Squirrels are having a party in my basement! Help!?

Question

Last year, as I was sitting in the living room, I heard something in the basement, so I went to check it out...with a broom.  There, sitting on a ledge of the window, was a squirrel.  I was able to chase it out the window, and all was good....until last week.
I go to do laundry, and there are squirrel footprints on my washing machine, but no sign of squirrel.  This morning, I go to do laundry again, and this time (how awful!), there are the footprints again, plus urine!  Stuff that was on shelves have been knocked over, curtain torn down, and bite marks on a bag with dog food.

I walked around the house, but see no openings where the squirrel(s) could be getting in and out, so I can't remedy it that way.  
How do I make it unpleasant for them to stay?  Or, if nothing else, is rat poison going to work?

Care · Accepted Answer

We had a squirrel problem this summer they kept chewing a hole in our roof.. Hardware stores sell traps, as well as products like critter ridder to put around the perimeter of your house.  Getting a cat or a small yapping dog tends to discourage them.  Beware of poisoning however it is illegal in many states.

Anonymous · Answer

You need to find out how they're getting into the house.  First, make sure that they can't jiggle your windows open and that there are no breaches in the foundation of your home-- like a hole where a now unused pipe runs to the outside or a hole where a pipe used to be.  If you have an attic, I'd check there also. It's a common place for them to enter your home.  From there they can go down through the walls to the basement.  Squirrels have been known to build huge nests in attics and can wreak pure havoc if they get into your living areas.  Before you put down rat poison, I'd call the local animal control to see if they have better ideas.

chin · Answer

hi ,  i have a similar problem, you can only get ride of them for a time they always come back . what  I've done is use 'have a heart traps' around the out side and inside area to trap them and take them far away, i have also used  Rat poison, but i don't want them died'g in the walls of the house . ived used rat traps also, that works some time some time they just eat the bait. moth balls, they are not suppose to like the smell it does not bother them also a sonic noise maker doesn't bother them either. Ive tried to plug up any holes with wire too.  so, the best for me is to keep trapping them and taking them far away.

Anonymous · Answer

Try putting a radio down there. Tune it to a heavy metal station and leave it on with the volume low enough that it won't bother you upstairs.
Rat poison will work but what if they crawl into an inaccessible place to die? Then you'll have an awful stink to deal with.
Don't leave anything down there (such as dog food) for them to eat.

Crazeddoglady · Answer

Check your dryer vent.  They might come in there.  Rat poison might work but sounds like you might have a dog and s/he could get into that.  Try an old fashioned, spring loaded rat trap.  Be careful though, they can break a finger, or a dog's paw.

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Squirrels are having a party in my basement! Help!?

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