Best Squirrel Traps (Live & Lethal Options)

A trap is the most direct way to deal with a specific squirrel that’s gotten into your attic or raided your garden. Live cage traps catch them unharmed for relocation, while lethal traps offer a quick dispatch — but before you choose, check your local wildlife laws, because relocating squirrels is restricted or illegal in many places.

Our Top Pick

The Amagabeli Garden & Home Humane Live Animal Trap is Our Top Pick due to its robust construction and humanely designed trapping mechanism. With dimensions that accommodate larger rodents, and a collapsible design for easy storage, it’s effective yet considerate of the animal’s well-being. Despite a few improvements needed, its overall reliability and success in capturing a variety of pests set it apart.

1. Amagabeli Garden & Home Humane Live Animal Trap

The Amagabeli Garden & Home Humane Live Animal Trap is a large, sturdy trap designed to capture a wide range of animals.

Its dimensions, 31" X 10.5"X 11.5", make it ideal for trapping larger rodent animals. The cage is constructed of rust-resistant wire mesh with steel reinforcements, ensuring its durability and longevity.

The trap is galvanized for maximum resistance to corrosion, making it suitable for use in different weather conditions.

The design of this trap emphasizes the humane treatment of animals. It features smooth internal edges and a wire mesh exterior, protecting the captured animal from injury.

The trigger rod is located outside of the trap, preventing the animal from damaging it while inside. The trap is collapsible and easy to store, making it a convenient option for those who may not need to use it regularly.

It is also easy to clean and sanitize, ensuring it can be used multiple times if necessary.

Our take

Across 402 verified reviews (3.79★, 66% rated 4★+), buyers most often praise easy to set up and use and sturdy product. The recurring complaint: trap door setting mechanism is finicky and needs bent just right to make it work properly, and tripping mechanism is not very reliable.

Get the Amagabeli Garden & Home Humane Live Animal Trap on Amazon

2. Havahart Squirrel Trap

The Havahart Squirrel Trap, manufactured by Havahart, is a safe, humane, and effective solution for managing pesky squirrels in your home or garden.

With dimensions of 24 x 7 x 7 inches, the trap provides ample space for the animal while ensuring it can’t escape. The product is made with durable galvanized steel, guaranteeing lasting use.

This design prioritizes the safety of both the user and the squirrel, making it a preferred choice for many homeowners.

Our take

There isn’t much verified review data for this exact product yet, so weigh the specs and notes above.

Get the Havahart Squirrel Trap on Amazon or Walmart or Home Depot or supplyhog.com or countrymax.com or Lowe's or shop.rplumber.com or northerntrapping.com or toolboxsupply.com or Ace or DoMyOwn or gilfordhardware.com

3. AB Traps Pro-Quality Live Animal Humane Trap

The AB Traps Pro-Quality is a top-notch, single-door squirrel trap capable of capturing a variety of small rodents. It can be effectively used wherever squirrel activity is detected.

Constructed from durable wire mesh that resists damage from chewing, this ready-to-use trap is available in various sizes, with dimensions ranging from 10.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches to 16 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches.

One of its standout features is its humane design, ensuring the trapped rodent remains unharmed. The interior edges are rounded to avoid causing injury to the animals. Once trapped, the rodents can be released at a safe distance from your home.

The AB Traps Pro-Quality boasts a high capture rate due to its swift trigger mechanism and can be utilized both indoors and outdoors.

However, it’s worth noting that this trap may not be suitable for larger animals. Additionally, the wire mesh strength may not be as robust as some other commercial traps on the market.

Our take

There isn’t much verified review data for this exact product yet, so weigh the specs and notes above.

Get the AB Traps Pro-Quality Live Animal Humane Trap on Amazon or Walmart

4. Rugged Ranch Squirrelinator

The Squirrelinator is a squirrel trap manufactured by Rugged Ranch, an American company specializing in rodent control products. This ready-to-use trap is designed to catch multiple squirrels quickly. It has 23.25" x 23.25" x 4" dimensions and can catch up to 25 squirrels at once. Unlike other traps, it doesn’t require costly baits that may harm unintended animals or the environment.

The trap features two doors, allowing animals to enter from either side. It can be used with or without an optional basin, which can be purchased separately. The basin aids in drowning the trapped squirrels by filling the trap with water.

However, a minor drawback of the Squirrelinator is that the wire mesh is slightly too wide for smaller squirrels and rodents. This means that smaller animals can enter, steal the bait, and escape, reducing the trap’s effectiveness and missing opportunities to catch multiple rodents.

Our take

Across 2,139 verified reviews (4.07★, 75% rated 4★+), buyers most often praise inexpensive and easy to set up and no fiddly traps, just one way doors with zero setup apart from bait. The recurring complaint: some squirrels may be too small to fit in the trap, and some squirrels may be too smart to enter it.

Get the Rugged Ranch Squirrelinator on Amazon or Lowe's or Walmart or animaltrapsandsupplies.com or oleyvalleyfeed.com or overstock.com or kroger.com or fredmeyer.com

5. Tube Squirrel Traps

The Tube Trap is a 15-inch long squirrel-capturing trap powered by a strong double torsion spring. It is designed with precision-cut edges and parts, ensuring there are no sharp edges.

This trap can be used either baited or unbaited, as squirrels are naturally attracted to running through or hiding in it. The double torsion spring is triggered when a squirrel reaches the pan in the middle of the trap.

Once a rodent is captured, it is generally hidden from view. The trap also features a safety hook that aids in proper setup. Manufacturers advise using the trap with caution and removing the hook once the trap is in the target location.

To position the trap, select an appropriate location by monitoring squirrel travel ways.

If using bait, apply it to the pan inside the trap. Before setting the trap, ensure that the safety is latched over the strike bar while applying the bait.

Our take

Across 799 verified reviews (4.09★, 77% rated 4★+), buyers most often praise humane way of dealing with pests and easy to set. The recurring complaint: requires some strength and coordination to set the trap, and can rust quickly.

Get the Tube Squirrel Traps on Amazon or wildlifecontrolsupplies.com or forestry-suppliers.com

6. Kat Sense Humane Squirrel Trap, Cage Traps

The Kat Sense Humane Squirrel Cage Traps provide an easy and effective solution for dealing with unwanted pests in your surroundings. This product represents excellent value for money and is a practical solution for pest control.

This trap is one of the most robust on the market yet remains affordable and efficient at capturing squirrels and other nuisances. Once caught, the pests are safely contained until you are ready to release them in an area away from your home.

Constructed with coated wires, the cage is rust-resistant, ensuring long-term use. It’s easily cleaned and features a trapdoor-style entryway, effectively welcoming and containing your uninvited pest guests.

Our take

Across 147 verified reviews (3.53★, 60% rated 4★+), buyers most often praise easy to use and transport and humane for both parties. The recurring complaint: not suitable for larger animals, and difficulty in setting the trap.

Get the Kat Sense Humane Squirrel Trap, Cage Traps on Amazon or 1outlets.com

7. Harris Catch and Release Trap

PF Harris, a reputable brand known for pioneering pest control solutions, manufactures the Harris Catch and Release Trap.

It stands out as an effective tool for trapping smaller rodents like mice, rats, chipmunks, and squirrels.

The trap’s dimensions are 9.25" long, 4.3" wide, and 4.5" high, making it a suitable medium-sized option.

The trap is built from sturdy metal to prevent any escape attempts through chewing or clawing. Its rust-resistant coating enhances durability, especially for outdoor use.

The design incorporates a transparent body, allowing you to spot captured squirrels easily.

The trap is complete with a trigger bar, lockable trap door, fortified springs, and thick steel mesh wiring to secure the door.

With its quality materials, the Harris Humane Mouse Trap offers a non-harmful solution to your rodent issues.

Our take

Across 1,674 verified reviews (4.02★, 74% rated 4★+), buyers most often praise easy to set up and holes are small enough to trap small animals. The recurring complaint: wire bale that holds the door open can break, and locking bar that should fall into place when the trap snaps shut does not always work.

Get the Harris Catch and Release Trap on Amazon or Home Depot or Lowe's or piedmontfarmandgarden.com

Types of Snake Traps

There are different types of squirrel traps, each suited to specific situations. Here are some of the most common:

• Live catch traps: These humane traps capture squirrels alive, causing no harm. They are easy to use and mess-free. However, releasing the captured squirrel can be challenging due to certain state laws governing their release into the wild.
• Tube traps: These traps are essentially snap traps housed inside a round metal or plastic tubes. Squirrels are naturally drawn to such structures, making these traps effective. However, they aren’t considered humane as they kill the squirrel upon contact.
• Electronic traps: These traps kill rodents by delivering a powerful electric shock. They are safe and mess-free and make disposing of dead rodents easy. However, they are often not used for squirrels because killing squirrels is illegal in many states.
• Snap traps: These traps kill squirrels instantly upon contact but are generally disliked due to their brutality and the mess they leave behind. It’s important to check local legislation before using these traps, as their use may be restricted.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the best squirrel trap is crucial for effective, humane control of these agile creatures. The ideal trap combines user-friendliness, durability, and a design that prioritizes the animal’s safety. It should offer an effective solution to the squirrel problem while aligning with local laws and ethical standards for animal treatment.

The real fix for squirrels: exclusion, not repellents

Squirrels are smart, persistent, and quick to ignore scent and taste deterrents once food or shelter is on the line. The lasting solutions are physical: seal attic and soffit entry points (with a one-way door to let any residents out first), remove or squirrel-proof bird feeders, and protect gardens with barriers. Trapping helps for an established intruder — but check your local wildlife laws first, because relocating squirrels is regulated or prohibited in many areas (The Humane Society: Squirrels). The full plan is in how to get rid of squirrels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trap for catching squirrels?

The Amagabeli Garden & Home Humane Live Animal Trap is highly recommended due to its humane design and effectiveness.

Are squirrel traps safe for other animals and pets?

Yes, most squirrel traps are designed to be safe and non-lethal, but always check product details to ensure safety for non-target species.

Are squirrel traps easy to set up?

Many models, like the Amagabeli Trap, are easy to set up and use, but some may require a bit of practice.

What bait should I use in a squirrel trap?

Squirrels are attracted to foods like nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Is it legal to trap squirrels in my area?

Laws vary by location, so checking local regulations before trapping squirrels is important.

What should I do with a squirrel after I’ve trapped it?

Most traps are designed for catch-and-release, so you should release the squirrel in a safe and suitable area away from your home.

Do squirrel traps require regular maintenance?

Most traps require minimal maintenance, though cleaning them after each use is good practice to maintain effectiveness.

Are there different types of squirrel traps available?

Yes, there are various types, including live catch, tube, electronic, and snap traps.

Can I use a squirrel trap for other rodents as well?

Many squirrel traps are versatile and can be used for other small to medium-sized rodents, but always check the product’s target species.

How effective are squirrel traps?

Effectiveness can vary based on factors like trap design, bait used, and trap location, but many users find traps like the Amagabeli model quite effective.

Related Guides

• How to Get Rid of Squirrels (Attic & Garden)
• Best Squirrel Repellents (and Their Honest Limits)
• Where Do Squirrels Go at Night?
• What Animal Is Digging Up My Yard?
• How to Trap Ground Squirrels

→ See all Squirrels guides