How to Get a Squirrel Out of Your Vent Pipe

The big-eyed and bushy-tailed squirrel may seem cute in the wild, but it can be quite a pest when it inhabits urban dwellings. This inquisitive animal is an excellent climber that will enter any opening through which it can squeeze its head. This includes openings such as roofs, attics, chimneys and vent pipes. A squirrel trapped in your vent pipe can obstruct the flow of gases through it and suffer the risk of dehydration. Use humane methods to extract the squirrel out of your vent pipe and to prevent it from reentering.

3-inch thick rope or strip of thick cloth
Pliers
¼-inch hardware cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Use a 3-inch thick rope or strip of thick cloth to remove the squirrel out of the vent pipe. Tie knots, 12 inches apart, all across the rope, to provide a secure foothold for the squirrel while climbing.
- 2
  Tie a small heavy object, such as a pair of pliers to the end of the rope. Tying a heavy object will give you an indication of when the rope touches the bottom of the vent pipe.
- 3
  Lower the end of the rope on which the pliers are fixed, slowly down the vent pipe. Ensure that the rope touches the bottom of the vent pipe. Secure the other end of the rope around the top portion of the vent pipe.
- 4
  Wait for the squirrel to climb out of the vent pipe. The squirrel will use the rope to climb out within a time span of 24 hours.
- 5
  Fix a 1/4-inch hardware cloth around the vent pipe once the squirrel has gone out. This will prevent it from reentering the vent pipe.

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