Squirrels love my Traeger! How do i keep them out?

[sideone]

I have a Pro 780 grill and the squirrels seem to like to nest in the firebox. They seem to get in through the chimney. I have tried to block the bottom of the chimney with a cutting board, but the squirrels seem to kick it down.

Can someone recommend a removable stopper that I can put at the top of the chimney or something removable that I can lock in place at the end of the chimney?

thanks in advance as I feel like I am hoarding all of Traeger's grill cleaner products.

 

[Murphy's Law]

Have to ask the obvious question...do you use a Traeger cover? I have both the Pro 780 and tons of squirrels and have never had a problem (knock on wood pellets!).

 

[RustyJake]

Another possibility for a solution

https://www.realtree.com/timber-2-table-wild-game-recipes/barbecued-smoked-squirrel-sandwiches#:~:text=Cooking%20Instructions,smoker%20at%20about%20250%20degrees.

Would there be a PVC plumbing cap that would be close in size that could be used?

 

[JPSBBQ]

leave them in there. Grilled squirrel is a delicacy in certain circles.

 

[GrillMeister]

A pellet gun works wonders on pesky tree rats.

 

[GrillMeister]

leave them in there. Grilled squirrel is a delicacy in certain circles.

I hear they taste like chicken...

 

[BobbyQ]

Screen mesh wrapped over the chimney tube secured with a hose clamp? Poke a hole in the center for the screw.

 

[RustyJake]

Screen mesh wrapped over the chimney tube secured with a hose clamp? Poke a hole in the center for the screw.

This should work
or steel wool, a large elastic should hold it in place. Rats and mice hate that stuff, can only imagine squirrels would be the same

 

[BobbyQ]

Have to ask the obvious question...do you use a Traeger cover? I have both the Pro 780 and tons of squirrels and have never had a problem (knock on wood pellets!).

Perhaps they don't like the flavor of your pellets
Am I on thin ice here?

 

[Murphy's Law]

Perhaps they don't like the flavor of your pellets
Am I on thin ice here?

They hate the taste of the oil that Traeger uses!

 

[BobbyQ]

They hate the taste of the oil that Traeger uses!

Indeed

 

[sideone]

Have to ask the obvious question...do you use a Traeger cover? I have both the Pro 780 and tons of squirrels and have never had a problem (knock on wood pellets!).

I had a nice cover :| . Actually it was the best cover of any grill ive ever had.

 

[sideone]

Another possibility for a solution

https://www.realtree.com/timber-2-table-wild-game-recipes/barbecued-smoked-squirrel-sandwiches#:~:text=Cooking%20Instructions,smoker%20at%20about%20250%20degrees.

Would there be a PVC plumbing cap that would be close in size that could be used?

Great idea!

 

[RustyJake]

I had a nice cover :| . Actually it was the best cover of any grill ive ever had.

View attachment 8268

Apparently it tasted good too. Darn rodents. That really sucks

 

[sideone]

This should work
or steel wool, a large elastic should hold it in place. Rats and mice hate that stuff, can only imagine squirrels would be the same

great idea, i think this will be the easiest and quickest solution. Do you think the dust from the steel wool will get all over the place and down the chimney?