Squirrel in the Wall!

[TechBoyJK]

This damn squirrel chewed through our siding, got into our soffit, tore out an old vent cover and made a little home in the closed off pocket left after the previous renovations.

I ordered an endoscope from Amazon so I could inspect this hole for babies, etc. before filling it in with insulation and sealing it off. It looks like it drops down about 6 ft until it hits a fireblock that seems about 1/3 of the way up the wall. It's just past the electrical wire seen in the vid. It's the electrical wire for the outlets that are counter level.

This part of the wall unfortunately is behind a cabinet and backsplash, so no real easy entry to the wall from the inside or outside.

anywho.. does that look like just old insulation/debris or an animal carcass at the bottom? It looks hairy and for the last minute or so I have the cam on what looks like an arm bone or something. Thoughts?

I'm thinking it's not worth cleaning out and I should just shove a bunch of insulation in the cavity and seal it off.

 

[mizzou]

This damn squirrel chewed through our siding, got into our soffit, tore out an old vent cover and made a little home in the closed off pocket left after the previous renovations.

I ordered an endoscope from Amazon so I could inspect this hole for babies, etc. before filling it in with insulation and sealing it off. It looks like it drops down about 6 ft until it hits a fireblock that seems about 1/3 of the way up the wall. It's just past the electrical wire seen in the vid. It's the electrical wire for the outlets that are counter level.

This part of the wall unfortunately is behind a cabinet and backsplash, so no real easy entry to the wall from the inside or outside.

anywho.. does that look like just old insulation/debris or an animal carcass at the bottom? It looks hairy and for the last minute or so I have the cam on what looks like an arm bone or something. Thoughts?

I'm thinking it's not worth cleaning out and I should just shove a bunch of insulation in the cavity and seal it off.

I think the biggest concern is trapping an animal in a house. After that its repairing what they damaged.

IMO it might not hurt to open the wall up, remove the insullatuon and inspect the wiring and vent. Then put im fresh insullation amd close it up.

Removinf wallboard or drywall shouldnt be a huge dealbreaker

 

[mindless1]

Being winter, what is the temperature where you think you see a carcass? My concern would be that if it's cold then warms up... rotting flesh stench is like no other.

 

[Iron Woode]

I hate those tree rats with a passion. I had a townhouse where they managed to get into the attic and eventually behind a wall. They dug their way out and into my house. What mess. Not only dealing with them but also the damage and finding out how they got in.

I posted about this way back in 2007.

I would wait until the rodent leaves and then secure that entrance.

good luck.

 

[IronWing]

Place a server rack at the edge of your property.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Managed to get a better view with the endoscope, and confirmed it's jsut debris in the wall crevice.

Was able to use some spray foam to fill it in. I had to do a little bit at a time so it would cure, but I was able to top it off yesterday. Took 3 cans. Giving it one more day to cure then I'm nailing a board over the hole.

I've had a squirrel trap out with peanuts and peanut butter for a week.. but no luck. I haven't seen the squirrel on cam either.