Squirrels are fun to watch, but sometimes they can be a real problem. There are so many issues you need to deal with: taking up residence in the wall of your house, stealing fruits, destroying crops, etc.,.
It is time to get the best squirrel trap. If you do not have time for the whole article, you may want to check out the Harris Catch Chipmunk Trap.
It earns the highest place on today’s list, owing to its robust and long-lasting construction. Due to the large size, it can catch several chipmunks at a time, saving you time and effort.
The Detailed Buying Guide
Best Squirrel Trap Bait In-depth Reviews
Harris Catch and Release Rodent Cage Trap – Best For Small Animals
It is designed to capture small animals with a dimension of 9.3 x 4.3 x 4.5 inches.
What makes the product a potential candidate is its robust construction. The cage is made of extra-thick wiring to prevent animals from damaging it.
Additionally, the metal is coated to avoid corrosion and rust so that the small animal trap can stay outside and withstand external conditions well.
No worries about setting up the trap; it is hassle-free. Simply raise the door, attach the lever to the trigger, bar and you are good to go.
What We Like
- Ideal for small animals
- Extra-thick wiring
- Easy to bait and set
What Can Be Improved?
- A bit short tripping bar
Gingbau Live Chipmunk Trap – Best For Sensitive Structure
- Catch animals alive, then release and relocate the unwanted...
- Constructed of sturdy galvanized steel, lightweight but...
- Easy to set up, detailed user manual included
This product is another humane trap that catches animals alive before you release them into the wild. It also works with small-sized animals such as squirrels, rats, and mice.
The best thing about this Gingbau cage is the highly sensitive structure. Only a slight touch of the pedal will trigger the trap, and the door will shut down immediately.
The auto-lock door is also equipped with a latch to make sure the trapped animals cannot escape.
There is still room for improvement, especially in the trigger rod. It is too short to engage the loop to set the trap, which may take a few minutes.
What We Like
- Humane trap for small animals
- Highly sensitive structure
- Auto-lock door with latch
What Can Be Improved?
- Short trigger rod
Trap Top Live Animal Trap – Best For Budget
- Rat Trap Medium:You can catch small animals in our rat trap...
- High Sensitivity Gravity Pedal: Door will be auto-locked...
- Not Easy to Escape Design: Use sturdy and durable...
Made of galvanized metal structure, the trap is lightweight, sturdy, and resistant to rust. It comes with the finest wire mesh that the animals cannot bite.
Anyone can catch squirrels if they own a small trap like this one. Simply put a bait like a piece of cheese or chocolate inside, load the spring, and leave it there until the rodents crawl inside.
Rest assured that this cage never harms the squirrels. It is indeed a fast, humane way to capture these little critters.
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Rust resistance
- Lightweight and sturdy
What Can Be Improved?
- Not 100% waterproof
Forestry Suppliers Tube Trap – Best For Construction
- Get rid of those pesky squirrels with the Tube Trap
- Natural attractant to squirrels wanting to run through it or...
- Features a safety hook, is constructed of 21-gauge steel,...
If you want something to catch and eliminate the squirrels at a time, this Forestry tube trap is a good option to try. It is well-constructed and effective.
Note that it is not made for the faint of heart since the spring used to kill the trapped animals is quite strong. It would be a bit scary when removing the dead bodies and cleaning the trap with blood and discharges everywhere.
The construction draws the squirrels naturally since these animals are curious and always want to crawl inside the tube.
Rusting is an issue with these chipmunk traps, but you can solve it using satin or Rustoleum. You are good to go afterward. Place the trap where there are several squirrels, and soon you will get the desired results.
What We Like
- Sturdy construction
- Strong spring for killing squirrels quickly
- Innovative construction
What Can Be Improved?
- Not for the faint of heart
- Messy cleanup
JGRZF Quality Chipmunk Trap – Best Safe Trap
- Not Easy to Escape Design: Light weight iron material...
- High Sensitivity Gravity Pedal: Door will be auto-locked...
- Humane Rat Trap: Live to catch small rodent animals, not...
Finally, we recommend the JGRZF trap for small rodents, including chipmunks, mice, and rats.
Like other candidates, this model is constructed of sturdy galvanized steel for maximum rust and corrosion resistance. The small mesh openings and the tightly locked door make it extremely hard for the captured animals to escape.
This small cage is perfectly safe and non-toxic so that you can release the rodents or unintentionally caught animals afterward.
You can use any sweet-smelling and tasty baits to attract the rodents. Once the squirrels step in and touch the pedal slightly, the door will automatically lock immediately to catch them.
One small minus is that there are no instructions for setup.
What We Like
- Resistance to rust and corrosion
- Tightly locked door
- Safe and non-toxic
What Can Be Improved?
- No setup guide
Rugged Ranch Products 100063928 – Best For Multi-Catch Trap
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This squirrel trap is pretty large, measuring 24.25 x 24.25 x 5 inches (Large x Width x Height).
Thus, it can hold many squirrels simultaneously. The trap catches up to 25 squirrels in a matter of hours.
Having 2 doors will double the chances of catching the squirrels. Put out a squirrel bait and wait for the little chipmunks to enter the trap through either gate.
Once you place this multi-catch trap, you do not need to spread any baits that can potentially harm the environment.
Note that the basin is not included in the package.
What We Like
- Multi-catch squirrel trap
- 2 doors
- No more costly and harmful baits
What Can Be Improved?
- No basin included
Havahart 0745 One-Door Animal Trap – Best For Ease Of Setup
Unlike other cages, this one is equipped with internal edges to protect the captured chipmunks from injuries while the trigger rod stays outside.
As an added perk, the trap is incredibly easy to set up. It takes you only a few minutes to get everything done.
On the flip side, the product is quite short given the width, measuring only 17 inches, while the ideal length should be 24 inches. Also, it would be better if there were 2 doors.
What We Like
- Internal edges to keep the squirrels safe
- Easy to set up
- Affordable price
What Can Be Improved?
- A bit short
Types of Squirrel Traps
Snap traps
They are commonly used to catch rats and mice, but they are effective for squirrels too. You only need a small bait to attract the animals; once they step on the pedal, the trap will be triggered and kill them right away.
Tube traps
They are snap traps built inside a metal tube. Since chipmunks are naturally curious, they will undoubtedly crawl into the tube to see what is inside.
Tube-type squirrel traps kill captured animals quickly and do not draw too much attention. Nonetheless, it is a hassle to clean up the mess afterward unless you plan to use the trap only once.
Box or cage traps
They are a humane way to catch one or many squirrels alive at a time. It’s advisable to choose the model with 2 doors since it increases the chances of trapping the animals.
Electric traps
As its name might suggest, the electric trap will electrocute the captured animals using 4 D-cell batteries or corded power from an electrical outlet. There will be no blood and discharges, saving the cleaning up hassle.
Features To Look For
Size
Small traps catch not only small squirrels but also mice and rats. They are versatile and can be placed anywhere you want.
On the other hand, large options are designed to catch several small animals at a time. They provide a quick method to solve the squirrel problem.
Construction
The best squirrel trap should be well-constructed and durable for long-term use. If it is a cage trap, you may want to make sure the wiring is thick enough so that the animals cannot bite the wires and escape.
Most products on the market are made of lightweight and robust galvanized metal. As a bonus, it has high resistance against rust and corrosion.
Weather resistance
Since you may leave the trap outside for many days, the trap should be weather resistant. In other words, it should withstand the rain and sunshine well without being damaged.
Setup
It’s best to choose a trap that is easy to set up and use, preferably 1 coming with a detailed instruction to refer to. But rest assured that even beginners will find setting a squirrel trap simple.
Choosing the best squirrel bait
First of all, avoid poisonous baits in all cases. Using poison to trap squirrels can lead to many consequences, even prohibited in some areas.
The best squirrel bait is none other than peanut butter, squirrels’ favorite food. Besides, peanut butter is cheap and widely available at the local stores.
Nuts and seeds are also effective baits that these little critters cannot get enough of. Placing some sunflower seeds in the cage will result in some quick catches.
If you are dealing with many squirrels, you may want to use some fruit slices, such as orange. Fruits are enormously appealing to thirsty ones.
The best place to put squirrel traps
These little critters often live and play around trees, so the number one spot must be in some shrubs or bushes around the tree base. You can even attach the ground squirrel traps to the trunks of the trees.
Squirrels also often run along the utility lines, so it is a good idea to put the trap near the utility poles. You can also consider locating the traps on the roof of your house where squirrels often run across.
How should I release a captured squirrel?
First and foremost, do not release it into the yards of your neighbors.
Second, you should give the animal what it needs to survive, including food, water, and shelter. The best area for the release is a large wooded area so that the squirrel can be part of the local population.
Third, it is advisable to release the squirrel in a faraway place at night to prevent it from returning to your house.
Finally, avoid capturing and relocating the squirrel in the winter since it may starve to death.
How to catch squirrel in the garden by soda bottle:
Frequently Ask Questions
Do squirrels learn to avoid traps?
Squirrels are clever creatures and will figure out the location of bait used in traps.
Squirrels will usually avoid traps that have recently killed at least one squirrel. Once they learn about the trap, it’s difficult to revive old or new habits because squirrels can also remember locations for safety purposes.
Bottom Line – It’s important to change your trap location often. If you keep your trap in the same place, eventually there may be too many “dead zones” near it.
What is best bait for squirrel trap?
Peanut butter is the best bait for squirrel traps, hands down.
Peanut butter has a lot of the right type of nutrients that are attractive to most animals, but not all. It’s also very high in fat and protein, two things that most wild animals need for survival.
The Bottom Line
The best squirrel trap today is the Harris Catch Chipmunk Trap. It is lightweight, robust, and can catch many squirrels at a time.
There are plenty more options for you to choose from, so take your time. No matter what you pick, make sure it fits your needs in terms of size, construction, weather resistance, and setup.
Thank you for reading!
Last update on 2024-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API