I have taken care of squirrels before but nothing like this. I found the main access hole, trap placed, three days in a row, trap sprung. Bait left, third day went to Rat trap with P-butter. Rat trap left alone, bait left alone no animals seen. Camera in place caught photo of fox squirrel in area digging. Replaced trap for additional days. Same thing trap being set off no animal. ????? I am really puzzled, I going into two weeks with nothing to show for it. Customer is getting upset at animal not me. Any tips would greatly be appreciated. The little guy is giving a headache. I am on to sticky traps in front of access.

Jon

It sounds like you need to find all the other holes and seal them up. The squirrel is probably climbing on the outside of the trap and triggering it.

I'd use a coni or a shorty tube trap over the hole once all the other holes are sealed.

If you "need a response ASAP!!!!", conduct an ADVANCED SEARCH for squirrel on the ADC Forum and ADC Archives. Literally hundreds of replies are available. A few examples-
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...aps#Post3362055
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...bac#Post3351195
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/15184/Squirrels_Making_cage_traps_fo#Post15184

fox squirrles would require big hole and are not generally found in houses .. at least the my limited experience with fox sqirrels suggests too me ...so its not a fox squirrle

trap was spring - no squirrle --maybe the trap was set too sensitive ..or like someone else said it tried getting the bait out by wiggling the cage and rat traps are not being bothered

OK so if we stuf the hole with news paper to see if we actually have any activity .. that will tell us alot

Also what is and was the customers complaint??? Maybe you misdiagnosed the animal.. if the customer is hearing noises at night ..it might be a mouse issue... with a past squirrle hole

SO we need more information if you want help ... as far as customers getting upset ... dont worry about it ..it happens

All kinds of things can set off a cage trap if it is too sensitive. If a squirrel did set the trap off, now it is going to be more difficult to capture the animal. If you put a marker in the hole like Critterman said(newspaper, balled up hardware cloth, etc) and there is still activity, make an excluder type of trap where the animal literally has to walk into the trap to get out. Make a tunnel out of hardware cloth or whatever works best. In my opinion, Rat traps and glue boards are terrible traps for squirrels, they are not powerful enough for a squirrel.

Stop using bait. Set a #55 conibear or mink snare in the squirrels path, or better yet, right over the hole.

I think you have the answer in the replies. When you say rat trap is sprung do you mean like a victor snap trap. It can kill a grey squirrel but there is a lot of room for error that a grey and especially a fox sq. would pull out and avoid your traps.
I think I would change baits, colony trap at sunset, some other traps set around the outside and pellet rifle handy or go with no bait like Phil said. I always concede to my customers that the animal is smarter that me but I am going to get him with persistance. You may have ran him off. The newspaper or coni will let you know that. This is why I have started including the first animal in my service call. You sometimes solve the problem without catching the animal and you have made more trips than if you had.

We are thinking that it is a Red Squirrel, from the hair I have seen on the sticky traps. I am just not having any luck with this. Not that I am giving up but wow.

Jon

That's where I'd hang a colony trap with one way doors.

Well I have tried that, as soon as I set the trap the animal disappears.

Jon

Put a 110 conibear in inch on both sides of a 6 inch pvc pipe. Then bait the middle.