Have you heard strange noises in your attic or walls at night? If so, you may have flying squirrels, and here is how to get rid of flying squirrels. These nocturnal animals are smaller than their bushy-tailed relatives. They like to find warm places to live in houses and often form colonies.
They can make your home their winter getaway by leaving behind strange smells that indicate a large group in your home and clear signs of chewing on wood and wire.
Don’t worry, though! This article talks about the problems that these little pests cause and gives you good ideas on how to get rid of flying squirrels.
What Is The Best Bait For Flying Squirrels?
It’s more likely that you’ll be able to bait flying squirrels if you use a variety of their favorite treats. Use a mix of these flying acrobats’ favorite treats to get them to come to you. Flying squirrels really like nuts like hazelnuts, pecans, and walnuts. Fruits like apples and berries can be used to add a little sweetness. If you want to make it even more appealing, put the bait near trees or buildings where they can easily glide and rest.
What Time Are Flying Squirrels Most Active?
The flying squirrel is a nocturnal animal, which means it is most busy at night. Their most active times are usually right after dusk and right before sunrise. This helps them stay away from danger and move while it’s dark. If you want to see these flying acrobats in action, you should look around in the evenings, immediately after sunset, and early mornings. it might be best to check them after dark.
What Is A Flying Squirrel’s Favorite Food?
Flying squirrels are not picky eaters and do not have a particular special diet that they prefer more than others. They indulge in a wide array of delicious foods, like nuts, seeds, and fruits, and can be called the food lovers of the squirrel species.
Read more: Can Squirrels Eat Almonds?
What Happens If A Flying Squirrel Bites You?
Flying squirrels have small teeth, so if they bite you, they probably won’t do too much damage. To take proper care of the cut, however, actions should be taken right away.
Use soap and water to gently clean the bite, then put an antibiotic on it and keep an eye on it for signs of infection, like redness or swelling. Some people may feel some pain from the bite, but it’s usually not a big deal. If the bite is deep or looks like it might be infected, you should see a doctor.
What Happens If A Flying Squirrel Bites You?
It is possible for flying squirrels to carry diseases that can be passed on to humans. One of these is typhus, which can be spread by bites and can cause signs like rashes and even delirium. Even though this kind of transmission doesn’t happen very often, it’s important to be aware of the chance.
Also, flying squirrels may sometimes carry rabies, a very dangerous disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Overall, the risk of getting sick from wild squirrels is pretty low, but it’s still best to be safe and healthy by avoiding direct touch with them and going to the doctor if they bite or scratch you.
Read also:Â Do Squirrels Hibernate? A Detailed Insight Into Squirrel Hibernation
What Is The Difference Between A Flying Squirrel And A Squirrel?
The ability to glide is what distinguishes a flying squirrel from a regular squirrel. While both are rodents, flying squirrels have a distinct adaption. They have a skin membrane called the patagium that extends between their forelimbs and hindlimbs and allows them to glide between trees. This gives the impression that they are “flying” from one location to another.
Traditional squirrels, on the other hand, don’t have this barrier and instead run, climb, and jump from branch to branch. Foraging for food and getting around on land is easy for them because they are adaptable to living on land.
Common Flying Squirrel Traps.
When catching flying squirrels, it’s best to use ways that don’t hurt the animals. Here are some traps that are often used:
Live Cage Traps
You can catch the flying squirrel in these traps without hurting it.
One-Way Exclusion Doors
The flying squirrel can leave your space with this trap, but it can’t come back in. Most of the time, they are used with live cage traps.
Tree-Mounted Traps
Placing traps near the entry points on trees can be effective. When the squirrel tries to enter or go out, it can be captured.
How To Get Rid Of Flying Squirrels
Prevention, exclusion, and compassionate removal are all necessary for successful flying squirrel control. How to do it :
Exclusion
- Place exclusion traps in key places at entry and exit points to keep people from coming back.
- Because flying squirrels are active at night, it is easy to catch them when they are leaving.
- Cover entry places with strong materials to keep them from coming back.
Home Repairs
- Identify and seal all potential entry points, such as cracks or openings in the building.
- To successfully block access points, use things like concrete or wire mesh.
Trapping
- Choose live trapping with cage traps that have close-spaced wires.
- Place traps along travel paths or near entry points.
- Use fruits, seeds, or bread with peanut butter as bait
- Once you catch a squirrel, let it go in a wildlife area or far away from your home.
Using Repellents
- There are repellents like mothballs, predator urine, ammonia, and ultrasonic sound generators, but it’s not clear how well they work.
- Repellents often provide only temporary relief and may not eliminate the problem.
 Killing (Last Choice)
- As a last choice, use traps that can kill, like body grip or electronic traps.
- Poisoning is another choice, but it can hurt animals that aren’t the target, so it needs to be done carefully.
- Methods of killing are not thought to be humane and should be done with great care.
Professional Help
- Seeking professional wildlife technicians is advisable for efficient and safe removal.
- Trapping and making sure that proper wildlife management methods are followed can be done by professionals.
Read also:Â Where Do Squirrels Sleep?
Conclusion
It’s clear that trapping and removing flying squirrels are necessary measures in the quest to reclaim your home from the bustle and chatter of these pests. These nimble insects that are active at night, can make them a nuisance. The sooner you take care of these issues, the sooner you can say goodbye to these unwanted visitors and protect your home from harm.
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