Building a squirrel trap is straightforward with basic materials, but before you set one up, you need to know that trapping and relocating squirrels is illegal in many states. Massachusetts, for example, explicitly prohibits capturing and relocating any wild animal, with fines of $25 per squirrel plus additional penalties. Most states require a permit or limit trapping to specific seasons, and the rules often differ by squirrel species. Check your state’s fish and wildlife agency before building anything.
Know Your Local Laws First
Wildlife trapping laws vary dramatically by state and even by county. In Massachusetts, you cannot legally relocate a trapped squirrel at all. If a squirrel is damaging your property, you may be able to get a permit to kill it, but not to move it. Many other states have similar restrictions or require specific permits for trapping any game animal outside of designated seasons.
Gray squirrels, red squirrels, and flying squirrels are often regulated differently under the same state law. Some jurisdictions allow landowners to trap squirrels actively damaging property without a permit, while others require written authorization from a wildlife director. The penalties for illegal trapping typically include fines per animal, and in some states, jail time up to 30 days. A quick call to your state wildlife agency will tell you exactly what’s allowed where you live.
Materials for a Wire Mesh Cage Trap
The most common DIY squirrel trap is a rectangular cage made from half-inch hardware cloth, which is a rigid wire mesh sold at Home Depot and most building supply stores in the fencing department. Half-inch openings are small enough that a squirrel can’t squeeze through, and the mesh is stiff enough to hold its shape when bent, so you don’t need a separate frame.
Here’s what you need:
- Half-inch hardware cloth: A piece roughly 36 inches by 30 inches will make a trap about 18 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6 inches tall
- Wire cutters and pliers
- Hog rings or galvanized wire: For fastening edges together
- A trigger mechanism: A simple trip plate connected to the door by a rod or wire
- Stiff wire or a thin dowel: For the door hinge and trigger linkage
Building the Cage
Cut your hardware cloth into panels: two side panels (18″ x 6″), a top panel (18″ x 6″), a bottom panel (18″ x 6″), and a back panel (6″ x 6″). The front remains open for the door. Bend and connect the panels using hog rings or short pieces of wire twisted tight with pliers, forming a rectangular box. Make sure all cut wire ends are bent inward so they don’t injure the animal or snag your hands.
For the door, cut a piece of hardware cloth slightly larger than the front opening (about 7″ x 7″) and hinge it at the top using a piece of stiff wire threaded through the mesh. The door should swing freely downward to close the opening. When propped open, it needs to drop quickly when the trigger releases.
The trigger mechanism is the trickiest part. A basic design uses a metal trip plate (a small square of sheet metal or stiff mesh, about 2″ x 3″) mounted on a pivot near the back of the trap. Connect the trip plate to the door prop with a stiff wire or thin rod. When a squirrel steps on the plate, it tips, pulling the prop and dropping the door. You can bend a single piece of coat hanger wire into both the prop and the linkage to the trip plate. The geometry takes some trial and error, so test it several times before setting the trap outside.
Choosing the Right Bait
Peanut butter is the single most effective squirrel bait. Spread it directly on the trip plate, then press a few whole peanuts (in the shell) into the peanut butter. Place one or two loose peanuts at the entrance of the trap to draw the squirrel inside, and a couple more behind the trigger plate so the squirrel has to step fully onto it.
If peanut butter isn’t working, or if you’re trapping in hot weather when squirrels are thirsty, orange slices are a strong alternative. Squirrels can detect the moisture in fruit and will seek it out. Other effective baits include sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, birdseed, apple pieces, and even marshmallows. Birdseed works especially well if the squirrel has already been raiding a bird feeder, since it’s a food source the animal already associates with your yard. Nut-based baits consistently outperform everything else.
Where to Place the Trap
Set your trap directly in the path the squirrel already uses. Look for travel routes along fence tops, tree branches near the roofline, or the base of trees where you’ve seen activity. If a squirrel is entering your attic, place the trap right next to the entry point. If it’s raiding a garden, set the trap along the edge where you see the most damage.
Anchor the trap so it can’t tip over or be dragged away. A squirrel thrashing inside a lightweight cage can knock it off a ledge or flip it. Zip-tie the trap to a branch, stake it to the ground, or weight it down with a brick on top. Covering half the trap with a towel or piece of cardboard serves two purposes: it gives the trapped animal some shelter from sun and rain, and it hides the bait from birds that might trigger the trap before a squirrel arrives.
Checking the Trap and Handling Animals
A live trap is not something you set and forget. In summer, check it at least twice a day. In winter, check every two hours. A trapped squirrel exposed to direct sun can overheat and die within hours. Cold, rain, and wind are equally dangerous. Never set a live trap during extreme heat or freezing temperatures.
Expect to catch animals other than squirrels. Chipmunks, birds, rabbits, and even neighborhood cats will wander in. Release non-target animals immediately. When you do catch your squirrel, handle the trap with thick gloves. Squirrels bite, and they can carry diseases. Keep your fingers away from the mesh.
What you do with a trapped squirrel depends entirely on your local laws. In many states, releasing it on your own property (opening the cage and letting it go right there) is legal, but transporting it to a park or wooded area miles away is not. Some states allow lethal removal with a permit when the animal is causing property damage. Contact your local wildlife agency or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before trapping so you have a legal plan for what comes next.
Why Store-Bought Traps Are Worth Considering
Commercial live traps designed for squirrels cost between $20 and $40 and use the same wire mesh cage concept with a more reliable trigger mechanism. The Havahart brand is widely available at hardware stores and online. If your homemade trigger isn’t releasing consistently, or if the door isn’t dropping fast enough, a manufactured trap solves both problems. The investment is small compared to the time spent debugging a DIY trigger that misfires, and a well-designed commercial trap is less likely to injure the animal with a partially closed door.