Some notes on the ongoing battle: squirrels v.s. houses.

The house should be, to the extent possible, inaccessible to the squirrels.  I.e. cut back the trees.  It is mandatory that your seal any holes the squirrels create or discover.

Squirrels are very territorial.  During the spring they fill out the region in a patch work of territory.  If you manage to keep your home unoccupied in the spring your good for the season.  If you eliminate the squirrel that took up residence in your territory it is unlikely another squirrel will move in until next year.  If you capture a squirrel and relocate it the squirrel into whose territory you move it will kill it or drive it out.

Squirrels reproduce in large numbers.  Far more than the landscape can support; so most of them die young.  This assures they almost always fill all available territory every year.   Following a mast year more die.  But really they are always dying in large numbers.

Catching a squirrel in a trap is easy, but it demands patience and good practice.  They love peanut butter, maybe with a few raisins and nuts added.  You first need to train them that food is appearing, once a day, at whatever location you plan to trap them.  Then place the trap near that location.  Finally, slowly (over a few days), move the small tray your placing the bait on into the trap and onto the trigger.  Once on the trigger you can expect them to manage to steal the bait once or twice before they trigger it.

The kindest way to kill the squirrel you have trapped is to place the trap with squirrel into a large box.  Then, place a tea kettle containing water and dry ice into the box.  Finally, seal the box reasonably tightly.  The dry ice will be converted into carbon dioxide, which will put the squirrel to sleep, and then kill him.  Of course since you can’t predict what day you are going to need the dry ice on, you will want to have already planned out how to obtain the ice quickly.

The most convenient way to kill him is to transport him into another squirrel’s territory and delegate the job.

Do not kill the squirrel if you have any reason to believe its offspring are currently residing inside your house!  Don’t seal the holes with the squirrel inside!

Finally, watch the funny video.