Squirrel nests in boats: Spring is here and we are uncovering our boats for the first time since Thanksgiving and seeing the squirrel damage. They eat right through 5/8 solid...

Dwieds Loc: Richmond Va. and Smith Mountain Lake Va.

Spring is here and we are uncovering our boats for the first time since Thanksgiving and seeing the squirrel damage. They eat right through 5/8 solid fiberglass like it’s nothing. Some guys are finding that the squirrels have chewed up wiring harnesses and upholstery. Haven’t heard of them damaging fuel tanks YET but. Question is has anyone run into this in ur area and how do you keep them out. One guy put bags of moth balls in his boat and when he uncovered the bags were gone. The critters took them off the boat cause they didn’t like the smell. All of the boats are in covered slips lifted 3-5 feet out of the water. They won’t go in our traps anymore so that’s not working and it’s in a townhouse community in a cove so shooting them is not ready an option. Please let me know if you’ve been successful with a treatment. Has anybody tried an electronic device this gives a high pitch to deter these tree rats?

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Good luck. Hate those things!! I keep Hav-a-Hart traps and successfully catch them placing one peanut in the shell in the middle where they can't just reach in and take it out but have to come in and spring the trap. I keep catching them!
For a boatyard I'd say get a cat or a dog.

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

I have had them crawl into my airflow compartments in my truck and I had a heck of a time getting them to leave it. I had to duct tape the vents into the cab off then shot it full of Ether and disassemble air ducts to remove the dead squirrels. A family of squirrels were holding up in my boat too and baited some poisoned pecans to rid them from it. Wood ants were busy too and I used a bag of wood ant poison on them. I really had a battle with critters trying to make a home in my poor boat and my truck. Then I took the boat to a car wash to clean junk out of my boat.

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Dwieds wrote:

Spring is here and we are uncovering our boats for... (show quote)

Never had a problem with the squirrels but have mice every year, tried all kinds of so called “remedies” but continue to get them.

Dwieds Loc: Richmond Va. and Smith Mountain Lake Va.

Yup I have the Hav-a-hart traps too but I been using waxed sun flower seeds. I’ll try the peanuts. Wish me luck. BUT I still don’t think I’ll catch them all. I’d like to get something proven to keep them from nesting in the boat.
Thanks for the tips.

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

My problem is ground squirrels in out buildings and garden.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

bknecht wrote:

Never had a problem with the squirrels but have mice every year, tried all kinds of so called “remedies” but continue to get them.

When I had that mouse family move into my kitchen some of you suggested Irish Spring soap bars. I cut the bars into thirds and placed one in every drawer. Have seen no evidence of them coming back. But also caught one in a glue trap by the recycling container under the sink.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

charlykilo wrote:

My problem is ground squirrels in out buildings and garden.

If I could do bee bee gun I would but my yard is not huge and neighbors are out in their yards. I'd get busted.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

Take the big green DeKon rat poison blocks and crush them up in a plastic bag. Mix that up into a paste with a cheep crunchy peanut butter. Put the mix on a jar lid or something to keep it from staining your boat and place them where dog or cats can't get to them and your squeal problem will go away fairly quickly, works for ground squirrels too. Keep watch cause you'll have to put more out from time to time. When you think you've got them under control wash down everything they've touched with a chlorine based cleaner to get rid of their smell, that attracts other squirrels

This is a horrible thing to do to a wild animal but sometimes when you can't control them any other way desperate measures are called for. I had a family in my attic several years back and they chewed up everything they could this was the only solution that worked.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Dwieds wrote:

Spring is here and we are uncovering our boats for... (show quote)

I use the plug in electronic devices to keep the chipmunks out of my truck and the mice out of my 5th wheel. They work for me…🐟on

Dwieds Loc: Richmond Va. and Smith Mountain Lake Va.

Thanks guys. We don’t have the problem during the summer months but I’ll try these tricks to get rid of them in the fall. I’m a little skeptical of the poison cause I don’t want a nest of rotten squirrels in my boat. I’ve got some time to think about it but I’ll keep u posted. Thanks again for the help.

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Dwieds wrote:

Thanks guys. We don’t have the problem during the summer months but I’ll try these tricks to get rid of them in the fall. I’m a little skeptical of the poison cause I don’t want a nest of rotten squirrels in my boat. I’ve got some time to think about it but I’ll keep u posted. Thanks again for the help.

The poison makes them thirsty as long as there is no water on board they can access they should leave to find water and die. I’ve used Iveys method to get them out of attics and overhangs many times. Never had any die up there.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

J in Cleveland wrote:

The poison makes them thirsty as long as there is no water on board they can access they should leave to find water and die. I’ve used Iveys method to get them out of attics and overhangs many times. Never had any die up there.

J, I didn't have to remove any from my attic and when they were gone I sprayed Fantastic all around to get rid of their pheromone smell. Like I said before this is something I would never do until all other means were exhausted but we had tried all the traps, pellets guns, electronic devices even cut down an oak tree and just couldn't move enough of them away from my house to make a difference. The poison made the difference but I understand anyone not wanting to use it, all I can say is good luck with whichever methods tried and hope they don't have to go this route but it does work.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, squirrels are a worthy opponent. You aren't likely going to get rid of them on the first pass. So you will have to attack more than once,and expect them to win some of the early rounds. My biggest problem in my boathouse in Gavleston was pigeons. I put up a couple of fake owls that continually moved their head about, and that seemed to work. Just Sayin...RJS

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

We don’t get the squirrels here but do have problems with ground hogs and skunks getting under our sheds. I go to the dollar store and buy the air fresheners that you lift the tops on. Throw them under the shed and they leave. I guess they don’t like the smell