Red Squirrels and Hot Tubs

[MinnesotaMike]

We have a hot tub outside built into the deck. A couple of years back we had a Red squirrel take up residence. I was able to get him out of there and fixed the entry holes.

Now I have another one in there. I chased him out and plugged the holes but they just made a new one, very tenacious. I need a way to make sure that they are out of there before I replace all of the panels and seal it up good.

Any ideas?

I do try to hunt them when I get home, the neighbors give me funny looks as I stare up in the tree tops with a 410.

How about what wood to use. It currently has redwood but it is 10 years old and I will be replacing all of the panels.

Thx,

Mike

[Archerysniper]

Try some decon rat poison or a #0 leg hold pan trap

[goblueM]

just make sure you don't poison one and it ends up somewhere in the hot tub you can't get to...

[RainyEye]

I've gotten a couple of them with a Hav-a -Hart trap baited with peanuts and peanut butter and another option is feeding them and then using a pellet rifle if you can get close enough.

[pureinsanity]

Live trap them. only way to get rid of them is to get rid of them. Live trap would be the easiest and you can relocate them if you want.

[MinnesotaMike]

Well here's the update.

I tried to live trap them, no go.

I have two dogs so poison is out of the question.

I went to the Big M store to get some cedar boards for the exterior repair and also picked up some insulating foam in a can.

I pulled two of the panels off and shop vac'd all of the loose material from inside the cabinet. I did not see anyone run away and I did not suck any of them up so I will assume that they were not home at time of renovation.

I filled the voids with the spray foam and replaced the old panels with the new cedar boards. Doesn't look half bad.

I have the ok from the neighbors, so I will be thinning the herd shortly.

Mike

[SkunkedAgain]

When plugging mouse holes, I was always told to stuff with steel wool and then plug. I use steel wool in my snowmobile exhaust during storage as well. If the squirrels are eating right through panels, maybe you could spread out a bunch of steel wool between the old and new panels?

[nofishfisherman]

You may also want to try covering the areas they are getting into with some sort of chicken wire or small wire mesh until you are able to thin the heard down and eliminate the trouble makers. It won't look very nice while its up but it should keep them out until you are able to deal with them on a permanent basis. That way they aren't chewing up any of the new boards you just replaced. You can take it down once you've solved the problem.

Another thought would be to spray some sort of scent in there that they won't like. Maybe just something like vinegar or moth balls will work. Maybe you could also try putting your dogs scent in there, some fur that they shed might work.

I'm just throwing out ideas not sure if any will work.

[Archerysniper]

moth balls will work.

+1, I had a homemade live trap with a chicken wire widow/shooting port and those squirrels would chew through it and get out.