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Controlling squirrels
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 |
Quote:
I would not go for live trapping - I feel like you that it is stressful and leaves you with a problem of what to do with the trapped vermin. Do you have a friendly gamekeeper around to ask about the effectiveness of the trap? |
Controlling squirrels
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 |
Controlling squirrels
On 25 Apr, 08:41, "Clive in Kent"
wrote: 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 Hi Clive, I had seriously considered this, but I've never used any type of firearms, and I'd probably end up injuring them rather than killing. Can I ask what sort of air rifle you use? Is it difficult? Martin |
Controlling squirrels
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. |
Controlling squirrels
Hi Martin
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... On 25 Apr, 08:41, "Clive in Kent" wrote: 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 Hi Clive, I had seriously considered this, but I've never used any type of firearms, and I'd probably end up injuring them rather than killing. Can I ask what sort of air rifle you use? Is it difficult? Martin I use a .22 with telescopic sights and pointed pellets. Aim for the head / neck area - instant kill! You can pick these up fairly reasonable on the internet and you don't need a license Clive in Kent |
Controlling squirrels
"Clive in Kent @hotmail.com" cliverholdenremove wrote in message . .. Hi Martin "Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... On 25 Apr, 08:41, "Clive in Kent" wrote: 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 Hi Clive, I had seriously considered this, but I've never used any type of firearms, and I'd probably end up injuring them rather than killing. Can I ask what sort of air rifle you use? Is it difficult? Martin I use a .22 with telescopic sights and pointed pellets. Aim for the head / neck area - instant kill! You can pick these up fairly reasonable on the internet and you don't need a license Is our resident anti-squirrel nutter unwell? I'm surprised he's not been promoting the purchase of traps from Mole Valley Farmers, as usual. |
Controlling squirrels
"BAC" wrote in message ... "Clive in Kent @hotmail.com" cliverholdenremove wrote in message . .. Hi Martin "Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... On 25 Apr, 08:41, "Clive in Kent" wrote: 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 Hi Clive, I had seriously considered this, but I've never used any type of firearms, and I'd probably end up injuring them rather than killing. Can I ask what sort of air rifle you use? Is it difficult? Martin I use a .22 with telescopic sights and pointed pellets. Aim for the head / neck area - instant kill! You can pick these up fairly reasonable on the internet and you don't need a license Is our resident anti-squirrel nutter unwell? I'm surprised he's not been promoting the purchase of traps from Mole Valley Farmers, as usual. I was just about to, the traps are very effective and once dead the tree rats do not come back, they are more reliable than trying to shot the damned things as well, I'm not saying you should not try to shoot the bloody things, but I doubt with my shakes I would be able to kill the things that way. Mole valley famers have branches around the south west of england, the one I use is at Bridgwater. Alan |
Controlling squirrels
"Clive in Kent @hotmail.com" cliverholdenremove wrote in message ... Just wish the bloody rabbits would stand still long enough for me to have the same success!! Blow them a kiss (really). A squeaky drawn out kiss noise is very close to a rabbit distress call and will freeze them for a couple of seconds while they listen. Tom |
Controlling squirrels
On 25 Apr, 23:06, "alan holmes" wrote:
I was just about to, the traps are very effective and once dead the tree rats do not come back, they are more reliable than trying to shot the damned things as well, I'm not saying you should not try to shoot the bloody things, but I doubt with my shakes I would be able to kill the things that way. Mole valley famers have branches around the south west of england, the one I use is at Bridgwater. Alan Hi Alan, I've just checked out their website at http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/ but the link to vermin traps http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/pl2_VERMIN_TRAPS.htm gives a 404 error, very disappointing! I was planning on ordering something like this http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=578 to go in a tunnel like this http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=580 These ones seem to have a good press, but it looks like you need to make your own tunnel from bits a wood http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=584 I've got a touch of the DTs too which I think makes guns inadvisable, apart from the traps being a lot cheaper and less time consuming. When you say the tree rats don't come back, you obviously mean the dead ones don't, but I guess the vacant territory gets taken over by an adjacent gang, meaning squirrel trapping will become an ongoing part of the gardening experience, oh what joy. They make nice caseroles apparently. Cheers! Martin |
Controlling squirrels
On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:50:23 +0100, Martin Pentreath wrote
(in article ): On 25 Apr, 23:06, "alan holmes" wrote: I was just about to, the traps are very effective and once dead the tree rats do not come back, they are more reliable than trying to shot the damned things as well, I'm not saying you should not try to shoot the bloody things, but I doubt with my shakes I would be able to kill the things that way. Mole valley famers have branches around the south west of england, the one I use is at Bridgwater. Alan Hi Alan, I've just checked out their website at http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/ but the link to vermin traps http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/pl2_VERMIN_TRAPS.htm gives a 404 error, very disappointing! I get the same on several of the links (not just vermin control), but I've noticed it says that the site is a "Testing Development Site" so maybe you could email them with your query? -- Sally in Shropshire, UK http://www.freerice.com/index.php Give free rice to hungry people by playing a simple word game |
Controlling squirrels
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... On 25 Apr, 23:06, "alan holmes" wrote: I was just about to, the traps are very effective and once dead the tree rats do not come back, they are more reliable than trying to shot the damned things as well, I'm not saying you should not try to shoot the bloody things, but I doubt with my shakes I would be able to kill the things that way. Mole valley famers have branches around the south west of england, the one I use is at Bridgwater. Alan Hi Alan, I've just checked out their website at http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/ but the link to vermin traps http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/pl2_VERMIN_TRAPS.htm gives a 404 error, very disappointing! I was planning on ordering something like this http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=578 to go in a tunnel like this http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=580 These ones seem to have a good press, but it looks like you need to make your own tunnel from bits a wood http://www.killgerm.com/product-group.php?group=584 I use a black bin bag round mine, it works quite well except the damned things try to eat the plastic, which means you have to replace it now and again, they will also try to claw their way out of the wood tunnel so that would have to be replaced from time to time, not as often as the bin bags though!(:-) I've got a touch of the DTs too which I think makes guns inadvisable, apart from the traps being a lot cheaper and less time consuming. When you say the tree rats don't come back, you obviously mean the dead ones don't, but I guess the vacant territory gets taken over by an adjacent gang, meaning squirrel trapping will become an ongoing part of the gardening experience, oh what joy. They make nice caseroles apparently. I've never found one to have enough meat on it to try to cook it! Alan |
Controlling squirrels
"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 They make great eating. http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._squirrel.html |
Controlling squirrels
In message , Mr X
writes They make great eating. http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._squirrel.html I have seen the same exactly the same recipe but in mine the bottom line reads: "Finally, remove the squirrel, throw away the stock and eat the pan!" -- Zak |
Quote:
I hang a strong bird feeder which has a perforated tube with pot top and bottom filled with peanuts just for the squirrels, it keeps them off the sunflowers feeders. I have obserevd that when local populations grow too large something happens to make them disappear. I think the are subject to a certain desease. I never have to resort to killing. I suppose it depends what is meant by being 'overrun'. I can get up to 8 of them then, down to one or two which again builds over 2 or 3 years back up, then repeats. OP |
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