I have a squirrel problem. They are not only on the outside of my house, but in the walls as well (at least it sounds like it)! I have a huge doublewide mobile home that sits under two huge oaks. I rent, and so getting rid of the oaks is out of the question. Besides, I love the trees, even love watching the squirrels during the day...outside. However they play and scratch and run and make all kinds of noise to keep me awake ALL NIGHT LONG! Plus it sounds like whatever they're doing is pretty destructive! Will a cat help (like a barn cat)? Please, any help would be very welcome!

-- Betsy LeHew (e9l@aol.com), June 17, 2001

Answers

Sorry to hear your having such trouble. When I was young we had Bats that would crawl under the tarred paper that covered our little shack we called home. Mom would stop what ever she was doing and listen then grab her broom and run out side to where she heardthe scratching and just wail on the out side of the shack. She killed a lot that way!! We never had siding on that place. I should think a cat would greatly help your situation though. But you need to find out where their coming in and plug the holes with screening or something. Good luck!!

-- michelle (tsjheath@nci2.net), June 17, 2001.

Squirrels are not naturally nocturnal. This sounds more like rats without the fluffy tail. Either way a cat would help. Actually, I would get about ten for outside and a couple for the inside. High powered pellet rifles also work well, though I think you should eat what you kill.

Have you seen mice, rats, or droppings in your house?

-- Jim (catchthesun@yahoo.com), June 17, 2001.

We live a 100 year old farm house that has a raised foundation. When we first moved in it sounded like the rats, not squirrels were trying out for the Olympic Gymnastic team.

Now we keep cats, 6 to 8 of them and that has solved the problem.

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), June 17, 2001.

Yes, my bet would be that you have rats. Squirrels sleep at night, rats crawl. If you have a double wide with skirting you should be able to open the skirting and bait the rats under the house. Sounds like a major infestation to me so I would bait first and then after I had them under control, get some cats.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), June 17, 2001.

You poor thing!! Just the sound of "rats" makes me squirm! I thought my mouse problem was bad. Now my city dwelling sisters won't sleep over at my house. Good Luck!!

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), June 17, 2001.

Betsy,

I know just what you mean. We live in an big old house, and we discovered that the night time accrobats WERE squirrels. (they didn't read the book I guess). We tossed poison corn into the attic (which may not work for you) and got a good used cat. It's not quiet every night, but a whole lot more of them. When I hear them, I go beat on the ceiling with a broom, and listen to them scuttle out under the edge of the roof. (That and I knock a bunch of nuts around) IIf I weren't so afriad of heights, I'd staple wire under all the eaves.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), June 17, 2001.

Get a big cat. I live in squirrel country and never have a problem with them as long as we have a cat. Whenever we've been without a cat the squirrels move right in! I definately vote for the cat! :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), June 17, 2001.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, and with those big oak trees next to the mobile home, they may very well be flying squirrels. Examine under the eaves and see if there's a spot where they're getting in, if you find an opening, put a rag soaked with some ammonia there, that may drive them out. Try to repair any openings with 1/4 inch "ratwire" to keep them out.

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), June 18, 2001.