Squirrels look cute, but they can cause damages your garden if they build a nest and spread diseases to other pets and kids in the house. Therefore many people relocate these animals to protect their property.
How Far Do I Need to Relocate a Squirrel? It is better to relocate the squirrel approximately 10-15 miles away from the house, and 20-25 miles for a flying squirrel, as they can cover more distance to return to their nest. However, it is not legal to relocate them in some states of America, and you need a permission certificate. These rodents can return after relocating because they have a sharp memory and use their instincts to navigate their way back to the house.
People use different ways to trap these rodents and release them at a far and suitable place so that they will not return to your garden or house. You can place the trap in your attics and roof where the chances of squirrels are high and relocate them away from the property.
How far do you need to relocate a squirrel?
They are clever and intelligent rodents, as they remember the place where they build nests or are familiar with their habitat. Therefore, it is better to relocate the trapped squirrels far from the house to avoid the chances of their return.
You can release them approximately 10-15 miles away from the house to prevent them from coming back to their nest.
Remove the nest and take them together to one place because individual rodents can return to their siblings.
It is better to choose a nice weather day to relocate them and provide food and water in the trap to prevent dehydration.
Make sure to release it as soon as possible and do not leave them in the trap for a long time, as they can get scared or stressed, which can cause different problems.
Is it illegal to release or relocate a squirrel?
It is not legal in many states of America and other parts of the world to release the squirrels, as it can cause health and neurological issues for these little rodents.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act says it is not legal to relocate or trap them from their habitat, and you need a permission certificate to shift these rodents in some states if they are damaging the property.
It can be inhumane, as they can get injured during the trapping process when you try to put them in the trap. It can cause the rodents to feel threatened, and they will behave aggressively, which can cause them to bite or scratch you.
It is not legal because baby squirrels can die if you separate them from their mother, which is inhumane behavior.
I live in Virginia, and there are many squirrels in my garden, which cause problems, as some have entered the attic and chewed the insulated ducts and other items there.
It is not legal in Virginia to relocate and kill these rodents; therefore, I contacted the Wildlife Rehabilitator Department to help me. They will assign you the permit to safely trap these rodents and guide you about the safe place to move them if they are damaging the property.
How far to relocate a flying squirrel?
Flying squirrels can fly or glide from one to another like birds, as they cover more distance than ground squirrels, and flying squirrels can use their legs to fly in the air.
They can enter the house or attics through the holes and gaps in the wall and build a nest in a warm and comfortable environment.
You can safely trap and release them approximately 20-25 miles away from the house because they can cover more distance and return to their previous habitat.
Moreover, consider the time of the day when you release them, as they are more active in the daytime and can cover more distance to reach the previous nest or habitat.
The highest speed of the flying squirrel is 7-8 miles per hour, and they can cover this distance if they are healthy and hydrated properly.
Can squirrels find their way back?
They can find their way back to their nest and habitat because they have exceptional memory and can easily remember their previous location.
They have remarkable navigation skills and mark their territory, as they can use their sharp memory to remember the way back to their nest without difficulty.
They make an environmental map and navigate back to the house or yard they had a nest before. They use sensory clues, such as smell, because they can pick up the odor from their dens and siblings, which helps them find their way back to the nest.
The scent glands in their feet, cheeks, and tail help them to mark the territory, and they come back. Scientists studied magnetoreception in rodents, which means they can detect or identify the Earth’s magnetic field.
They combine their skills to detect the magnetic field with other senses to navigate back to their nest.
These intelligent rodents can also use visual cues to return to the nest, such as the trees, food sources and water, building structures, and the sun or moon position.
They observe the surroundings and navigate back to this place through their excellent visual memory.
Where should you relocate the squirrels?
You should relocate them to a suitable place where they can survive, such as in the wild with other squirrels and enough food and water.
They can get enough food, trees, and water resources in the wild, and they do not feel alone because other rodents and animals are present.
Ensure not to release them in areas where other predators are present, as they can get stressed in different and unknown environments. They do not know this place to hide and will end up as a meal for predators.
Locate an area rich in food and trees so that they get an adequate diet to survive and can build their nests in the trees. You can release them in the early morning, which helps to explore and search the area in daylight.
It is better not to release them near other gardens or property because they can damage their property, and relocating them to private property is not legal.
You can contact the wildlife rehabilitator center if you do not know a safe and suitable place to release them, and the wildlife professionals can release them in the wild away from your house.
How to prevent the relocated squirrel from coming back?
As we know, the relocated squirrel can come back to their previous nest using its homing instincts. Therefore, removing the things that can attract them back to your house or garden is better.
You can fill all the gaps or holes around the roof and attic to block their way by sealing them with a strong material that is difficult to chew.
Remove their nest and trap all rodents in the house. Traping them can take a few days, but it will minimize their comeback chances.
Spray chili and garlic spray in the attics, roof, and garden or yard, which is a natural repellant for these rodents. Remove all food sources in the yard or garden, such as the nuts trees, or spray peppermint oil on the plants.
Can squirrels survive relocation?
Most of these animals cannot survive long after relocating because they feel stressed in an unknown environment without any food source.
According to research, 96-97% of grey squirrels died after moving from their habitat after 12-90 days of relocation.
They cannot survive if the food sources are not sufficient for these rodents, as they need large amounts of nutrients for spending a healthy life. Moreover, severe dehydration can cause these rodents to die.
The baby squirrel cannot survive after relocation because they cannot care for themselves and need a caring mother to feed them.
A predator can attack them because they are not habitual of the environment, and predators in this area can attack them.
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