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Message |
    
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 384
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 8:54 am: | 
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And is stuck in the fireplace.
The cats are going nuts qith the squirrel behind glass effect.
The squirrel's not to happy either.
I promised my husband I wouldn't repeat what I did last time. I threw a towel over it and with heavy gloves, grabbed it, threw it in a box with a lid and freed the tree rat outside. Spouse was mumbling something about rabies...
So, last weekend we used the fireplace and I thought I had closed the flue - but obviouly not enough.
Yes, we have another squirrel in the fireplace.
Outside of starting a fire and inviting mem over, how do we get it out with the least amount of trauma on all sides? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1301
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
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This used to happen to us all the time in my parent's home when I was growing up. Here's what you do - announce to your kids that you'll give five bucks to the child that can successfully rid the house of the squirrel. You'll have that thing out of there in no time. (I'm actually being serious - this was a regular game in our household...I was the youngest and therefore never won...)
Seriously, when we did get the squirrels out, I think we opened the fireplace door only slightly and put a box or hamper in front of the opening. The squirrel would eventually go in and we'd throw a blanket over it and bring it outside. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1156
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:21 am: |
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hope this post doesn't appear twice...
... call Buckingham Pest Control if you don't want to deal with it yourself. To prevent future occurences, you may want to consider a chimney cap? I've had excellent experiences with CJ Condon, (973) 762-0432. Not sure if he installs caps, but he's worth a call!
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composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 711
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:27 am: |
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I agree with Case - call Buckingham Pest Control. They're great.
Also, you should definitely get a chimney cap. Bob from Top Hat and Tails installed ours. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4042
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:33 am: |
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Last week an opposum came in through our basement crawl space. My husband had it confined to the bathroom in the basmeent, but when he went to see if it went into our have-a heart trap he couldn't see it in the bathroom. We were afraid it climbed into an opening in the wall.
I called Jerry Buckingham. 5 minutes and 90 bucks later, my home was pest free.
I would NOT allow a squirrel into my living room. It could freak out and do lots of damage. Call, spend the $$ and be free from the anxiety. Some things are just worth it. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 385
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:42 am: |
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About 4 years ago one did get into the house and did do damage.
Anyone got a trap we can borrow?
And we use Bob from Top Hat - so we'll be giving him a call. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4514
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:49 am: |
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Let it die. Then throw it away. I just can't imagine opening the glass doors and having that thing run all around (with soot all over it too! Yck!)
Anyway, I had squirrels fall down the chimney when my flu was closed. They died (I stopped hearing the noise) and I had the chimney people come and "clean the chimney". Horrors! They found 2 dead squirrels!
Moral of story- Get a chimney cap. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 16
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
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You can get a "have a heart" trap from Maplewood or South Orange Board of Health. They require a five dollar deposit. Put it in the fireplace carefully, with a small peanut-butter on a graham cracker sandwich as bait inside. Close the fireplace, and go about your business. In short time, the squirrel should be in the trap, sandwich eaten. Take the trap outdoors, and with the door facing away from you, let the squirrel go. I did this a few years ago, and it only took about fifteen minutes. Then have a contractor install a chimney cap to prevent reoccurence. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4044
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 4:24 pm: |
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How can you put the trap in the fireplace without letting the squirrel out???
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catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 17
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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Very carefully, open the doors or screen to put the trap in place. Usually the squirrel will be afraid of the human interference and stay back. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4046
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 4:38 pm: |
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Usually??? What if you get the one aggressive one??? |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 19
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 4:43 pm: |
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Dun't make me problems! Have someone standby with a shotgun if the squirrel is aggressive. JUST KIDDING!!! Don't use a gun, whatever you do, as you will injure yourself, anyone else around, and probably miss the squirrel entirely. If a trap can't be put in the fireplace safely, then leave it to the experts. Maplewood or South Orange Animal Control Officer might assist. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3066
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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I'd just go with the towel and heavy gloves again. And definately look into the chimney cap! |
swimmer
Citizen
Username: Marna
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 6:24 pm: |
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Buckingham Pest Control - he is the best without a doubt. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1813
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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call Dick Cheney - just stay out of his way. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3069
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 7:34 pm: |
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Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 202
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 8:52 pm: |
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No recorded case of rabies in a squirrel in New Jersey.
Get the towel and gloves. (It still hurts to get bitten.)
Or, open door in presence of cats. Video tape.
J.B. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 387
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:04 pm: |
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peteglider & JB!
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joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 388
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
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IT'S FREED!
(sorry mem)
bought a trap last night and put a cracker with peanut butter on it. The little bastrad snatched it w/o tripping the trap. Smeared peatnut butter on the trigger - that worked.
and the chimney cap is stuck in the open position, left a msg for Top Hat & Tails...
thx all for the info |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1815
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 2:32 pm: |
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In my house that would have been the best "Cat TV" in a long time.
I can only imagine that our 3 cats would have taken turns bringing cat snacks for themselves to not take their eyes off the "screen".
/P |
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