Damn squirrels
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 12:57 pm
Really.
Our neighborhood was new when we moved in in '99'. It was previously a rice field. The nearest naturally grown tree was a mile or more away. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that enough planted trees were large enough to provide adequate shelter for varmints. We started seeing some squirrels here and there. In the past two years they are everywhere. In the past 6 months my son complained of noises in the attic. The cat would occasionally stop and stare intently at the ceiling. We had the exterminator put out mice/rat bait. Some was eaten. We found a trapped mouse a few years ago. But last week my son confirmed it was squirrels when he went into the attic and actually saw one running into the insulation for cover.
Last night I finally got serious about finding where they are getting in. I did a visual inspection around the house and all the soffit screens were intact. I went in the attic and looked at the ridge vents. They were secure. Then I saw some light (it was just before sunset) shining DOWN on the edge of the roof line. Down meant the light was coming from above, not up as from the soffit screens.
I went outside and got my tall extension ladder out of the garage. As I was doing it I caught a squirrel peeking over the highest ridge of my roof. He wouldn't move. He was just looking at me. I brought the ladder up as high as it would go, to the roof line, about 20 ft. above the ground. I climbed up, peered over the rain gutter and found it. A hole, about the size of a cue ball, chewed through the asphalt shingle and the 3/4 inch decking. The bastards. Rain hadn't been coming into the house because the hole sits over the soffit and any water getting in there would just drain out the nearest soffit vent. Smart.
Now I'm channeling Carl Spackler. I will rid the attic of these critters by Saturday before the roof repair guys get here. I don't want to trap one in there if at all possible. But if so, I will catch it in a trap and find a good recipe.
Our neighborhood was new when we moved in in '99'. It was previously a rice field. The nearest naturally grown tree was a mile or more away. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that enough planted trees were large enough to provide adequate shelter for varmints. We started seeing some squirrels here and there. In the past two years they are everywhere. In the past 6 months my son complained of noises in the attic. The cat would occasionally stop and stare intently at the ceiling. We had the exterminator put out mice/rat bait. Some was eaten. We found a trapped mouse a few years ago. But last week my son confirmed it was squirrels when he went into the attic and actually saw one running into the insulation for cover.
Last night I finally got serious about finding where they are getting in. I did a visual inspection around the house and all the soffit screens were intact. I went in the attic and looked at the ridge vents. They were secure. Then I saw some light (it was just before sunset) shining DOWN on the edge of the roof line. Down meant the light was coming from above, not up as from the soffit screens.
I went outside and got my tall extension ladder out of the garage. As I was doing it I caught a squirrel peeking over the highest ridge of my roof. He wouldn't move. He was just looking at me. I brought the ladder up as high as it would go, to the roof line, about 20 ft. above the ground. I climbed up, peered over the rain gutter and found it. A hole, about the size of a cue ball, chewed through the asphalt shingle and the 3/4 inch decking. The bastards. Rain hadn't been coming into the house because the hole sits over the soffit and any water getting in there would just drain out the nearest soffit vent. Smart.
Now I'm channeling Carl Spackler. I will rid the attic of these critters by Saturday before the roof repair guys get here. I don't want to trap one in there if at all possible. But if so, I will catch it in a trap and find a good recipe.
