I have my bird feeder going now that it's winter. I like watching the birds in the winter; their plumage is very colorful against the dreary winter sky. Of course, there are a couple squirrels attracted, too. They don't cause any damage, but Angel the crazy Weimaraner loves chasing them. So, would it be mean to trap one once in a while and let it loose over in the ball field and let the dog run it down? Or try to? I suppose there are laws, and probably the ASPCA, that would prevent me from doing this...if I got caught. Has anyone given their dog a workout by doing this? Or should I spend the $50 on something else? (Like therapy, maybe.) She's caught a couple rabbits this past summer in my yard. It's fenced in so the small furry animals that visit have an escape advantage and most always win.
Live squirrel traps
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GypsmJim
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Been there, done that. A Havahart (sp.?) trap is your friend.
First, when you dispose of them be sure to drive 2 counties away because if you only go to your local park the same one WILL come back.
Secondly, practice opening the trap with a cloth over the top. When you get a skunk that will be your needed procedure.
Finally, if your neighborhood is well tree lined and you have squirrels everywhere, forget it, you'll be collecting them every day.
First, when you dispose of them be sure to drive 2 counties away because if you only go to your local park the same one WILL come back.
Secondly, practice opening the trap with a cloth over the top. When you get a skunk that will be your needed procedure.
Finally, if your neighborhood is well tree lined and you have squirrels everywhere, forget it, you'll be collecting them every day.
OP
"you'll be collecting them every day." GypsmJim
That's the fun part! We had one up at our camp back in the 60s & 70s. Dad used to keep a log of everything we caught. The 'coons were the craziest! The Army blanket (or Navy blankets to Dad!) Worked for that one. Never caught a skunk. I figure if one gets past Angel & makes its way back here, it earned its right to live!
Now to find a tiny branding iron to identify them as survivors...
That's the fun part! We had one up at our camp back in the 60s & 70s. Dad used to keep a log of everything we caught. The 'coons were the craziest! The Army blanket (or Navy blankets to Dad!) Worked for that one. Never caught a skunk. I figure if one gets past Angel & makes its way back here, it earned its right to live!
Now to find a tiny branding iron to identify them as survivors...
Torturing a small animal, even a nuisance one seems to pretty wrong to me on all levels. But I like animals way better then I like people.
My son has a Jack Russell, she will chase anything willing to run.
Too much cover for her to catch anything, usually.
She did catch a rat one time and she had the weirdest look on her face like, "OK, caught it. Now what??" She eventually figured it out but her catching skills still need to improve.
Too much cover for her to catch anything, usually.
She did catch a rat one time and she had the weirdest look on her face like, "OK, caught it. Now what??" She eventually figured it out but her catching skills still need to improve.
Maddog 521
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I have caught them and then released them at the lake. They are a problem sometimes. I've had them in the attic and patched up holes they have chewed.
House damage here also, so no love for squirrels. I've trapped well over 100 and released them in an unpopulated oak grove a few miles away on the other side of a busy interstate. I doubt they are coming back.
As for using them for a sacrificial training aid, the local fish & game would probably frown on it.
As for using them for a sacrificial training aid, the local fish & game would probably frown on it.
Losing battle. Sure you may catch a few but they will return.
Live in Harmony!
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWA7YqLlSRo[/ame]
You have to watch this video!
He has other videos He was a NASA engineer
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg[/ame]
Live in Harmony!
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWA7YqLlSRo[/ame]
You have to watch this video!
He has other videos He was a NASA engineer[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg[/ame]
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Losing battle. Sure you may catch a few but they will return.
Live in Harmony!
Yankee Flipper Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder - YouTube
You have to watch this video!
Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0- Ninja Warrior Course - YouTube
The birds spill enough seed out of the feeder to take care of the squirrels around here.
Rpg
Member
Squirrels have a better homing instinct than pigeons.
Years ago I had a squirrel problem around the house.so I started trapping them and taking them for a long relocation ride. Didn’t seem to reduce the population around the house so I started painting their tails green before relocating them. If I found one with a green tail, I painted them red. If I find one with a red tail, I kill it.
Last summer I killed 27 red tailed squirrels.
Years ago I had a squirrel problem around the house.so I started trapping them and taking them for a long relocation ride. Didn’t seem to reduce the population around the house so I started painting their tails green before relocating them. If I found one with a green tail, I painted them red. If I find one with a red tail, I kill it.
Last summer I killed 27 red tailed squirrels.
OP
Yes, I do like most animals more than people, too. I’ve been thinking about this since I posted about it earlier. My fenced in area is about 30 yards from the house to back, then maybe 20 yards wide. This would be more sporting for the squirrel. When Angel caught the first rabbit, it died a quick death. She carried it back to me like a proud puppy with that “puppy trot”; big smile on her face as she trotted up. A Kodak moment for sure! I hate to waste a good sporting dog on footballs and 2 X 4s! I also need pictures or it never happened.
‘The only good varmint… is dead varmint…”
Check your state and local laws. Many places outlaw the relocation of wildlife.
My buddy lived on a farm and there was no shortage of squirrels, possums, raccoons and skunks causing mischief and damage. He would catch them in a havahart trap and then drop the trap in a 55 gallon drum full of water, from there they got tossed onto the burn pile.
Hav-a-harts work too well, loaded with peanut butter I have often heard them slam shut before I got inside. I use the small one, too small for adult skunks, although if one were determined enough it could get partially in and set it off and probably escape. My neighbors feed them, they dig holes and every year I have walnut trees, etc. coming up in my yard. These are not native squirrels and as such are not protected, in the same manner as the Eurasian Rock Doves we have which are larger than Mourning Doves. I live trap them and then drive them to the other side of the prairie and drop them off in a nicely wooded area. Its funny to watch them come out of that trap like a heat seeking missile. We suffered damage from native squirrels while maintaining property in Canada, when we first got there I noticed all these can lids nailed onto the cabin walls and even the floor in places. "What are these for?" Didn't take long to find out, they are super destructive and will fill up an outhouse with pine cones in a good season. Canadian neighbors informed me its a loosing battle, find where they are gnawing in and cover it with tin, they will try somewhere else...one must stay vigilant or the squirrels will win. They frown on killing the offending varmint, a good cat will work well but in order for him to work well you can't make a housepet out of him and feed him, he will feed himself. Your Maine-Coon cat developed a good name for himself by keeping squirrel populations down. My cats are all too spoiled, they catch mice, play with them, let them go.
OP
That second video up there. I wet myself ( figuratively)! That guy needs to be my neighbor. Not for the animals, but for my amusement!
And peanut butter was the best and cheapest bait. After that was an empty sardine can.
And peanut butter was the best and cheapest bait. After that was an empty sardine can.
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GypsmJim
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That's why you use a "Have A Heart" trap. No torture, no abuse and the animal is happy to be released.
(Of course OTOH, a gallery rimfire round thru the the screen and that's the easy way of relocation. No muss, no fuss, no noise and neighbors don't have a clue)
Puller
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charlie sherrill
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Back to the skunk thing. Several years ago I had two crazy brothers for neighbors. They lived nearby with their grand mother. A racoon had been causing problems around their house so brother #1 (some of you may remember of me writing about Dr. E several years ago) set a trap to catch the coon. He caught a skunk instead. Dr. E was smart enough to know that he needed to have something between him and the skunk when he went to getting him out of the trap (Havahart) so he got an old Army blanket from his grand father to cover the trap while he tried to release the skunk. The skunk did as expected and soaked the blanket. Dr. E managed to release the skunk but had "skunk juice" (his description) all over him and the blanket. As Dr. E came back in the house to try and shower off the yuck he noticed his brother "Crazy Andy" snoozing peacefully on the couch. He went back outside, got the nasty blanket off the tailgate of the truck, went back inside and dove on the head of his sleeping brother wrapping him up inside the blanket. Dr. E said he was able to hold him down for about five minutes. "Maw Maw" came home to a wrecked skunk smelling living room. It took months to get the smell out.
