest. Check for torn or ripped insulation or damaged walls and crawl spaces.

Also look for leaves, footprints, and debris. They hoard food from the outdoors and will bring them to your attic as they eat in safety.

A squirrel nest usually is a bunch of materials combined together. You may find the nest built from sticks, branches, plat material, leaves, twigs, grass, cardboard, wood chippings, and your attic insulation.

They may also use your stored stuff to make nest material out of depending on what you keep up in your attic.

Don’t underestimate the different things these pests can bring into your attic! Squirrels in the attic build “city dens” while squirrels outside build “drey nests.”

Do squirrels leave the attic during the day?

Flying squirrels are active during the night. If you have a squirrel movement during the day, this could actually NOT be a flying squirrel but rather a regular daytime one.

Remember that flying squirrels are the only type that are nocturnal, and it’s completely possible that a “regular” squirrel has taken shelter in your attic rather than a flying one.

Or it can be that a flying squirrel has been disturbed and is active during the day.

They may leave the nest and come out because of heat, food, or another disturbance. Squirrels may also come out during early morning and sunset as this fits their photoperiod of activity.

Will squirrels leave the attic on their own?

Squirrels typically don’t leave on their own. Though with changing seasons and food availability, they may migrate and abandon the nest.

However, if the flying squirrel gets pregnant and gives birth to a litter, they’ll likely stay in the attic.

They will stay and raise the young by bringing food back to the nest. The baby squirrels will hide in your attic insulation until they’re grown up and can support themselves.

You shouldn’t depend on them to leave by themselves, as the damage they can cause to your home will rack up a large bill for repairs.

Will squirrels attack you in the attic?

Yes, if squirrels are threatened or cornered, they may bite.

You should never provoke any squirrel no matter where you are as they can bite and transmit disease zoonotically.

They can also scratch and infect you with a bacterial or viral disease. Their food, feces, and nest are also contaminated with a ton of bacteria that you should never handle without proper training and equipment. Always consult a professional exterminator.

What do flying squirrels eat?

Flying squirrel diet.
They’re omnivores and eat a variety of foods.

Flying squirrels eat food waste that we dispose of outdoors and a bunch of naturally growing crops.

They typically feed on nuts, fruits, berries, seeds, bird eggs, worms, bugs, and more. Just like other backyard pests (possums, badgers, mice, and rats), they’ll rummage through your trash and compost. They can also eat small birds, snails, and slugs. They’re true omnivores.

Poorly kept trash containers are a prime culprit of food for them as they can easily climb into trash cans to forage.

Because they have very sensitive smell receptors, they can harvest fungi and even bird eggs to bring back to their nest. Their fast gliding allows them to travel far distances from your roof and thus forage more food.

Do flying squirrels like peanut butter?

Yes, all squirrels like peanut butter. It’s a favorite among the species because it’s a tasty and aromatic treat.

Many people use peanut butter as a bait or lure to get the squirrels out. You should set up an incentive to lure the squirrels out of your attic rather than force them out, which is usually less effective. Make them go out on their own.

How much does it cost to get rid of flying squirrels?

This varies depending on your location and the availability of commercial pest removal companies.

States with higher costs of living (HCOL) will have higher costs associated with squirrel removal. Or if the area has high competition, prices may be lower due to the surplus supply.

For hard numbers, professionals may charge you a consultation fee to check out the property, assess the damage, and give you a quote.

Some companies do this part for free, while others will charge a consultation fee. You can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$250 for just the consultation.

As for the actual removal of the flying squirrels from your attic, this can range from $500-$1600, depending on the number of squirrels, labor, and the specific situation. Factors like how hard it is to reach the squirrel, the existence of a nest, or baby squirrels all play a role.

You can check with your local extermination companies to get a more accurate quote. This is one surefire technique to get squirrels off your roof.

Do flying squirrels only come out at night?

Flying squirrels come out at night only.
Flying squirrels are nocturnal.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal creatures, and this is why people don’t realize they have them in their attic until the damage has been done.

People are usually sleeping during the time that the squirrels are awake, thus, it can be difficult to actually notice the signs of flying squirrels in the attic.

Besides, who wants to actually go squirrel hunting at midnight?

Fun fact: Flying squirrels are the ONLY member of the squirrel family that’s active at night (nocturnal). The rest of the squirrels you commonly spot on trees and lawns are daytime (diurnal).

Because they only come out at night, they sleep during the day. They nest inside your home and sleep during the day.

At night, they come out and forage for food. This is why they can be hard to control because most people don’t even see them or catch them in the act when they rummage through your trash.

Flying squirrel attic noise

You may notice peculiar scratching or quick, brisk footsteps on your ceiling at night.

This is a solid symptom of flying squirrels rummaging around in your attic at night.

As they continually bring food into their nest from the outdoors, they’ll run back and forth and make noise.

They may also scratch on the walls, ground, roof, or other storage materials you have as they dig holes and other entry points. They may destroy your stuff if they sense that there’s food or material they can use to make a nest.

You may notice these sounds:

  • Repeated or persistent scratching
  • Light footsteps
  • Coos or squeaks
  • Drops, thuds, or bumps on your roof or attic

They all point to flying squirrels in your attic- especially if you only eat them at night which is when they’re most active. They’re probably what’s scratching your attic at night.

How to lure a flying squirrel out of the house

You can get them out of your home by using a combo of methods outlined here.

Think repellents such as essential oils, mothballs, and dryer sheets. Use a radio or speaker system and disturb their environment.

Block off their entry and exit points to just a single orifice. Use live squirrel bait and traps to catch one without killing it.

Depending on your situation, there are different setups unique to your situation. Basically, there is no “best” way to get them out. Build a plan specific to your situation and go from there.

What are flying squirrels afraid of?

Flying squirrel predators.
Flying squirrels have a few select predators.

There are many things that naturally scare flying squirrels away. You can use these to your advantage of this by setting up an unfavorable environment for them to keep them out of your attic.

After all, flying squirrels won’t establish a nest somewhere that they don’t find safe.

Here are some things flying squirrels are afraid of:

  • Natural predators (tree snakes, owls, martens, bobcats, raccoons, etc.)
  • Human voices
  • No food sources
  • Disturbances to their nest
  • No water sources

All of these things are annoying to them and they hate it. You can make a squirrel leave your home just by constantly disturbing them with these stimuli.

What smells do squirrels hate?

There are a few scents that squirrels absolutely hate. You can use this to your benefit by sprinkling your attic with these select scents to repel them naturally.

Most of this stuff you can find at your food section at the store:

  • Cayenne pepper
  • Garlic
  • Black pepper
  • Peppermint oil
  • Basil oil
  • Coffee grounds

What food is poisonous to squirrels?

Be careful about using poison on squirrels. Depending on your state and local laws, some areas deem killing squirrels with poison illegal.

Other states allow this, though it requires a license or permit. Most states will only allow you to repel or deter the flying squirrels, but not outright kill them by poison.

Squirrels can actually eat foods that humans can’t. This is because they have very fast digestion and basically eat food and then poop it out shortly after.

Because the food doesn’t stay in their system for extended periods of time like humans do, this lets squirrels eat things that would normally be poisonous. Foods like mushrooms, acorns, and fungus are nothing to them.

The most popular choice to kill them through food is something that prevents the natural coagulation.

This eventually kills them through ingestion. If you live in an area that allows poisoning squirrels, look for products that prevent coagulation and use the poison as directed. Most will require that you treat for at least a week or so to fully be effective.

As for human foods that you can easily buy at the grocery, these are generally not effective. If you think about it- whatever you can buy that humans can eat, squirrels can eat them also.

They have stronger digestive systems and this makes using food to kill them by poisoning them useless.

After all, they eat our garbage out of the trash, so food is not an effective means to kill squirrels.

What sound do squirrels hate?

You may have seen those supersonic squirrel repellents that prevent them from coming to your home.

Whether or not these work, sound usually isn’t an effective measure unless directly playing in proximity all day long. This means a speaker system set up directed at your attic playing sounds 24/7. This is something that flying squirrels hate and can’t stand.

Generally, there are some notes noted to be natural deterrents of flying squirrels. You don’t need to spend your money on expensive sound repellers.

There are a ton of free videos online that you can play into your attic. Just get a sound system, hook it up, protect the wires from being chewed, and get online and find a video.

You can use wireless speakers and connect them to your computer using Bluetooth.

Then you can control and play different videos without climbing into the attic all the time.

Here are a few you can check out.

How do you get rid of squirrels naturally?

There are many different things you can do at home to get rid of flying squirrels from your attic naturally.

DIY home remedies are usually better than using chemicals because they’re safer for you, your family, your pets, and the environment.

Not to mention, they’re sometimes cheaper than going to the store and buying a bottle of whatever poison.

Try out these natural remedies first at home. Then consider buying some squirrel repellent commercially. And if all else fails, hire a professional pest exterminator.

Seal up entry points

Your attic is an environment that’s favorable to flying squirrels because of the shelter, warmth, and protection it provides. If you have an infestation in there, they must’ve gotten in from somewhere, right?

The first thing you need to do is inspect your entire attic and start blocking off or sealing up any and all entry points. Having multiple places where the squirrels can enter just makes it easier for them to use your attic as a nesting area.

But you don’t want to seal up all of them when you have squirrels. You need to leave at least ONE opening so they can LEAVE your attic. Squirrels can squeeze to very small sizes and this allows them to enter through the smallest orifices.

You’ll want to start blocking off and sealing up all the possible entry points to your attic except one that you’ll work with to lure them out.

Check for these common areas of entry:

  • Repair attic window vents
  • Block off damaged walls
  • Seal up damaged insulation
  • Replace torn or damaged screens
  • Check soffits and cracks
  • Replace damaged roofing, chimney toppers, or wire mesh

When you have everything sealed or blocked off, there’s just going to be a single place the squirrels can enter and exit your attic.

We’ll use this as their final exit point. If you only have one or two squirrels, you can actually wait for them to leave your attic to forage for food and then seal it up when they’re out. But sadly, it’s not always that easy.

Use a one-way tunnel

You can install a one-way tunnel through the only path into your attic.

This way, the squirrel can go out but can’t’ come back in. There are a few different designs that you can buy at hardware stores (or DIY if you’re handy).

Do some research and read some reviews. You’ll have to find one that fits the only entry/exit you have left. Some are made to fit windows and others aren’t.

Lure them out of your attic

The best way to get rid of flying squirrels hiding in your attic is to make those little critters actually WANT to leave.

This often means using lures, baits, or just making their environment disturbing or uninhabitable.

Usually, they don’t leave on their own. But with repeated disturbances and unfavorable conditions, squirrels will be “pushed” to leave your attic.

Consider doing the following things:

  • Cleaning up the attic
  • Removing all clutter
  • Spraying essential oils that are odorous
  • Placing garlic or onion slices
  • Sealing up the attic and forcing the squirrels to squeeze through an uncomfortable hole to exit
  • Destroying the nest

Use a radio

Radios repel squirrels.
Flying squirrels hate the sound of humans.

Squirrels are said to hate noises that come from humans. Human speech and talking is something you can use to naturally repel squirrels.

Use a radio or speaker system and have it play 24/7 in your attic. Make it as loud as you can bear and leave it on. Be sure the wires are safe and secure so they don’t chew them.

You can just play the radio, random shows, videos online, or just a podcast. Use a Bluetooth speaker so you don’t have to climb up there all the time and can control the device from your room.

Use dryer sheets

You can place balled up dryer sheets around your attic as a repellent. If you’ve eliminated all possible entryways and left just one, hang a dryer sheet over like a doggy door.

The squirrel must rub against the sheet to enter/exit and thereby force it to sniff the scent. It’s said that dryer sheets are hated by squirrels, so this is an easy thing to try.

Use mothballs

Similar to dryer sheets, mothballs are said to repel squirrels. You can buy a pack of them and toss them into your attic. Throw some around their nest. The scent of mothballs are naturally a repellent of a variety of pests. Use as directed.

Note that using them in an enclosed area works to magnify their repelling properties.

However, you should NEVER breathe the fumes nor use them somewhere that humans or pets are around.

As mothballs are trapped, they release dangerous fumes over time that slowly build up. If you place them in your attic, be sure to note this.

Remove all food sources

Remove any and all food sources in the attic. Do a thorough cleaning and vacuum or sweep the area.

Remember those squirrel droppings should be treated as contaminated, so you’ll want to wear a proper mask and equipment to avoid kicking the bacteria into the air.

You can also use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. If you have food in the attic that you store, take it out and put it somewhere else.

As for the outdoors, this is the squirrels’ main source of food. They’re running out of your attic to harvest food and then bring it back into their nest.

You’ll want to go through your entire yard to make sure everything that they can possibly eat is removed or secured:

  • Remove loose nuts and seeds
  • Secure bird feeder
  • Get locked trash cans and compost bins
  • Secure any other loose animal food
  • Check for fruits that are growing on your plants and harvest or fence them off
  • Declutter your yard

Once the food source is eliminated, flying squirrels will be deterred from the area because they have nothing to sustain themselves.

This will greatly reduce the chance of them staying in the nest and may force them to relocate naturally.

Prune trees and access paths

The squirrel must have gotten its way to your attic somehow, right?

So find out what path it takes, block it, and then monitor the situation. Squirrels are creatures of habit and tend to use the same path to and fro’ your attic.

Prune any nearby trees that may be offering a “bridge” to your roof. Block off gutter entrances using guards and covering downspouts.

Remove anything they can climb to get onto your roof (trellises, trees, firewood, etc.) Fix any cracks or crevices in the foundation wall that they may be used as a ladder to your attic.

Use live traps

Killing squirrels is illegal in many states, so poisons for squirrels hardly exist.

There are only a few that actually kill them through ingestion, but most are simply repellents. You also can’t use rodent bait that’s made for mice, rats, possums, etc. as they don’t work against squirrels. But you can use a live trap as it’s considered to be humane.

There are dozens of live squirrel traps on the market.

You’ll want to get at least one for the garden and another for your attic. Live trapping the pest will allow you to relocate it or contact animal control to pick it up. Catching squirrels is hard because they’re fast and agile, but a live trap works for you 24/7 once it’s set up.

Find a trap that you can fit into your attic/garden and fits your budget. Most of them are just metal cages with a one-way entrance that locks a metal grate behind them.

Place in a strategic location and use peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or acorns as bait. You can also try to hide the metal appearance by using shrub cover or other fabrics.

After you catch the flying squirrel, you can relocate it by driving at least 6 miles away from your home and releasing it.

They can find their way back to their nest within a 5 mi radius, so make sure you drive far enough.

Don’t release the squirrel somewhere that’ll post a problem for other people. You can also contact professional exterminators, animal control, or your local ordinance for assistance.

How do I get rid of squirrels in my attic without killing them?

Live squirrel traps are one of the most effective techniques to get rid of squirrels without harming them.

It’s humane, works passively, and doesn’t require a huge payment to afford. If you don’t want to trap them, you can try the other methods here like playing a radio 24/7, removing food sources, using one-way entrances, or sealing up entry points.

This will make your attic less appealing or more difficult for them to enter, so they’ll become discouraged and leave on their own.

How do you kill flying squirrels?

You shouldn’t. Most states ban killing squirrels outright and this could result in heavy fines or jail time.

Check with your local ordinances to see what the laws are in your area.

Always relocate or hire a professional if you can’t deal with the squirrels. There are some poisons on the market that will kill a squirrel if ingested.

However, due to the specific regulations, most states don’t allow the usage of these pesticides.

There are plenty of natural and humane ways to get rid of flying squirrels.

So use those first. And if you still can’t get them out of your attic, consult a licensed exterminator.

What’s a squirrel’s natural enemy?

Flying squirrel predators.
What eats flying squirrels?

Natural predators of the flying squirrels are large-sized opportunistic hunters such as raccoons, snakes, foxes, dogs, cats, and birds of prey (hawks, owls, etc.).

Weasels and martens are also predators. They can all hunt squirrels and eat them up.

Everything from bobcats to climbing snakes make excellent hunters for flying squirrels. The great horned owl is probably one of the most well-known predators.

Squirrels are small and make a good meal for these predators. If you have them in your area, consider attracting them to help reduce the squirrel population by providing favorable environmental conditions.

How to get rid of a squirrel nest

Squirrel nests need to be located first.

Once you find the hidden nest in your attic, you can proceed to destroy it.

Attic squirrels build “cavity dens” which are usually hidden under the insulation, storage, clutter, or walls of your attic.

They’re not that hard to find and you can spot it by the following signs:

  • Food debris scattered around the area
  • Cluttered material from plants or organic matter
  • Dried leaves, sticks, or twigs
  • Pieces of cardboard, paper, newspaper, or magazines
  • Attic insulation

The nest should have some soft material for the squirrels to sleep in and should be pretty obvious once you find it.

Sometimes it’s hidden behind a wall void or under storage material, so it can be tricky. If you don’t want to tear down your wall or attic insulation, consult a professional first.

Once you find it, you shouldn’t outright destroy it. You should treat the materials as contaminated and only handle the debris with proper equipment.

Destroying the nest will disturb the environment and may get the squirrels to leave permanently. Set up repellents, sounds, and block off entrances. This will make the area unfavorable for them and just may lure them away from your house.

What is the best bait for flying squirrels?

There are many different baits you can use to lure them out.

Or if you’re using a trap, you can use these foods as bait because they’re especially appealing to squirrels:

  • Sunflower seeds
  • Apples
  • Wheat grains
  • Peanut butter spread
  • Peanuts
  • Sweet fruits
  • Nuts

Peanut butter is regarded as the primo bait for squirrels. The strong nutty scent of the spread attracts flying squirrels to whatever object you’re baiting me into.

You can use a cage trap to catch them humanely. Use peanut butter to lure the squirrel into the trap.

How long does it take to trap a squirrel?

Every single squirrel and situation is different.

There are many variables at play, so it’s impossible to estimate how long it’ll take.

Things like the number of entrances, food availability, number of squirrels, and even the presence of squirrel babies all affect the time it takes for a squirrel to wander into a live trap. It can range anywhere from 1-20 days, with the average being around 10-14 days.

The squirrel likely won’t enter the trap right away until it’s familiar with it and ready to explore the bait.

Other factors like having different squirrels running around your attic can delay the trapping.

Assume one gets trapped, now the others know that it’s a trap. This delays the overall time it takes to trap a flying squirrel.

How do I get rid of squirrels permanently?

Flying squirrel eating attic debris.
There are a few things you can do to keep them out of your property.

Once you get rid of them from your property, you probably never want to deal with them again.

The easiest way is to ensure your home is sealed from the outdoors.

  • Make sure you block off all entrances to your attic, such as your soffits and eaves.
  • Repair any damaged screens and caulk up any cracks.
  • Check your foundation and fix it.
  • Replace any damaged roofing.
  • Prune nearby trees.
  • Your job is to squirrel-proof your home by blocking off all entrances, then you’ll never have to deal with flying squirrels again.

This is the only way to truly keep flying squirrels out of your house.

Further reading

Still stuck? Here are some references you may find useful:

Did you get rid of the flying squirrels from your attic?

Flying squirrel eating attic debris.
There are a few things you can do to keep them out of your property.

Be patient and persistent with them.

Squirrels are difficult to remove after they’ve given birth.

You’ll have to lure them out over time to get them to leave, which usually is faster than trying to “catch” them or force them out. They’re sneaky and fast little things.

If you have any questions, post a comment.

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Thanks for reading.

6 thoughts on “How to Get Rid of Flying Squirrels in the Attic (Naturally)”

  1. I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic.

    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.

  2. What’s up, just wanted to tell you, I liked this article.
    It was helpful. Keep on posting!

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