Q: Why won't squirrels go in my trap?

• <div><p>If you&rsquo;re having trouble with your traps, first examine them for flaws that would allow a squirrel to escape easily, such as loose doors or hinges. It&rsquo;s also important to consider the location of your trap: Place it in areas with higher squirrel traffic, and make sure it&rsquo;s on a sturdy surface so it can&rsquo;t wobble or tip (squirrels aren&rsquo;t likely to walk in a trap that isn&rsquo;t stable). Lastly, try changing out your bait&mdash;in-shell peanuts or peanut butter often work best.</p></div>

Question 1

Is there anything I shouldn’t do when trying to get rid of snakes?

Accepted Answer

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Even if you have extreme ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), don’t try to shoot or kill them with a shovel. Besides being pretty cruel, killing snakes in most states is illegal unless your life is at risk and many species are protected.

Plus, you're putting yourself at greater risk using these techniques if it goes wrong and the now-angry snake is venomous.

Question 2

What smells do deer hate the most?

Accepted Answer

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Deers have an extraordinarily strong sense of smell, which means they can react strongly to certain scents. Lavender, garlic, mint, cinnamon, clove, and human hair are some of the most offensive scents for deer. You can try mixing some of these pungent oils or scents with a spray mixture and adding them to your garden.

Question 3

Why won't squirrels go in my trap?

Accepted Answer

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If you’re having trouble with your traps, first examine them for flaws that would allow a squirrel to escape easily, such as loose doors or hinges. It’s also important to consider the location of your trap: Place it in areas with higher squirrel traffic, and make sure it’s on a sturdy surface so it can’t wobble or tip (squirrels aren’t likely to walk in a trap that isn’t stable). Lastly, try changing out your bait—in-shell peanuts or peanut butter often work best.

Question 4

What is the disadvantage of a doggie door?

Accepted Answer

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While doggie doors are convenient for pet owners, they do offer a few drawbacks. For instance, they’re small enough that unwanted critters could come into the house, such as raccoons, snakes, rats, and insects.

They’re also large enough that small children can escape through them, which can be a serious concern to parents of young children.

Finally, doggie doors can make it difficult to regulate your home’s temperature because they constantly let in hot or cold outside air.

Question 5

How do you get rid of raccoons fast?

Accepted Answer

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You can get rid of raccoons quickly by making your home an undesirable place to live. Here are the best ways to get rid of raccoons fast:

Repair broken vents and screens leading to your home.
Seal open access points into your home. Many raccoons sneak in through the attic, roof, or chimney.
Trim trees and branches so raccoons don’t have easy access to your roof and chimney.
Thoroughly clean out garbage cans, remove all trash, and secure the bins.
Don’t keep food or water outside.
Add raccoon guards to outdoor bird feeders.
Clean up brush around your home—raccoons like to gather loose yard materials for bedding.