What do you do about MILITANT squirrels?

[Funky Chooks]

We are seriously looking into that one! Thanks!

 

[Funky Chooks]

I use a squirrel trap.Catch and dispose.Sometimes I get 3 or 4 a day.Nice quiet removal.Squirrelnator.Saw it at my feed store for 40.Comes with a plastic tray.

***Oops, I messed up again!

I meant to say thank you for the info, we are seriously looking into this trap!

 

[Funky Chooks]

Our squirrel population is kept in check by the coyote/fox population.

It's the chipmunk population, fueled by a neighbor feeding them, which is rampantly expanding. We took matters into our own hands, so to speak.

Got some traps (rat) and put the traps around where we store our chick feed in the barn. Caught them within 10min of putting out traps. Caught over 28 of 'em last season. Still saw some last fall - musta moved into the abandoned houses full of OUR chick feed! GRRRRR.....

Yes, use whatever means necessary. Traps, bb's, whatever works! We 'hosted' ours in 'Camp Frigidaire' until garbage collection day. Garbage man must have wondered what all these little bitty baggies were (used plastic bags from stores to put carcasses in). Took us longer to get them through the trash system than to catch 'em. We only put trash out once a month!

Good luck!

Oh that is SO funny! "Camp Frigidaire!" I never heard that one before. I gotta tell you, my SO and myself have had these conversations over the last couple of days, so your timing is awesome! Thank you so much for the advice and the laugh! We've been considering what on earth we would do, and since the ground is frozen solid, well....

Heh.

 

[Funky Chooks]

Rats with tails is exactly what they are. I run a rat rescue (for pet rats, not the wild variety) so obviously don't have the animosity towards them than many have; but am certainly on board to the wild varieties falling into pest categories. I'm in the live trapping camp; but never tried it with squirrels as I don't have a population problem; with rats it's tricky(ish) as they need to be transported at least a mile from their home or they'll find it again; since squirrels are closely related, I can only assume the same is true with them as well. The OP's situation doesn't sound great. I think as long as your neighbor is providing for them, then you'll be fighting a losing battle unless you go all out "caddyshack" on them...

Have you tried addressing the issue with your neighbor? He may be willing to slow down on the feeding if he's made aware of the situation. I think the environment needs to be made less friendly for the squirrels before you can make a significant impact on their population.

Hehee! Now I have to watch Caddyshack! It's been too long for me to figure out the reference. I can tell you this: we ARE going to go all Caddyshack on them, whatever that means as long as it's unpleasant!

I'm afraid our neighbor is one of these people who cannot be reasoned with. It's not something I know for absolute certain, but I am 95% sure. He just loves them and I am sure would see no negative impact since it does not affect him in an adverse way. Anyway, thanks for asking though-- we've tried to look at all angles and it sure would help if he weren't so squirrel-friendly. But we literally see him feed them every single day. He goes on long walks throughout the neighborhood, and I believe squadrons of squirrels follow him everywhere he goes. (No joke.)

 

[bowen012]

If he feeds them in a regular location you could try adding chili powder, or other hot spices to a similar food mix and leaving it for them. Spices don't set well with them evidently. This would be a long process as its behavior modification. Live trapping or pellet sniping are quicker remedies fore sure.

 

[Funky Chooks]

Unfortunately, he feeds them in his large backyard which is adjacent to my property. There are many, many trees. He also walks the neighborhood multiple times a day feeding them everywhere he goes.... peanuts. The man must buy a lot of peanuts. He's probably done this for decades. Ugh.

 

[Mattemma]

Hopefully he can not see into your yard.If not lure them into your yard.Trap and dunk. I have trapped over 40 coons and possums.Caught maybe 10 or 11 squirrels. I have seen a few you tube videos with snares and various other traps(like conibear) that would work well.The mouse thread had a cement mix suggestion that might work,but you would want it secure so non-targets do not eat it.

Good luck! You will bring those numbers down.Too bad it is not illegal to feed them. I know feeding the deer around here is illegal.Should be for feeding coons and squirrels too!

 

[Funky Chooks]

Hopefully he can not see into your yard.If not lure them into your yard.Trap and dunk. I have trapped over 40 coons and possums.Caught maybe 10 or 11 squirrels. I have seen a few you tube videos with snares and various other traps(like conibear) that would work well.The mouse thread had a cement mix suggestion that might work,but you would want it secure so non-targets do not eat it.

Good luck! You will bring those numbers down.Too bad it is not illegal to feed them. I know feeding the deer around here is illegal.Should be for feeding coons and squirrels too!

The absolute best thing about the house we are renting is that it has this large sunroom that we use as an office, and a huge backyard, which is about 80% private. There is a solid hedge between he and us, and we plan on putting a trap of some kind behind the coop area. No one can see that rather larger area, so we are good to go. I'm so new to this and dumb that I thought we'd have to shoot them through the trap! HA! Well, dunking is a much better option. And somehow, satisfying. I'm not a sadistic person, I swear, but these squirrels have been -- well I should film it or something, and even PETA would have pity!

Thank you for the new option (mix) that we had not even heard of! Muuuuahahahhaaaa!

 

[jak2002003]

Do you usually get a lot of figs before the squirrel problem?

It might be cheaper to just buy the figs from the store, rather than paying out money for pets control stuff like traps and ammo + the time you will have to spend doing all that stuff (which will be a long time as the little devils will keep breeding to replace their numbers.

The only sure way of getting their population down is to get that neighbour to stop feeding them. But I guess he will be really upset as he seems to really like them.

 

[jeepguy982001]

I'd put out a pile of peanuts and find a good spot to sit with your bb gun and have at it.