How to Catch a Squirrel With a Trap

Squirrels are pesky animals and difficult to deal with. While some squirrels may not bother you, other squirrels can cause problems if they get too close to your house. One way to get rid of squirrels is by catching them in traps and moving them out of your yard.

Things You'll Need

  • Squirrel trap
  • Food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Study the squirrel. Before you set the trap, watch the squirrel's daily routine so that you know exactly where it goes and what it does. This way, you can set an effective trap.

    • 2

      Find the right spot in your yard to plant your trap. If you plan on trapping a squirrel, find the spot around your house where the squirrel is most likely to be. Place traps around bird feeders or trees because these are the places where squirrels usually are.

    • 3

      Keep the trap stable. Once you have decided on the area where you want the trap to go, make sure you set up the trap on a stable surface. This way the trap won’t tip over and allow the squirrel to escape.

    • 4

      Wait for awhile before you bait the trap. While this sounds like an odd step, this will help the squirrel get used to the trap's presence and give you a better chance of trapping the squirrel. Put the trap out, with the door tied up, so that the squirrel gets used to going in and out of the trap.

    • 5

      Set the trap. Once you are ready to catch the squirrel, set the trap by hooking up the rod in the back of the trap. This rod will become unattached when the squirrel gets in the trap and the door will shut.

    • 6

      Bait the trap. Use a vegetable or some nuts. Place the food in the back of the trap and wait to catch your squirrel.

    • 7

      Check on your trap once every hour in case other animals, such as neighborhood pets, have gotten stuck in the trap. If that happens, release those animals by turning the trap over to release the lock.

    • 8

      Keep the trap in the shade. If a neighborhood pet gets stuck in the trap, and is trapped in the sun, the animal could become over-heated and possibly die.