ground squirrel is eating our eggs!

[Kev]

I wonder if cats are able to catch and kill ground squirrels? They're fairly big and put up a huge nasty fight if caught...

Too true about fruit trees, they would get up into the pomegranates and snip off the way way underripe fruits for seemingly no reason at all. Just bite them off branches by the tens and maybe take one away.

Also they will kill and eat baby chickens. I've found chick legs, skulls(always with the brain part missing) and wings in their burrow evacuations.......

 

[rides2far]

People think they are so cute. They don't realize how destructive they are. They also carry many diseases. Some people on a walking/biking path actually feed them. They have totally lost their fear of people!

 

[Kev]

Yep, learned that the hard way myself.

When they first showed up here, I thought they were so cute, with a pretty pattern if you look closely at them and was charmed by their tame ness..

Then they started bringing their babies and friends. Then some moved into the bank that divides part of my property...... their burrows are HUGE.. move way too much earth to be safe.... then some tried to move under the house- no no NO!

It was really surprising how hard it was to get rid of them, even after I started killing them. Also noticed they would either move between colonies or are just attracted to where other squirrels have been, because after killing all of those that tried to set up home on property and adjoining areas, I would see a squirrel here and watch where it went back to.... surprised me they would run across several acres and over the hill (this is another reason I think relocating is a total joke- they are willing to travel extremely long distances).

Truly, they are pests and control immediately, do not wait, do not let them live or you will be dealing with them for a very long time to come.

 

[DesertBrahma]

My cats have no problem getting ahold of them. My cats have figured out I give really good treats for taking care of the vermin around my house. I don't have snakes, rats, mice ground squirrels, andtthey're getting rid of the gophers I have. My oldest outdoor cat loves taking them out by my propane tank to eat lol. My 2 young indoor outdoor cats try to bring them in the house. Key word is try. The only bad thing is I have to keep dewormer around for them. The benefits are I don't have the vermin, or venomous snake problem my neighbors do. Now to train my husband to take the trash out, and clean the house lol.

 

[Kev]

Wow you should breed your cats and sell them as natural, organic squirrel control lol

The next door neighbor is one of those 'cat ladies' yet they don't seem to every try going at them.

Your situation is just like at my old place- very rural with all sorts of snakes including rattlesnakes. I had peafowl and sometimes guineas. The neighbor really hated the birds and encouraged his kids to chase and throw things at them.

Guess who was finding rattlers warming up in the morning by their front doors..... (never found a rattler inside our yard ever again since the peafowl were established)

 

[DesertBrahma]

When I was growing up in the country we had a neighbor that had guineas. She didn't have any venomous snakes at her place and we occasionally had some at ours. My parents got 6 cats and weddidn't have any. I've been lucky to find natural barn cats, even though mine still want to be loved on lol. I guess they know if they don't work they find new homes lol. If you have more than 2 legs at my house you get fixed. So no breeding going on here lol. I don't want a ton of cats around. 6 is more than enough. Plus we occasionally get feral cats showin up. I try and trap them to get them in to the vet and then have them fixed and vaccinated. I try my hardest to keep unwanted pets down around here. Some times sadly I have to have one put down due to disease or injury. Other than that I only have 6 resident cats. Some cats just aren't good mousers. Others are great. My old man cat acts more like a dog than a cat. The only bad thing I don't like is that they bring me their "trophies" be they dead or still alive. You can find barn cats in a lot of classified ads, and on Craigslist. Some free, some you have to pay for. I've either found them, or they found me. Hell I was putting up my heat lamp for tonight since it's going to get cold and my old man was laying in the coop letting my chicks walk on him, and pull his hair lol. He's a laid back cat then he saw a mouse and took off after it lol.

 

[silver1polish]

Please don't reply on this thread anymore.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

If you don't mind, I actually have a non-lethal idea. If they are getting in your feed, put the feed in a bird feeder specially made to keep away squirrels. Some have a special remote that comes with them. When a squirrel jumps on the feeder, just press the shock button on the remote. The squirrels will quickly learn to stay away. Also, you can put up electric fencing around the chicken coop, it is very good in preventing all predator attacks, unless you have trees directly over the coop.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

What about a city park?

 

[LeafBlade12345]

For relocation? Unfortunately, most of the time the animals released elsewhere die, starving of being killed by other animals. Still, there are many options other than killing.