Squirrel trick

[Golddollar]

I have a couple of bird feeders hanging from the tree in my front yard I can look at from my front door. They draw sparrows, mourning doves, rabbits and squirrels. The squirrels, rabbits and mourning doves usually usually eat what spills onto the ground because they are too big to sit on the feeder trays. But one squirrel has learned a new trick. The large cylindrical feeder hangs pretty close to the tree trunk. This squirrel has learned to hang upside down on the tree trunk and stick its face into the tray on the bird feeder. But now it has learned a new trick. This squirrel will actually reach out with its front paws and spin the bird feeder to reach all parts of the tray. This wasn't an accidental occurrence, it was a deliberate, repeated act by this squirrel.

I have seen videos about how people try to keep squirrels out of their bird feeders. But I give the squirrels a pass because they provided a lot of entertainment to my late mother when she was bedridden with ALS during the last months of her life.

 

[SMSgt]

Squirrels chewed holes in the eaves of my house. I bought a Havahart trap and a bag of raw peanuts for bait. They get transported to a stand of oaks on the far side of the interstate. I quit counting after I reached 100 captures. That was a couple years ago. I still transport about a squirrel a week. Surprisingly, there are no wooded areas around where you'd think they might be coming from. Yet there is a constant flow on new squirrels.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Put a slinky around your bird feeder post......Much fun watching them trying to climb it...........

 

[SMSgt]

Put a slinky around your bird feeder post......Much fun watching them trying to climb it...........

I tried greasing the pole. I ended up with fat, greasy squirrels.

 

[M29since14]

I give them a pass, too, usually. They are entertaining, but if they become destructive, that’s another thing. They have ruined two of my basement doors. I’d have to kill any that come near those doors, if given the chance.

I have a cheap .410 shotgun that is flat shooting to a fault. It’s worthless for flying targets, but squirrels on the ground are in trouble. They really need to be afraid of the human residents but I have let them forget about that and get out of control.

 

[wuluf]

Reminder from a retired pest control guy, what the squirrels like during the day attracts rats at night..

 

[gjgalligan]

Squirrels chewed holes in the eaves of my house. I bought a Havahart trap and a bag of raw peanuts for bait. They get transported to a stand of oaks on the far side of the interstate. I quit counting after I reached 100 captures. That was a couple years ago. I still transport about a squirrel a week. Surprisingly, there are no wooded areas around where you'd think they might be coming from. Yet there is a constant flow on new squirrels.

I would wonder how many just return "home" after you move them.
How far away are you transporting them?

 

[bigggbbruce]

Reminder from a retired pest control guy, what the squirrels like during the day attracts rats at night..

A squirrel is a rat with a toilet brush.

 

[Rpg]

Years ago I had squirrel issues in a nearby yard. I figured I’d trap them and transport them across town. I trapped and transported a bunch of them without impact on the population near my property. I did some research and decided that the squirrels might be returning. I implemented a color coding system in which I’d paint the squirrels tail green when I caught one. If I caught one with a green tail, I’d paint the tail red. If I caught one with a red tail, I’d drown or shoot the squirrel. I killed a bunch of them that summer.

 

[stonebuster]

I too hung bird feeders from tree limbs to keep squirrels & bears foiled but this bear pulled the line with his paws and held the line in his mouth while he could get another grip with his paws until the feeder flipped over the limb. Smarter than the average bear!

 

[M29since14]

My patience is pretty much exhausted with them. I’m not going to paint their tails or take them joy riding across town. They have acres of woods behind my house where they can create any mischief they choose and no one would even notice. After $5000 worth of doors, it is now “death to the infidels!” Squirrels beware! I make .410 skeet loads every week. It’s no bother at all to do up a handful with #6 shot.

 

[swsig]

Once you've had squirrels infest your house, you'll never feel kindly toward them again. Twice, at considerable expense, I've had to have animal control experts rid them from my attic. I can't shoot them because I live in suburban city neighborhood. As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing more than furry rats that are threats to chew through my wiring and burn down my house. Fortunately, our neighborhood also has gray foxes, who do a pretty good job of holding down the squirrel population, otherwise I'd probably have to have animal control service even more frequently. If you're not familiar with them, gray foxes are the only canines that can climb trees. It's quite entertaining to see one race up a tree, hot on the tail of a squirrel. Yay, foxes! Boo, squirrels!

From my back yard:

 

[stonebuster]

Once you've had squirrels infest your house, you'll never feel kindly toward them again. Twice, at considerable expense, I've had to have animal control experts rid them from my attic. I can't shoot them because I live in suburban city neighborhood. As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing more than furry rats that are threats to chew through my wiring and burn down my house. Fortunately, our neighborhood also has gray foxes, who do a pretty good job of holding down the squirrel population, otherwise I'd probably have to have animal control service even more frequently. If you're not familiar with them, gray foxes are the only canines that can climb trees. It's quite entertaining to see one race up a tree, hot on the tail of a squirrel. Yay, foxes! Boo, squirrels!

From my back yard:
View attachment 890604View attachment 890605

Our Redtail hawks have been feeding grey squirrels to their offspring recently which is entertainment for us. Too bad they don't really put a dent in the squirrel population. The woods surrounding our house is full of Hickory trees and Red Oaks. In the fall it's like walking on marbles in our yard.

 

[Hilldweller]

As you can see from my picture we live in the woods. Every kind of wildlife visits here - minus bears and big cats. Squirrels abound here. There are many, many hazel nut, walnut, and other nut trees both on our property and in the adjoining areas. It’s squirrel heaven.
There are a few that come close to my morning “coffee station” on the front porch area of the deck. Always looking for a hand out. We oblige occasionally but don’t make a habit of it.
Have had a mouse or two in the attic/house but the squirrels haven’t snuck in yet in our 11 years here. I figure they all have too many “tree houses” to bother with our place. That and our dogs are a good deterrent.

They do like the bird feeders though if and when we fill them.

 

[SMSgt]

I would wonder how many just return "home" after you move them.
How far away are you transporting them?

It's about 3-1/2 miles and across I-95.

 

[Jimbo41]

Every few years I thin them out with a pellet gun. Neighbor appreciates that I remove any that I see climbing his house.

 

[bdGreen]

I always send my errant squirrels and rabbits 'on vacation'.
Rabbits... in a 12-month period I dispatched 60 of them.
Squirrels... in a 12-month period I dispatched 26 of them.

Now for the imagery.

All of them were harvested in my backyard. I live in a large community and have a normal size yard.
When the 'city bus' comes on Mondays they get to go on 'vacation'. Yep, gone. Ha.
Bagged and tagged.

And, I deny the allegations.

bdGreen

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

During the "Blizzard of 78" the tenants of one of our apartment complexes started feeding the squirrels. There were already a dozen or more large oak trees, so we ended up with about 40 fat squirrels! I live trapped the first dozen and drown them. Then we transported them to a family friend's farm. I was thinking that we'd have a well-stocked woods for fall hunting. Ney, Ney! These were urban welfare squirrels! The went to the farmhouse down the road and sat on the front porch begging free hand outs! So, the farmer next store used his 22 and shot them all! BTW; it is illegal to transport your problemed wildlife to other locations in Ohio!

If you ever have the chance to grill squirrels, I baste them with Italian Salad Dressing: Very good eating!!

Ivan

Notice: a squirrel infestation is nothing compared to a raccoon infestation! At my farmhouse, over the 30 years we lived there, I killed two to three hundred of the destructive buggers! (my record was six in one night!)

 

[38magnum]

the trick is a person who can shoot, cant afford their favortie brand of cigs, and who will shoot squirrels for cigs.

 

[gjgalligan]

AI:
Squirrels can typically return to their home from distances of 1 to 2 miles, but under certain conditions, they may navigate back from as far as 10 to 15 miles. Factors such as familiarity with the area and availability of resources can influence their ability to return.

 

[M1A4ME]

For almost 40 years we had no issues. We'd see one out back now and then. Then our neighbors started feeding them.

About a month ago I spent $850 to have some wiring/connections for the solar panels replaced on the roof of my house. I don't know if they die or not. I don't care. We attempt to "teach" them to stay away. So far only one had to be put in the trash for disposal. I hope more have gone back to the woods and died.

We had a wired guard system installed on/around the solar panels when the wiring was repaired. Still having issues with the panels not working correctly but I'm hoping it's not more wiring/connection issues after having the guarding installed.

We're still "teaching" the squirrels to stay away. Not sure how well it's working or how many are repeat "customers."

 

[M29since14]

…At my farmhouse, over the 30 years we lived there, I killed two to three hundred of the destructive buggers! (my record was six in one night!)

Good work! My own record occurred when I caught three of the scumbags at once in a single Havahart trap. I have no idea how they all got in there and the door securely closed, but there they were! I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it!

I used to transport them a few miles to an isolated area along the river, still within my county, then I learned transporting them was only “marginally legal,” and for various reasons, a majority do nor survive relocation anyway. Not wanting any discussions with conservation officers that I could not be sure would end favorably for me, I began shooting instead of trapping.

I’m not sure which may be worse - squirrels or raccoons.

 

[marinevet]

I caught two at the same time in my live trap once...........they were not happy......

 

[absolutevil]

Occasionally I’m forced to deploy a few traps to deport a load, usually when they start to climb on the bird feeders. When I was working I had a 17 mile drive so a squirrel would sometimes take a ride to the PD parking lot. Now I use one Havaheart trap and a trap that can catch multiple treerats and I take them for a leisurely drive to a remote wooded area.
I have no affiliation with this company but this is the trap. It does work but I’ve never caught more than two or three at a time.
SQUIRRELINATOR.COM CB .22 ammunition works best for me.

 

[gwpercle]

We have set up two bird feeders and two squirrel feeders in our back yard ...
If you cant Beat em ... Feed Em !
Now everyone gets fed and the squirrels dont eat the bird seed or try to get into the house attic .
Gary

 

[Greyman50]

They are simply tree rats. Dealt with them for years with our bird feeders and figured how to completely defeat them. Love birds.

 

[stonebuster]

At least if the Apocalypse happens we won't starve. We can survive by eating squirrels.

 

[Mike LaNier]

Our problem is not squirrels, it's "Flickers", a species of woodpecker that are 'protected' by Federal law. They've invaded both ends of our 2nd story house, pecking through the screening on the vents. Bird poop everywhere, and we're unable to destroy them due to the protection... and it's too tall to the roof for a normal ladder to replace the screening with heavier material, so most local contractors won't even come look. At 83, I don't do ladders anyway. We might just have to learn to live with them...

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Our problem is not squirrels, it's "Flickers", a species of woodpecker that are 'protected' by Federal law. They've invaded both ends of our 2nd story house, pecking through the screening on the vents. Bird poop everywhere, and we're unable to destroy them due to the protection... and it's too tall to the roof for a normal ladder to replace the screening with heavier material, so most local contractors won't even come look. At 83, I don't do ladders anyway. We might just have to learn to live with them...

In 1980 I built our house..........Had the same problem even before I was through..........Somehow they mysteriously went away.