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Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
The message
from Martin Pentreath contains these words: I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). Plan B and a lot of practice. You're unlikely to lure a sqrl into a tunnel. You could try erecting a board/piece of sheet a few inches above the ground and putting peanuts under that to accustom it to the cover, then glueing peanuts to the #### and burying it as before. With the board set high enough not to be threatening, and low enough to deter birds, you *MIGHT* succeed. Want a recipe for sqrl? -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). Why kill the squirrels? |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
Rusty_Hinge wrote:
The message from Martin Pentreath contains these words: I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). Plan B and a lot of practice. You're unlikely to lure a sqrl into a tunnel. You could try erecting a board/piece of sheet a few inches above the ground and putting peanuts under that to accustom it to the cover, then glueing peanuts to the #### and burying it as before. With the board set high enough not to be threatening, and low enough to deter birds, you *MIGHT* succeed. Want a recipe for sqrl? Might I suggest the OP learns to use his airgun well? Much better to eat what you kill if they are edible. I have plenty of recipes if anyone is interested:) |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:52:33 +0000, pied piper wrote:
Why kill the squirrels? Because they are incredibly destructive vermin? OP: bricks and slate works for me, I don't use any 'bait' - their natural curiosity usually gets them. |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). I feed mine peanuts. I quite like to watch them. mark |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). So what is it these particular squirrels are doing in your house/garden that merits the death penalty? If you really need to kill them, and you can't manage it properly yourself, why not hire an expert to do it for you, as quickly and cleanly as possible? A person who has qualms about the use of poison bait would also be wise to avoid shooting at free animals unless and until confident of making a clean kill, by the way. |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 16/3/09 10:42, in article net, "mark" wrote: "Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). I feed mine peanuts. I quite like to watch them. mark They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs. Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and, more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations. In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be? |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:08:38 +0000, BAC wrote:
A person who has qualms about the use of poison bait would also be wise to avoid shooting at free animals unless and until confident of making a clean kill, by the way. Agreed. Sod the air-rifle, get a 12-bore. |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
"BAC" wrote in message ... "Sacha" wrote in message ... On 16/3/09 10:42, in article net, "mark" wrote: "Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). I feed mine peanuts. I quite like to watch them. mark They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs. Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and, more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations. In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be? I would guess that cats do more than their share of keeping the bird population down. mark |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
On 16/3/09 11:52, in article ,
"BAC" wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message ... On 16/3/09 10:42, in article net, "mark" wrote: "Martin Pentreath" wrote in message ... I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof tile on top - no success that way either. I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). I feed mine peanuts. I quite like to watch them. mark They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs. Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and, more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations. In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be? We actively encourage birdlife here. They're a vital part of the biological controls we use! So if bird numbers fall here it's because squirrels take eggs or a sparrowhawk has come calling! One of our staff caught one in the big greenhouse a while ago and there are photos of it on our web site - beautiful but deadly! -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
The message
from "pied piper" contains these words: Why kill the squirrels? Now you've started something. And before you have time to berathe out... -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
The message
from Rusty_Hinge contains these words: #### Sorry about that - was going to try to unforget the name of the trigger plate - it has one, but for the life of me... -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
Who's got squirrel-trapping experience?
The message
from "Ophelia" contains these words: Rusty_Hinge wrote: The message from Martin Pentreath contains these words: I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship). Plan B and a lot of practice. You're unlikely to lure a sqrl into a tunnel. You could try erecting a board/piece of sheet a few inches above the ground and putting peanuts under that to accustom it to the cover, then glueing peanuts to the #### and burying it as before. With the board set high enough not to be threatening, and low enough to deter birds, you *MIGHT* succeed. Want a recipe for sqrl? Might I suggest the OP learns to use his airgun well? Much better to eat what you kill if they are edible. I have plenty of recipes if anyone is interested:) As I said: "Plan B, and a lot of practice" -- Rusty Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk |
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