Removing a Flying Squirrel "Flock" from a Cabin in East Tennessee

Most people don't even know that we have flying squirrels in East Tennessee. That is why I added the red lettering in the thumbnail. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and only come around when we are asleep. My customers usually find out they have flying squirrels either when I tell them or when they have an accidental one on one meeting. One on one meetings are fairly rare. Usually people just hear a scratching, and I have to tell them what is in their attic.

A group of squirrels is actually called a scurry, but a "flock of flying squirrels" is so much catchier. I couldn't resist. I hope that you weren't disappointed.

So, if you have flying squirrels in your attic, you probably have more than one this time of year (Winter). They stay in a group so that they can huddle together inside hollow trees and stay warm better. Being in a group can also help avoid predators. Raccoons and Eastern Screech Owls are both predators of flying squirrels. In the spring, the group breaks up so that momma squirrels can raise their young alone. Dad doesn't assist in raising the young.

The average number that I find in an attic, is five. My maximum number caught in a single trap set up was twelve. Trapping flying squirrels risk killing some of the squirrels, and I really hate that. That is why I now use one way doors. It is much more humane and efficient. Since the squirrels are nocturnal, and begin to exit right after sundown, they may have been in the trap for over twelve hours if they were the first to enter. That is why I prefer to use a one way door. It doesn't matter f you have only one squirrel or fifty, a one way door will get them out. Some traps are a single shot, and even repeaters can get a little crammed up if you have a large colony.

Setting up the one way door and sealing the entrance point well are critical and you have to know what to do and what not to do. For example, never just squirt foam into an exit point to seal the entrance. Squirrels have years of evenings on their hands to spend trying to get past your work. Do it well!