On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:31:54 -0700, Dan Musicant
wrote:

:They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales,
:don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in
:Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular
:has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of
:at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have
:a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2
:casualties a day.
:
an
:
:
:Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net

This squirrel is smart, very smart. It did a Houdini to escape my live
squirrel trap, just bought on eBay, 16 x 6 x 6 inches. It definitely was
in the trap and escaped. I think it's probably a red squirrel. I tried
the live trap again, and the damned thing got the bait out of the trap
without going inside. Masterful! I had peanut buttered the last 5" or so
of a stick and set it into the trap from above. Hard to believe the
rodent figured out how to get that stick out, but it did and ate all the
PNB. I think it's probably the same squirrel that's been harassing me
for 3 years or so, but he's getting better and better. He stopped
hitting the rat traps I have out there (around 6, all baited with PN
butter).

I deduced that the live trap isn't big enough. This is a BIG squirrel. I
saw it again today and I think the nose to end of tail it's about 20-22
inches. The tail keeps the gate from closing on the trap and it somehow
got out, either turning around inside or lifting its tail and backing
out. I thought of returning the trap and ordering a bigger one but
instead I modified the trap today, adding 10" to the length with some
wire mesh I had lying around. I have it set now, and think this time I'm
likely to get the bugger. I'm going to let it out several miles from my
house.

Dan



Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net