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Old 25-07-2003, 04:32 PM
Andrew McMichael
 
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Default Tomatoes and Squirrels

Phaedrine Stonebridge wrote:

In article ,
"Mile High" wrote:

Any suggestions for deterring squirrels from eating my beautiful tomatoes?


Shoot them before you go to work (unless you are prohibited of course).


If you use a BB/pellet gun, most everywhere in the US allows this as a removal
of a nuisance creature. Check with your local law enforcement, to be sure, but
emphasize that the animals are destroying property and that you plan to shoot
them with an air gun. The main problem you may have is that many people hunt
squirrels for food, and so their is an established hunting season for the
creatures.

If you do decide to shoot them [and I've been doing it on an off for years],
get a BB gun that can shoot at a high velocity, use flat-head pellets, and
practice before you go out to shoot them. Squirrels are tough creatures, and
it isn't easy to kill them with a single shot from a BB gun. If you hit them
anywhere behind the front legs, they'll likely run away and suffer. Hitting
them in the head or in front of the legs with a BB also won't ensure a quick
kill. A flat-head pellet to the chest or head will knock them down, and you
can finish them with another shot if necessary. I'm a pretty dead shot with my
BB gun, and can knock a squirrel down anywhere out to about 50 yards. But I
always use the pellets, and won't shoot if I can't hit the head.



Andrew