Evening star., 1949-03-10
This and That
Bu Charles E. Trdce1DeI

A squirrel in the attic-that is problem
in wildlife management, indeed!
And when one has simply an air space.
with louvres, that is even worse.
Squirrels often get into such places. some
times even walking up and down the side
of house to do 1t.
Flying squirrels have been known to seek
refuge in attics in some Of our suburbs.
Both types offer problems.
Very few persons want to injure the
rodents so this rules out the use of tear gas.
Some of any poisonous gas used might
seep down into the house.
There is, also, the effect on the unwanted
creature.
The nature of the squirrel is that, when
attacked he will stand still, and, If feasible,
berate his pursuer.
This habit makes him good target for
persons who still believe in shooting wild
creatures.
1t led. in pioneer days. to the sport Of
barking"
Barking, in this sense, meant shooting at
the tree trunk just above the squirrel.
The bullet did not touch him, but the
shock of the impact killed him just the same.
This was all the more easy to achieve,
since the rodent spread himself against the
trunk, head down, and "barked" himself
at his purSuer.
He did not know, of course, that he could
be hurt at distance.
We question whether these animals have
ever learned this. or ever will.
That is why it is a genuine problem for
kind hearted people to get squirrels out OF
attics-and to keep them out.
1t might not be so difficult If one didn't
care.
Just shoot the creatures, when seen on
the ground or in trees, and that might IN
the end solve the problem.
Those who feed the BIRDS and in general
are interested in the small animals Of the
suburban scene, will not find the problem
so easy.
We knew a local resident who has pair
of flying squirrels in the air space above his
house They had got in through the air
opening.
They had babies, and the tribe of them
made as much noise, it seemed to the owners,
as if herd of elephants were aloft.
This man trapped his unwanted visitors,
and took them in his car some two miles
from his house.
When he got back, sure enough. there
were the squirrels already jumping in and
out of his attic!
They had got home before him. as the
song says. Flying squirrels are able to do
this because they can go faster even than
regular squirrels
Perhaps the best way to solve the problem
of squirrels in the attic is to lure them out.
and Immediately board up, or wire up, the
entrance they used. The latter Is to be
used in the louvres.
Peanut hearts, to be purchased at peanut
butter factories, and at feed stores or pet
stores, will lure the squirrels out.
The way to do this is to place a dish of
peanut hearts on the ground below the
entrance.
Once the squirrels are out. the place should
be closed up Immediately.
One must take the chance Of any of the
rodents being left inside. If so. they will
notify one soon, and Enthusiastically. Then
the whole job must be done over again. of
course, because one squirrel can make as
much noise and cause as much damage as
several.
Make no mistake about the damage a
trapped squirrel can do. There have been
instances of one lone squirrel getting into
q house and not being able to go out. and
gnawing window and door frames to the
extent of 81, 600 for repairs.
Sometimes squirrels get behind the shingles
of shingled house, and there cause great
deal of damage and may offer an electrical
hazard. If the point of entry happens to be
near the front door bell or light.
The squirrel out of place Is always
nuisance and often a real danger, so no
time should be lost in dislodging it. Ger
tainly all outdoors ought to be enough for
the creature.