Squirrel highway

chitownken

So I had my roof replaced along with new gutters. Went with the big downspouts so that the leaves (lots of trees here) would not plug the downspouts like they used to. Now the squirrels have decided that the new downspouts are the expressway to the roof.

Can't think of anything to keep the squirrels out that would not cause leaves to block the downspouts again. Any ideas?

jagans

I have a 20 gauge Remington Wingmaster 3 inch mag that works really well for this with No.6 shot.

kwikfishron

Stick a big rock in front of the downspout.

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1950home

Coat the insides of the down spout in vaseline. You would need to recoat after a few rains or a heavy one. I could see myself going from the top down with some kind of brush to get it all and setting up a camera on the bottom to watch them fly.

Gymschu

Kinda going with a version of Kwikfishron's idea........perhaps a couple tent stakes at downspout opening angled to form an inverse "V".........you could adjust how tight to make the "V" to keep the critters out. They can be easily removed from the ground if you have to remove debris, etc. Just a thought.

chitownken

Well, shooting them will be the last resort, even though they would be pretty easy to pick off. Hadn't thought about putting something like tent stakes at the bottom, where they would be pretty easy to remove if there were any signs of blockage. Would be mostly of concern only in the fall anyway. Maybe the critters will learn to ignore them. Nah.

Thanks for the suggestions.

TheEplumber

When I was a kid, we used an electric fence charger to keep the dogs out of the metal garbage cans- we had to remember to unplug it when taking out the trash might work on squirrels

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paintdrying

You wanted to keep the downspout clear, well their you go. Run a screw all the way through the very bottom of the downspout. Or about 8 inches from the bottom then you can watch and see if the squirrels can back out. I had great fun with Vaseline and squirrels until the deer developed a taste for it and kept licking it off all the poles and wires.

joecaption

http://www.guttersupply.com/p-gutter...trainers.gstml

AlleyG

Since you have a lot of trees, I dont see how gutter guards are not the best option here. Keeps out both the leaves and squirrels!

Al

paintdrying

Gutter guards do not work and are a terrible idea. Not to mention they cost a fortune

chitownken

Several of the neighbors have tried gutter guards will little success so I'm pretty reluctant to spend the money. The only ones that keep the leaves out seem to build ice dams in the winter. Drove a couple of tent stakes in front of the downspout where I have seen the most squirrel activity. Seems to be working. Not sure what to do about the 2 that come out onto the patio, but so far the squirrels have left them alone. they don't seem to like the concrete.

jagans

You never mentioned whether they are actually going through them, or climbing up the outside. If they are going through, you can install one of those things that unroll when it rains. Im not a real fan of gutter guards either, because Ive cleaned too much organic sludge out of gutters. I think its a good idea to get up there and check things out twice a year anyway, and I get to use my pressure washer on the gutters. Of course I have a ranch house with a 4/12 roof with the eaves about 12 feet above grade. At 66, and a titanium hip, 6/12 is about my limit nowadays.

chitownken

They were climbing up the inside. I went with the big downspouts because we have lots of trees and get lots of leaves in the gutters. Most of them get washed down the downspouts so putting anything on the end that the leaves won't pass through pretty much negates the point of the big downspouts.

paintdrying

would take some fabrication but how about a little ferries wheel type setup that lets the debris out but also keeps the squirrels away. Or build a plexiglass ramp that is to steep to climb but allows water to shed away from the house. even one of those splash block with a piece of plexiglass on top The slipperiness maybe enough to freak the little buggers out.