I live in the suburbs and we have plenty of squirrels in the area. There are a few parks around and plenty of trees. My neighbor has a trap in his backyard and he's been trapping squirrels. I just found out a today but he was home so I didn't let the squirrel out. I was planning on doing it when he left. He since left but took the cage with him. He's back again and there is another squirrel in the cage. I don't know what he's doing with the squirrels. Some stories online say that he could be relocating them or there are also scary stories of drowning animals. I'm told that they are considered pest and that nobody cares enough about them unless he is drowning them. I was told that the one I saw earlier was in there since last night and I do not see anything that will provide the animal with food and water. If he leaves again should I go let the squirrel out or should I contact local authorities to take care of this problem? I don't want to trespass but I would do it if he isn't just releasing them into the park down the street.

In Illinois, tree squirrels are protected by the Wildlife Code. Fox and gray squirrels are protected as small game species. In urban areas, tree squirrels may be trapped if an animal removal permit is issued by an Illinois Department of Natural Resources District Wildlife Biologist (DWB). (I am assuming that you are talking about tree squirrels in this case. If he is trapping ground squirrels it would be different. Neither thirteen-lined ground squirrels nor chipmunks are protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code. Those species may be removed without a permit). All traps should be checked at least once in a 24 hour period. Do not trespass on the neighbor's property or release the squirrels. Contact the local DWB and explain that you are concerned that a neighbor may be trapping squirrels without a permit. You can find the contact info. for the DWB who covers your county by going to: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/professionals.cfm