Make a Simple and Cheap Squirrel Trap
Squirrels have been a wilderness meat staple for centuries, and you can set a very simple trap using some PVC pipe, bait and a little bit of oil or cooking spray. This is one of the easiest tricks that I’ve ever used, and it is something that every prepper should consider incorporating into their survival strategy. You don’t have to devise complex bait and trap systems, and this device requires minimal maintenance.
The first step is to get a two to three foot length of PVC pipe that is capped on one end. The diameter could be as narrow as two inches, but you may experience more success with a pipe that is about three inches across. You can place the trap anywhere where squirrels travel, but you should consider placing it in a tree, bush or near stumps or logs as these will help to provide some camouflage and melt in with the surroundings. Squirrels aren’t as skittish as other animals when it comes to searching for food, but you will maximize results if you make the trap as inviting as possible.
The easiest form of bait to use is peanut butter, and you can also throw some peanuts in their shells into the trap for some added temptation. Place a small amount peanut butter near the end of the pipe and then continue to put more further inside. Keep in mind that you want the squirrel to enter the pipe and not feast on what’s on the edge, so concentrate the bulk of the peanut butter further inside the pipe.
The inside of the PVC pipe will be slippery and squirrels will have a difficult time getting traction to escape once they enter. However, you may want to consider applying some cooking spray or vegetable oil along the inner walls of the pipe to make it extra slippery and minimize chances for escape. Once you have baited the trap, the next step is to place it in a conspicuous location and set it on an angle so that squirrels will not be able to climb out.
You can take a long piece of pipe and rest it against the part of a tree where the branch meets the trunk or rest it against some logs or brush. The key is to make sure that the pipe is resting at about a 45-60 degree angle. If you place the trap completely horizontal, the squirrels will be able to back out and escape. If the trap is too vertical, then they will not even enter. The idea is to make it just right so that squirrels will not hesitate to go inside to find their food.
The next thing to decide is how to remove the squirrel once it has been trapped. The easiest thing to do is to place a bag on the end of the pipe and dump the squirrel into it. Once the squirrel is inside the bag, simply hold it closed and give the animal a good whack with a stick or other blunt object to kill it instantly and humanely.
Just remember that squirrels have claws as well as teeth, and you run the risk of getting scratched or bit if you are not careful. Try to avoid using a thin plastic bag unless it’s absolutely necessary, and consider wearing gloves as well as long sleeved shirts while recovering the animal. See for yourself how easy and effective this trick is. The only drawback to this method is that you will most likely only be able to capture one animal at at time, so don’t hesitate to set more than one trap at your site.
