Don't go nuts over your squirrel problems

Last Saturday I came out of my office and called for Kaikee and Peewee, my dogs. I didn’t get a response which I thought was unusual.

Standing there for a few minutes, I heard a distinctive low growl followed by a high pitched bark. The sound came from behind my barn. I casually walked around the back side of the barn and was shocked to see both dogs’ butts up in the air.

Kaikee was snarling and digging viciously trying to get under the concrete slab Peewee would jump in to the action when there was room in the hole.

I jumped on Kaikee and jerked her out of the three-foot hole, noticing her nose bleeding and glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw a squirrel jet out of the hole snapping its teeth. Apparently Kaikee stuck her nose in the hole, the squirrel bit it and the war was on with Peewee in support. I quickly realized I had multiple problems, e.g. a dog with a bloody nose, a three-foot-deep hole and an aggressive squirrel.

I took Kaikee back to the house and examined her nose. She had two chunks of flesh missing from her nose. I made her lay down, cleaned the bite marks on her nose and chained her up. Peewee was trying to console her when I left to fill in the hole she dug.

While filling up the hole with rocks and dirt, that angry squirrel came out of the hole and screamed at me for filling in the hole. That was the last straw. I went into my barn and got a trap and carefully placed it in front of the hole. I checked the hole the next morning and was happy to see a very agitated squirrel. I took him to the national forest and carefully let him loose.

Because of the above, I thought you; the reading audience may be suffering from a similar problem.

Squirrels belong to the order of “rodentia” with about 1,650 species.

Squirrels are most active in late winter when they mate. Females generally gestate for about 33 days for the smaller species and up to 60 days for the larger species. They give birth in the early spring with an average litter of four pups.

In the summer, they are most active two to three hours before sunrise and several hours before sunset.

Adult squirrels normally live alone; however, will accept guests if the weather is really cold. They will snuggle to conserve heat.

If a squirrel takes up residence in your attic, crawlspace, basement, or in my case, under the concrete slab of my barn, the only way to get rid of it is to trap it. Do not grab it with your hands — it will bite. Just ask Kaikee.

The squirrel’s teeth grow continuously. Their incisors will grow up to six inches a year. They keep them worn down by constant chewing.

Because of this fact they can cause electrical wire to short out because they will chew off the wire insulating cover.

If you have a squirrel problem, call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

When cleaning with any cleaning product, always wear eye protection and rubber gloves to protect your hands.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to nwees@hughes.net or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed do?  For more information about Ed, go online to www.nwees.com.

n Copy is written by Edmond E. Madan, certified indoor environmental professional, forensic, fire, flood, mold Inspection and remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.