7 Best Squirrel Trap and How To Capture Them

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

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

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

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

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-DAlJ1dPoo

Frequently Ask Questions

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 2024-02-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API