Joe v. Super Smart Squirrels

Okay, now I’m scared. Since removing the second squirrel nest  a couple of days ago, I have still been hearing the varmints running around. Today when I heard a particularly ominous scratching sound (are they going to chew their way into my attic?), I resorted to my primitive strategy number 1: I banged on the soffits with a broom handle. The banging is amplified by the the aluminum of the soffits and the hollow chamber, so it always sends the little guys scrambling away in a real hurry. This is very satisfying, despite the fact that it makes the neighbours (and my wife) doubt my sanity. 

So, curious as to why the squirrels were no longer discouraged by the ultrasonic transmitters I’d put in the eaves, I climbed up to inspect my devices. To my surprise, I discovered this!

 

Sabotage!

That’s right, the squirrels had chewed through the wire!

Joe v. Squirrel: The Return

The squirrels are back, so I have finally resorted to opening up the soffits and attacking the squirrels where they live – after all they did it to me first.

Soffit

 

I was amazed at how much crap the squirrels had managed to get up into the soffits. I have basically removed two nests so far. These are made up of fur, leaves and lots of shredded paper and plastic. My current theory is that the squirrels used these nests to insulate themselves from the sound of my ultrasonic transmitters (as well as the cold). I thought if I removed all the crap, then the squirrels would once again be unable to escape the noise.

Here’s what the nest looked like.

 

Nest

 

I got a nasty surprise in one the nests – the corpse of squirrel past almost knocked me off my ladder. Here’s what a mummified squirrel looks like:

 

Mummified squirrel