Squirrels

[shropshire mole 190]

Had a call couple of days ago for squirrels in a loft. There was a nest with young in (the owner had removed some tiles and found them).

 

Have placed some kania traps in loft, but as yet no squirrel.

 

Owner now said all quiet in loft, no more noises, he checked the nest and the babies have gone.

 

So my question is

 

 

Do squirrels move their babies if they think danger is close by?

 

 

[EDDIE B 3,166]

No expert on squirrels, but recon they would move them alright.

[Nicepix 5,650]

I would have removed and destroyed the young before placing the traps. If you had trapped the adult coming to the nest the young would have starved to death so it would be more humane giving them a quick death and then dealing with the adults.

[comanche 3,058]

Ghetto-blaster in loft,Couple of hours of a Motorhead CD played loud on repeat 'll see mummy squill hurrying for the trees with babes a'mouth one after the other.

Doesn't have to be Motorhead but if the customer is too tight or squeamish to let me kill em, they deserve Motorhead:)

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Any mother worth its salt moves young if threatened so safe to say they are moved .

[Deker 3,478]

I've never been in this specific situation before, but it sounds like they have been moved!

 

...and Kanias still worry me, the setting and the Spring strength are frightening!!

[stormyboy 1,352]

Kanias don't take prisoners Deker!

[Deker 3,478]

Kanias don't take prisoners Deker!

 

 

If I don't get a take on mine I set them off with a stick rather than make safe.

 

First used them around 7-8 years ago and they still worry me!

 

They might not be pretty but I still have all my fingers, and would like to keep them!

[socks 32,253]

I love Kanias they are the dogs bollox .....

[DIDO.1 22,845]

Iv seen squirrels moving young

[shropshire mole 190]

I would have removed and destroyed the young before placing the traps. If you had trapped the adult coming to the nest the young would have starved to death so it would be more humane giving them a quick death and then dealing with the adults.

Agree that would have been the best solution.

In this case however, the owner, who had removed the tiles and found the nest and young, was quite happy to walk up on to his roof. I was not, do not have a roof ladder either, so options were limited, to within for me.

[swarmcatcher 15]

Mother would definitely move them and they can have 5 or more dreys within their area.

Where was the drey? I know you said it was beneath the tiles but you indicate it was high up on the roof as well.

Does that mean it was between the underfelt and the tiles? If it was, where there any signs from within the roof space that they were in that spot?

I have been pulling young squirrels out of a properties this last week having caught the mother but not finding the drey, I'd always presumed that they were in the wall cavity next to the soffit in these situations - but maybe not.

You would think they would be in with the insulation wouldn't you but then again dreys outside are exposed to all elements

[shropshire mole 190]

Mother would definitely move them and they can have 5 or more dreys within their area.

Where was the drey? I know you said it was beneath the tiles but you indicate it was high up on the roof as well.

Does that mean it was between the underfelt and the tiles? If it was, where there any signs from within the roof space that they were in that spot?

I have been pulling young squirrels out of a properties this last week having caught the mother but not finding the drey, I'd always presumed that they were in the wall cavity next to the soffit in these situations - but maybe not.

You would think they would be in with the insulation wouldn't you but then again dreys outside are exposed to all elements

The drey was under the tiles and had been burrowed in between some kingspan insulation boards and fibreglass. The only access point found was on the other side of roof, so assuming the squirrels had to go into loft to access drey. No signs of squirrel damage in loft, no droppings, no insulation damaged. Unable to see exactly how squirrel would have gone in to the drey due to very confined space in that corner, but looked as if the squirrel had gone up and then under the tiles and then had burrowed down to make nest.

 

 

it was not high up only about 4 or 5 tiles up, but would have needed to stand on the tiles, which did not want to do, just in case they broke

Edited April 23, 2016 by shropshire mole

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Grey Squirrels in roof spaces are usually easy to trap,...however, at certain times of the year,..they act a bit strange,..the job can turn into a nightmare and definitely leave, even an experienced trapper, with egg on his face....

Edited April 23, 2016 by Phil Lloyd

[Crosshair 77]

I saw a squirrel carrying a well furred up youngster for the first time the other day so they definitely do move them. No pics as was driving unfortunately.