squirrels
Re: squirrels
How about a motion activated sprinkler?
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Re: squirrels
I assume you live in an incorporated area? If not, a well placed .22 and you've got dinner as well as taking care of your problem.
If real guns are out of the question, maybe a bb gun or pellet gun might be an option (?).
If real guns are out of the question, maybe a bb gun or pellet gun might be an option (?).
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Re: squirrels
Take them out! Cages are a humane way, there are other more "creative" methods but your neighbors may not take kindly to squirrels dropping out of the trees dead. Think chemistry.....
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: squirrels
A .22 short doesn't make much noise, and if you can find them, .22 CB caps are about as loud as a pellet gun.thewizzer wrote:I assume you live in an incorporated area? If not, a well placed .22 and you've got dinner as well as taking care of your problem.
If real guns are out of the question, maybe a bb gun or pellet gun might be an option (?).
Greg
Re: squirrels
When I was a kid my father would get rid of pesky squirrels that way, then would give me the squirrel tails to tie on my bike handles as I cruised around our small town. Probably frowned on today. Edit: never did like the fried squirrel meat, too gamey.thewizzer wrote:I assume you live in an incorporated area? If not, a well placed .22 and you've got dinner as well as taking care of your problem.
If real guns are out of the question, maybe a bb gun or pellet gun might be an option (?).
Last edited by jdb on Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: squirrels
We have had several threads on squirrels and the problems they cause:
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1791192
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1722149
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1717020
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1791192
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1722149
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... s#p1717020
Gordon
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Re: squirrels
Actually, they are a LOT better in a good Brunswick stew.jdb wrote:When I was a kid my father would get rid of pesky squirrels that way, then would give me the squirrel tails to tie on my bike handles as I cruised around our small town. Probably frowned on today. Edit: never did like the fried squirrel meat, too gamey.
http://www.justgamerecipes.com/gam-squir013.html
http://www.astray.com/recipes/?show=Squ ... ick%20stew
They are gamey, but not as sweet as raccoon.
Re: squirrels
Acorn laced with deadly chemicals? Dead Squirrels walking!
Re: squirrels
I saw on that show Shark Tank a buy making little electrified bird feeders to give squirrels a little shock, thought that was pretty funny.
I'd probably go with a high powered pellet gun if you've tried other methods and those aren't working. A well placed pellet to the head would make short work of the squirrels.
I actually hunted squirrels once, wanted to try squirrel. So I shot 3 squirrels and was going to clean them. Reached in my tackle box for a knife to clean the squirrels and stuck a big treble hook right into my finger next to the nail and it went in almost all the way through my finger...I couldn't push it the rest of the way through so went to the ER where they numbed my finger and then the nurse tried to push it through unsuccessfully so I just pushed it through myself and had them clip the barb off so I could slide it back out the way it came. Never did get to clean and eat those squirrels so I still haven't tried squirrel
I'd probably go with a high powered pellet gun if you've tried other methods and those aren't working. A well placed pellet to the head would make short work of the squirrels.
I actually hunted squirrels once, wanted to try squirrel. So I shot 3 squirrels and was going to clean them. Reached in my tackle box for a knife to clean the squirrels and stuck a big treble hook right into my finger next to the nail and it went in almost all the way through my finger...I couldn't push it the rest of the way through so went to the ER where they numbed my finger and then the nurse tried to push it through unsuccessfully so I just pushed it through myself and had them clip the barb off so I could slide it back out the way it came. Never did get to clean and eat those squirrels so I still haven't tried squirrel
Re: squirrels
If I am stupid I will pay.
Re: squirrels
there are a few ways to kill them without using a gun (which could get you in trouble depending on where you live and how close the neighbors are).
If you know what they climb up/down, you could do it the survival way and build a squirrel pole. Essentially it is a stick with a bunch of snares, the squirrel jumps through them and eventually gets caught and hanged. Google will show you how to build one.
The other way is to take a 5-gallon jug and fill it half with water. Then coat the top with bird seed (or anything else they'll eat), and provide a ramp for them to climb up to the top with. They'll jump in after the food only to find out it is water and drown. My pool sort of works like this, only there is no food and it is pretty disgusting to find them in there when I do plan on swimming
With either method eventually there won't be many squirrels left near your place.
If you know what they climb up/down, you could do it the survival way and build a squirrel pole. Essentially it is a stick with a bunch of snares, the squirrel jumps through them and eventually gets caught and hanged. Google will show you how to build one.
The other way is to take a 5-gallon jug and fill it half with water. Then coat the top with bird seed (or anything else they'll eat), and provide a ramp for them to climb up to the top with. They'll jump in after the food only to find out it is water and drown. My pool sort of works like this, only there is no food and it is pretty disgusting to find them in there when I do plan on swimming
With either method eventually there won't be many squirrels left near your place.
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Re: squirrels
Dead neighborhood pets, too.davebo wrote:Acorn laced with deadly chemicals? Dead Squirrels walking!
Re: squirrels
Crosman 2240 Bolt Action, CO2, single shot, 22 caliber.
Reasonably priced (currently under $50 at Amazon) , VERY accurate, and not extremely noisy. A great pellet pistol for small pests and target shooting.
Reasonably priced (currently under $50 at Amazon) , VERY accurate, and not extremely noisy. A great pellet pistol for small pests and target shooting.
Last edited by ndchamp on Wed Sep 25, 2013 1:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: squirrels
Creamy peanut butter with a tad bit of rat repellent placed on an ice cream stick (wear disposable surgical gloves when mixing it up and only mix it up as you need it - less chance of unintended consequences). In a few weeks, you'll see less of them around.
Place it at the scene of the crime - your eaten plants.
Place it at the scene of the crime - your eaten plants.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: squirrels
I'm a big softie when it comes to furry critters. I'd use a trap. It's easy, it works and you don't have to hang around waiting to shoot them or risk poisoning the wrong animal.
I'm up to 35 chipmunks in the last year. The little b@stards dig up my yard so they get trapped and taken to the horse farm up the road.
If you're going to cook a squirrel - making a stew is definitely the way to go.
I'm up to 35 chipmunks in the last year. The little b@stards dig up my yard so they get trapped and taken to the horse farm up the road.
If you're going to cook a squirrel - making a stew is definitely the way to go.
Re: squirrels
Could just rig a physical barrier from their access route? A small bit of construction/garden fencing, etc? If you find something that works, it might actually be more permanent than killing them, since they can always come back. They're pretty crafty, so it's possible they'll outsmart your device, but if it makes it dangerous or inconvenient enough for them, they'll just go elsewhere. We have a ton of squirrels, who used to dig up our garden like crazy which made sprouting tender seeds very difficult. A bit of plastic garden fencing was all it took to dissuade them. They can surely climb over it if they want to, but it proved to be enough. Other neighbors had covered their entire boxes with bird netting, which was probably overkill.
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. -- GK Chesterton
Re: squirrels
Atilla wrote: If you're going to cook a squirrel - making a stew is definitely the way to go.
Chicken of the Trees. Braise (until tender) with cream of mushroom soup, a bit of red wine, sliced onions, garlic powder and potatoes, and you have yourself a pretty good redneck meal.
I've eaten squirrels many times. They're OK, but not as tasty or tender or easy to prepare as rabbit.
Before shooting, it might be wise to consider hunting and game laws in your jurisdiction. In PA, squirrels are game animals, with a set season and a hunting license is required. I don't know about other states, but doubt they are considered a varmint you can kill at will.
"The course of history shows that as the government grows, liberty decreases." Thomas Jefferson
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Re: squirrels
New York State has no limits, you can take as many as you can take out with no. 6 or a .22 (anything larger will ruin the meat) The new season opens up Oct 1 and runs through Sept. 30th next year.deanbrew wrote:Atilla wrote: If you're going to cook a squirrel - making a stew is definitely the way to go.
Chicken of the Trees. Braise (until tender) with cream of mushroom soup, a bit of red wine, sliced onions, garlic powder and potatoes, and you have yourself a pretty good redneck meal.
I've eaten squirrels many times. They're OK, but not as tasty or tender or easy to prepare as rabbit.
Before shooting, it might be wise to consider hunting and game laws in your jurisdiction. In PA, squirrels are game animals, with a set season and a hunting license is required. I don't know about other states, but doubt they are considered a varmint you can kill at will.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: squirrels
If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's.... "You can't outsmart the squirrel."
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Re: squirrels
If you show up at 6am in the morning just before they rise and shine for the day, you certainly can.rixer wrote:If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's.... "You can't outsmart the squirrel."
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: squirrels
[quote="If you show up at 6am in the morning just before they rise and shine for the day, you certainly can. [/quote]
That is better than 6AM in the evening!
That is better than 6AM in the evening!
Contrary to the belief of many, profit is not a four letter word!
Re: squirrels
I followed this fellow's advice to the letter and presto - no more squirrel problem:
<http://www.unexco.com/trapsquirrels.html>
<http://www.unexco.com/trapsquirrels.html>
Re: squirrels
Chicken of the Trees, that's funny. Suspect not too many participants on this site have eaten squirrel meat. As I recall more like rodent than chicken. I resolved when about 12 years old never to eat squirrel again and so far have been successful. Will wait until served at some high end restaurant.deanbrew wrote:Atilla wrote: If you're going to cook a squirrel - making a stew is definitely the way to go.
Chicken of the Trees. Braise (until tender) with cream of mushroom soup, a bit of red wine, sliced onions, garlic powder and potatoes, and you have yourself a pretty good redneck meal.
I've eaten squirrels many times. They're OK, but not as tasty or tender or easy to prepare as rabbit.
Before shooting, it might be wise to consider hunting and game laws in your jurisdiction. In PA, squirrels are game animals, with a set season and a hunting license is required. I don't know about other states, but doubt they are considered a varmint you can kill at will.