Squirrels in attics and chewed soffits are among the most common problems readers write to me about. When a gray squirrel gets inside, traps are the fastest way out, but only if you buy the right one. A rat trap is too small, and half the “squirrel traps” on Amazon are just rebranded rat cages that a gray squirrel will ignore or escape.
Below are seven traps chosen on the two things that matter: do they catch squirrels, and are they humane enough to use without losing sleep.
For the bigger picture, see my squirrel control hub, or check the wildlife removal cost guide if you’d rather hire a pro.
- Size is the first thing to get right. Gray squirrels are bigger than most people think. A trap needs at least 15 x 5 x 5 inches of interior space, or the squirrel won’t go in and won’t fit comfortably if it does.
- Live traps mean daily checks. A trapped squirrel needs shade and water, and it needs to be dealt with the same day. Relocation is the part to check before you start: moving a squirrel to another property is restricted or banned in many states, and North Carolina is explicit that trapped wildlife of several species must be released where it was caught or euthanised, so ask your state agency first. If you can’t check the trap every day, don’t set it.
- Multi-catch is worth it for recurring problems. If you have a family of squirrels, a single-catch cage means resetting after every single one. A multi-catch trap saves you a lot of trips.
- Bait matters almost as much as the trap. Peanut butter and sunflower seeds are the two I reach for first. A squirrel-specific lure helps when the squirrel is trap-shy.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Type | Capacity | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havahart Easy-Set Small 1-Door | Live cage | Single | Best Overall | Check price |
| Anyhall Humane Squirrel Cage Trap | Live cage | Single | Best Budget | Check price |
| WillMesh 17” Folding Trap | Live cage | Single | Best Folding | Check price |
| Anyhall 2-Pack Trap | Live cage | Single | Best 2-Pack | Check price |
| WCS Tube Tunnel Trap | Live cage | Single | Best Tube Design | Check price |
| Garvee 2-Door with Handle | Live cage | Single | Best Two Door | Check price |
| Squirrelinator Multi Catch | Live cage | Multiple | Best Multi Catch | Check price |
Best Overall: Havahart Easy-Set Small 1-Door Trap
Best Overall- Type
- Live capture cage trap
- Dimensions
- 17.5 x 6.5 x 6.75 inches
- Capacity
- Single squirrel per catch
- Material
- Galvanized wire mesh
- Trigger
- Adjustable sensitivity screw
If I had to recommend one trap and one trap only, this is it. The Havahart Easy-Set is the gold standard every other squirrel trap gets measured against, and for good reason: it’s the one trap built with an adjustable sensitivity screw so you can dial the trigger down to fire on a light gray squirrel instead of waiting for a raccoon-sized animal to stomp it.
The single-door design lets the squirrel enter fully before the door closes, and the smooth internal edges mean a frantic animal doesn’t chew its own nose bloody against rough welds. The handle guard keeps your fingers away from teeth, which matters at 7 a.m. when you’re trying not to get bitten.
The one-hand Easy-Set mechanism makes setting and releasing quick, which you’ll appreciate on the third trip out to the release site in a week.
Best Budget: Anyhall Humane Squirrel Cage Trap
Best Budget- Type
- Live capture cage trap, non-folding
- Dimensions
- 17 x 7 x 7 inches
- Capacity
- Single squirrel per catch
- Material
- Galvanized steel
- Setup
- Fully assembled, ready out of the box
For about the price of two pizzas, the Anyhall is the best value on this list. It ships fully assembled, so you open the box, bait it, and it’s working in sixty seconds, no wrestling with wire ties and diagrams.
At 17 x 7 x 7 inches it’s sized right for gray squirrels, and the pedal triggers an instant door closure that’s faster than a squirrel can back out. The 1-inch mesh holds adult squirrels fine, though very small juveniles or mice can slip through.
I’d call this the entry point for a one-off problem squirrel. It’s not the trap I’d run a full attic campaign on, but for the price it does exactly what it promises.
Best Folding: WillMesh 17” Folding Squirrel Trap
Best Folding- Type
- Folding live capture cage trap
- Dimensions
- 17 x 7.3 x 8 inches
- Capacity
- Single squirrel, up to 3 lb
- Material
- Steel
- Storage
- Folds flat
If you move traps between job sites or have a cramped garage, the WillMesh is the one. It folds flat for storage, then pops open and sets up in seconds. Foldable traps usually mean flimsy, but the steel holds up fine for squirrels up to about three pounds.
The 17 x 7.3 x 8 inch body gives a squirrel room to step fully inside before the trigger, which is the difference between a catch and a stolen bait. The door closes fast and stays closed.
Best 2-Pack: Anyhall 2-Pack Humane Trap
Best 2-Pack- Type
- Live capture cage trap, 2-pack
- Dimensions
- 12.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches each
- Capacity
- Single per trap, two total
- Trigger
- Oversized sensitive pedal
- Use
- Smaller squirrels and chipmunks
When you don’t know which entry point the squirrel is using, two traps beat one. This Anyhall 2-pack gives you two cages for the price of a single premium unit, so you can set one by the attic hole and one by the garden at the same time.
Each trap is 12.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches with a trigger pedal that’s larger and more sensitive than most in its class, and an auto-lock door that stays shut. The honest caveat: these are sized for smaller squirrels and chipmunks, not a big fox squirrel, which will chew through or bounce the wire.
Best Tube Design: WCS Tube Tunnel Squirrel Trap
Best Tube Design- Type
- Tube tunnel live trap
- Dimensions
- 15 inches long, 4.5 inch diameter
- Capacity
- Single squirrel
- Material
- 21-gauge rust-resistant steel
- Trigger
- Double torsion spring, 5 tension settings
The WCS is the one trap on this list that doesn’t look like a cage, and that’s the point. The cylindrical tunnel mimics the branches and fence lines squirrels already travel, so wary squirrels walk in more readily than they will into an open wire box.
The 15-inch tunnel uses a double torsion spring mechanism that fires fast and holds tight, with five adjustable tension settings to match the animal’s weight. The shape also makes it easy to mount along a fence top, against a tree, or stake it at ground level near a burrow.
Best Two Door: Garvee Squirrel Trap with Carrying Handle
Best Two Door- Type
- Two-door live capture cage
- Doors
- Two, one at each end
- Access
- Easy-open lid on top for baiting and release
- Material
- Heavy-duty chew-resistant metal wire
This is the trap I would hand to someone who has never set one. Two doors mean the squirrel can walk in from either end, so you do not have to guess which way it will come, and a lid on top opens so you can bait the treadle and lift the animal out without reaching into a tunnel.
The body is heavy-duty metal wire with a dense, chew-resistant weave. That matters more with squirrels than with almost anything else: a thin cage gets worked on until it gives. The handles are the detail I like most. Once there is an animal inside they keep your fingers away from the mesh and let you carry the trap to the release site one-handed.
The listing also names chipmunks, weasels, voles, rabbits, moles and guinea pigs, so it is a general small-animal cage rather than a squirrel-only tool.
Best Multi Catch: Rugged Ranch Squirrelinator
Best Multi Catch- Type
- Multi catch live trap
- Dimensions
- 24.5 x 24.5 x 5 inches
- Capacity
- Up to 25 squirrels per set
- Mechanism
- One-way door, two-door entry
- Release
- Top lid, no direct handling
When you have more than one squirrel, and you usually do, the Squirrelinator is worth the extra money. The one-way door system lets squirrels in but not out, and the two-door, multi-compartment design holds up to 25 squirrels before you have to empty it.
The real advantage is that the trap stays set and baited the whole time. With a single-catch cage, every squirrel you catch resets the trap and alarms the rest. The Squirrelinator keeps working quietly, and the top lid makes release quick without handling the animals.
Squirrels are most active at dawn and dusk. Set traps in the evening and check first thing in the morning. A squirrel left in a trap through a hot afternoon can overheat fast, if you can’t check daily, don’t set the trap that day.
How to Choose a Squirrel Trap
Single Catch vs Multi Catch
Single-catch traps are simpler, cheaper, and easier to carry. Multi-catch traps save you trips when you’re dealing with multiple squirrels, but cost more up front. For one problem squirrel, a single-catch cage is all you need. For an ongoing infestation, the multi-catch pays for itself in saved labor.
Size and Construction
Match the trap to the size of the squirrels in your area. Eastern gray and fox squirrels need traps at least 15 inches long; smaller species fit in 10-inch traps. Galvanized steel resists rust and lasts longer than painted wire left outside.
Bait and Placement
Peanut butter is the bait I reach for first: it smells strong, carries far, and sticks to the trigger plate so the squirrel has to work at it. Sunflower seeds, walnuts, and pecans all work too. Place traps along known travel routes, near bird feeders, or at the base of trees where you’ve seen activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peanut butter. It has a strong scent, it sticks to the trigger plate, and every squirrel species goes for it. Sunflower seeds and in-shell peanuts also work and last longer outdoors.
Squirrels have strong homing instincts and can find their way back from several miles. Relocation distances of 5 to 10 miles are the common recommendation. Check local regulations first, some areas require a permit or prohibit relocation entirely.
That’s a trap-shy squirrel. Pre-bait for a few days: put bait near the entrance without setting the trigger, and let the squirrel feed comfortably. Set the trigger on day three or four once it’s relaxed. If the squirrel is already inside your home, see how to get a squirrel out of your wall.
For most homeowners, live traps are the better call: they’re humane, legal in more places, and reusable across seasons. Kill traps (snap and tube) work fast but aren’t legal everywhere and carry more risk around kids and pets. Check your state’s wildlife rules before going lethal.
It depends on your state and whether you’re relocating or killing. Rules depend on the state, and on whether you plan to release the animal or hand it to an operator. Trapping on your own property is allowed in many places, but the animal usually has to be released where it was caught, but relocating wildlife across property lines is restricted in most places. Some states require a permit or a licensed operator for any trapping. Always check your state wildlife agency first.
Almost always it’s placement or a stiff trigger, not the trap itself. Put the trap along a travel route or entry point, make sure the trigger is sensitive enough for a light squirrel, and pre-bait for a few days. Squirrels are cautious, a trap that appears overnight and smells like you will sit empty.
