On 2008-04-25 08:41:44 +0100, "Clive in Kent"
said:

Hi Martin,

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Not a post for the lovers of fluffy animals. Our garden is getting
rather over-run with grey squirrels. I've already changed the bird
feeder for the type with the tube inside a cage, which has defeated
them. But now I've found that they've taken to digging up plants as
part of their foraging, and in particular bulbs which they eat
(they've cleared one whole bed in two days). Seems that they also eat
songbird eggs and fledglings, and I'm getting worried that they'll get
into the roofspace of the house.

I've just been doing some research into the use of spring traps
(particularly the Fenn mk 4) within a suitably constructed artificial
tunnel with a constricted entrance to keep other species out (there
are no red squirrels around to be careful of). Does anyone have any
tips about this? I did look into live-capture cage traps, but on the
whole I think it's probably more stressful for the animal than a quick
clean kill, and in fact as pests it's illegal to release them
elsewhere anyway.

Cheers!

Martin

I find a well aimed air rifle can have the desired effect. I've "taken-out"
about 6 from my garden this year with this method! Just wish the bloody
rabbits would stand still long enough for me to have the same success!!

Clive in Kent

Buy a Deerhound. (or any other kind of sighthound for that matter). No
more rabbits, squirrels or foxes. I think the ones that are left in the
area are too terrified to come anywhere near the garden now! 50Kg of
teeth and fur coming at you like an exocet missile does that.

The squirrels tend to get away as they can go vertical, but the rabbits
almost never do.