How to get rid of squirrels without killing them?

[Zinjifrah]

I don't think I'd want to eat ground squirrel, not like tree squirrel. There are solar-powered repellent spikes that you can embed in the ground to keep them from digging nearby, but I'm not sure how well they work for ground squirrels - especially if they're coming in on the surface, instead of under it. I was told they work for gophers, but after the pocket gopher killed four fruit trees and a maple without caring in the least about the spikes, I used a kill trap. That thing was huge - it was at least a three-pound gopher. Took the carcass out into the hills, found a coyote, and tossed it some dinner so the animal didn't go to waste. I wasn't keen on the idea of eating gopher, myself, and don't really believe in killing something that won't get used (Other than spiders. But that's self defense, given how sensitive I am to their venom, and only if they're in the house).

I have no ground squirrels on my property, but the repellent I use comes in very expensive-to-feed 1200 lb. packages. They don't like the vibrations in the ground from my horses running around. Getting horses to get rid of ground squirrels may not be viable!

 

[PirateGirl]

I have heard many have success converting to a treadle feeder.

Here is one article from this site on how to build your own if you are handy. They can also be purchased.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/building-a-treadle-chicken-feeder.47900/