Steps
- First and foremost, don't panic! A squirrel is just as scared of you as you are scared of it. As much as you want the squirrel out of your home, the squirrel's primary goal is to get out of your house as easily and as quickly as possible. Additionally, a squirrel can become rabid, so dont get bit by one.
- Determine what room the squirrel is in within your home, and secure any of your pets--get them outside or put them into a separate room immediately.
- Gingerly working around the squirrel, open wide a window in that particular room (perhaps on the opposite side of the room).
- Close all other doors, drawers, etc., in that room, as possible, without getting near the squirrel. If there is no window in that room, see Step #5 below.
- Leave the room and close-off that room from the rest of the house. If the room does not have a door, seal off all other doors that lead to that room and/or put up a make-shift board or door to the room; one that the squirrel cannot get around, and preferably not hop over. What you're doing here is providing an easy egress for the squirrel to leave out of--leaving it one choice--the window. If there is no window in that room, provide an access path to a room that does have an open window. This may take some doing, but usually closing certain doors and making a logical path to the window room (with boards and such, if needed), will work.
- Leave the house for one or two hours, taking your pet(s) with you, if possible. As soon as the squirrel realizes that no one else is in the house, they'll leave through the window.
- Upon returning, be sure to check all areas of the house where the squirrel was before assuming that it's left your house.
Tips
- Squirrels can carry rabies. Therefore, if you're ever bitten by a squirrel seek medical attention. Squirrels can and do carry fleas though, so be sure to check for them when you return to the house. They may also harbor other diseases in their teeth from foraging, so check your tetanus shot status as well.
- If the steps above don't work the first time, leave the house for another hour or two. They'll eventually get the hint.
- After the squirrel has left, be sure to thoroughly clean all surfaces you think the squirrel was on or near, etc.
- Throw away any food-stuffs that you think the squirrel may have gotten into.
Warnings
- Do not attempt to pet the squirrel or get near it in any way. If threatened, the squirrel may attack and bite, by defense.
- Immediately remove all pets from the area where the squirrel is.
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