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Living With
Fox & Gray Squirrels in Dupage County
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 The two common species of tree squirrels in DuPage County are the fox squirrel and the gray squirrel. Both species have easily adapted to suburban neighborhoods. Gray squirrels have gray fur on the head and back, and white/buff colored fur beneath. Fox squirrels are reddish in color and are larger than gray squirrels. The gray squirrel has a smaller home range and is a more social animal, while the fox squirrel has a larger home range and is a more solitary animal. Here are some humane solutions to unwanted squirrel situations.
Preventing Problems With Squirrels
- Do not encourage squirrels by feeding them.
- Do not leave pet food and watering dishes outside.
- Do not allow spillage to accumulate outside bird feeders.
- Keep grills and barbecues clean. Even the smallest food scraps may attract squirrels.
- Trim tree limbs that provide easy access to your roof.
- Repair broken, weak, or rotted areas on your roof, soffet and fascia.
- Install & maintain chimney caps before animals move into your chimney.
- Use welded wire on the inside of attic vents to deny access to the attic if the vent cover is removed.
Squirrels Living in Your Yard
Squirrels use two basic types of natural dens, tree cavities and leaf nests. However, they will also build nests in attics, garages, and eaves. Squirrels are active during the day, foraging for food in the early morning and late afternoon. They do not hibernate during the winter, although they will become less active during inclement weather. Squirrels use two or more nests concurrently throughout the year. Females have two litters a year. The first litter is born between February and April, the second litter between August and September. If at all possible, consider “living with them” until the young leave the nest at 10 to 12 weeks of age.
Recommended Deterrent Techniques:
- Wrap a 4’-6’ wide piece of aluminum flashing around tree trunks so that the squirrels cannot get a foothold on the bark. Make sure the aluminum flashing is a minimum height of 4’ from the ground. This will deny squirrels access to the tree and your roof. This technique provides an immediate solution, however it is recommended to leave the flashing up for 5 to 7 days.
- Grease downspouts with a mixture of petroleum jelly and crushed red pepper. The squirrels will be unable to climb the downspout due to the slippery surface. This technique provides an immediate solution, however it is recommended to keep the downspouts greased for 5 to 7 days.
- Squirrels are agile enough to walk on power lines and telephone lines. The techniques listed above may work to deny squirrels access to the pole which the wire is attached. Watch the squirrels to see how they are getting to the wires to determine if these techniques will work.
- Place lighting (such as bright flashlights, flood lamp, blinking strands of holiday lights, etc.) in their den. It is best to leave the lights on for 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, the lights must be on during the nighttime to disturb the animal's sleep.
- Play a radio (portable alarm clock, noisy children’s toy, anything that plays music or makes noise repeatedly) either in or near their den. It is best to leave the radio on for 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, the radio must be on during the nighttime to disturb the animal's sleep.
- Place rags soaked in ammonia in the den area for one week. Ammonia has an irritating smell. Over time the ammonia will dissipate and it is important to re-soak the rags on a daily basis. *VERY IMPORTANT* We do not recommend using ammonia soaked rags during baby season (February - September). It may injure infant wildlife, which are too young to escape.
- If a den site has been established in a chimney (usually on the smoke shelf in the fireplace flue) use the same techniques listed above. Lower a light down into the chimney, place a bowl of ammonia on the fireplace grate and place a radio inside the fireplace as well. Do not try to “smoke out” the animal. They can be overcome with smoke and then you will be faced with physically removing them yourself.
- Deterrent techniques should be used for at least 7 – 10 days and it is important to use all the techniques at the same time in order for the deterrents to be successful.
- To determine if the animal has left the den site, wad up newspaper and pack it into the den entrance. If the squirrel is still using the den, the newspaper will be pulled out. If after a few days the newspaper has not been disturbed, securely repair any access openings. Failure to do so may result in the squirrel or another animal moving in.
Squirrels Visiting Your Yard
Raiding the bird feeders:
- Exclusion is always the best solution. Grease down the feeder pole with petroleum jelly or axle grease. Mix crushed red pepper into birdseed to keep squirrels from eating at the feeder. The pepper will not affect the birds for they have a poorly developed sense of taste. A variety of squirrel deterrents for feeders are available at specialty bird supply stores.
Eating bulbs:
- Daffodils, squills, grape hyacinths and crown imperial bulbs are known to be distasteful to squirrels. The crown imperial has a horrible smell and below ground diners are known not to go anywhere near it. Interplant crown imperials among tulips and other “tasty” bulbs. Use chicken wire as a barricade by placing it on the flower bed surface, scatter a light layer of mulch or leaves over the chicken wire. Be sure to pick up bulb skin that flaked off during planting and spread a thick layer of mulch over the bulbs to remove any signs of recent planting. The chicken wire should be pulled up in early spring, so the bulbs can grow.
Gardens:
- Recommended taste deterrents are; mixing 2 tablespoons of hot sauce with 1 gallon of water, make a garlic puree and spray onto plants, or check with your local nursery or home center for commercial products. Taste deterrents will need to be reapplied after a heavy dew or rain. Place rags soaked in ammonia around planters to keep squirrels from eating plants.
Gnawing on wood:
- Mix petroleum jelly and crushed red pepper and spread onto the affected area. Placing rags soaked in ammonia can also be affective.
Squirrel Loose in House
- A squirrel that has entered a house has done so by accident. If its exact location is known, close interior doors to limit its access inside the house. In the area the squirrel is contained, open a window or exterior door. If left alone, the squirrel will find the opening and leave. A squirrel can readily jump from a second story window onto a grassy area without harming itself (although a first floor exit is preferable and a squirrel should never be forced to jump from that height). If this is not an option, set a live trap in the area the squirrel is contained. Place a trail of bait 12” outside the trap going into the trap and leave it alone for a few hours. Once the squirrel is trapped, release outside onto your property. Releasing the squirrel onto your property is your only legal option, unless you have obtained the proper permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Public Health Concerns
- Sarcoptic mange is a common disease amongst squirrels in DuPage County. The most obvious sign of mange is a hairless squirrel or a squirrel with patches of missing hair. Mange is contagious and can be passed between wild and domestic animals. Direct long-term contact is necessary for transmission and mange is treatable with 2 – 3 injections of a parasiticide. Squirrels that eat a poor diet, such as one high in fat (peanuts, etc.), are more susceptible to mange taking over.
- Squirrels may be carriers of rabies, although there have been no rabid squirrels found in DuPage County in recent years and the disease itself is historically rare.
- Due to the large teeth typical of rodents, squirrels can inflict a fairly nasty bite. As with all wild animals, they should never be hand fed or encouraged to approach humans. In addition, if your pet gets into a fight with a squirrel, it should be checked carefully for bite wounds. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
What Not To Do
- Please remember that it is illegal to keep wild animals even for a very short time and that they have specialized nutritional, housing, and handling needs that you are unlikely to be able to provide. Inexperienced individuals who attempt to raise/treat them inevitably produce an unhealthy, tame animal that cannot survive in its natural habitat.
- Trapping and removing squirrels is illegal without the proper permits and is not always the solution to the problem. Removing the animal creates an open space for another animal. Trapped adults may be leaving young behind to die of starvation in an inaccessible area. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal.
- Never move young from the nest. Contact Willowbrook Wildlife Center for advice at (630) 942-6200 between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily.
- Do not use poisons. They are inhumane and may be illegal. They can result in secondary poisoning of raptors, wild scavengers and neighborhood pets.
When to Call Willowbrook Wildlife Center
- If you come across a wild animal and are concerned, leave it alone. Call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200 for advice 7 days a week between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Young wild animals are not like human babies. Their parents do not constantly watch them, and they spend large amounts of time alone or with brothers and sisters.
- Willowbrook is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- If you find an animal with visible wounds and it is after Willowbrook’s business hours, please follow the instructions below:
- Place the animal in a box or animal carrier using heavy gloves, a broom or shovel.
- Keep in a dark quiet space, away from people & pets.
- Place a heating pad on low underneath ½ of the box/carrier.
- Do not feed. Improper food or drink can harm them.
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