Squirrels!!

[Frozentreehugger]

This is my take on it.

The old small town live in . Has lots of squirrels. Plus lots of nut trees . ( one of the founding fathers was also a founding father of nut growers of Ontario ) I think there is a relationship. Anyway I have very little trouble with squirrels . They tend to burry nuts I. Larger nursery containers and grow our boxes . Trees grown from nuts need protection from them digging the nuts . And sone damage from fights or aggressive activity . But all in all minor . I think there too busy with all the nuts . Plus lots of dogs . So they tend to stick to trees and fence tops .

 

[Frozentreehugger]

A bizarre squirrel activity . I have seen . Canadian National Arboretum . In Ottawa. Has lots of squirrels . In a section of nut trees there is a massive American elm nearby . About 5 feet girth . It is the squirrel pantry . I can get pics in the fall . There is nuts about 2 feet thick piled at the base . Ever branch has a pile of nuts at the junction of the branch to trunk . And every fork in a major branch is the same . The nuts are neatly stacked . Until a area can hold no more . You could fill several pick up trucks with the nuts in this tree

 

[Clicio]

This is my take on it.

Same here.

 

[Michael P]

For a decade in my previous home I battled squirrels. First with every non-lethal means I could find, but none of them worked. Then with traps and slingshot. I was pretty good with the slingshot except when the rubber broke and slapped me in the face.

When we moved to our present home 20 years ago, I took deep calming breaths and tried peaceful coexistence. It lasted 48 hours. That's how long my trees were on the benches before the first attack. Since then it has been dogs, traps, and the pellet gun. As bad as it is with my bonsai, I am lucky compared to my next door neighbors. While the family was on vacation, squirrels gnawed into their attic, then striped insulation off wires and chewed a hole in PVC plumbing pipe. The resulting ceiling collapse cost $5,000 to repair. Their insurance policy did not cover "rodent damage".

You should see the pellet gun my neighbor has now: Olympic marksman quality with a high powered scope. He kills about 50 a year, but he has four large pecan trees. My oaks and maples are not as attractive so my bag is only about 30 a year. Between the two of us, my bonsai and his home are relatively safe.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

For a decade in my previous home I battled squirrels. First with every non-lethal means I could find, but none of them worked. Then with traps and slingshot. I was pretty good with the slingshot except when the rubber broke and slapped me in the face.

When we moved to our present home 20 years ago, I took deep calming breaths and tried peaceful coexistence. It lasted 48 hours. That's how long my trees were on the benches before the first attack. Since then it has been dogs, traps, and the pellet gun. As bad as it is with my bonsai, I am lucky compared to my next door neighbors. While the family was on vacation, squirrels gnawed into their attic, then striped insulation off wires and chewed a hole in PVC plumbing pipe. The resulting ceiling collapse cost $5,000 to repair. Their insurance policy did not cover "rodent damage".

You should see the pellet gun my neighbor has now: Olympic marksman quality with a high powered scope. He kills about 50 a year, but he has four large pecan trees. My oaks and maples are not as attractive so my bag is only about 30 a year. Between the two of us, my bonsai and his home are relatively safe.

That’s a crazy amount if squirrels 🐿. My first thought is overpopulation. There such a pain . Because there hungry . We don’t have that many possible because if the cold . Or environment can’t support that many .

 

[Michael P]

Both of my homes are in old neighborhoods with lots of mature trees. Such places are artificially rich habitats for squirrels, leading to huge populations. Water is always available, landscapes provide large amounts of food, and people feed birds. It would not surprise me to know that over 50% of seed intended for birds is consumed by squirrels and rats.

Then there is the almost complete absence of predators. My current neighborhood has a permanent population of coyotes, bobcats, and foxes, but they can't keep up. And the squirrels use there own habituation to humans as protection from predators.

My neighborhood has an extensive greenbelt system with a permanent stream and acres of forest. Is it full of squirrels? No! In a semi-natural environment squirrels have to work for their food, struggle to find safe nests and tree cavities, and avoid predators. One almost never sees a squirrel in the greenbelt. A block away in the neighborhood there are a dozen for each lot.

The point of this rant is that the population of squirrels in such neighborhoods is NOT a natural phenomenon, but directly caused by human changes to the environment. I would be extremely happy if wild predators could eat the excess. But they cannot. Until they can, my dogs, traps, and pellet gun are the apex predators.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Both of my homes are in old neighborhoods with lots of mature trees. Such places are artificially rich habitats for squirrels, leading to huge populations. Water is always available, landscapes provide large amounts of food, and people feed birds. It would not surprise me to know that over 50% of seed intended for birds is consumed by squirrels and rats.

Then there is the almost complete absence of predators. My current neighborhood has a permanent population of coyotes, bobcats, and foxes, but they can't keep up. And the squirrels use there own habituation to humans as protection from predators.

My neighborhood has an extensive greenbelt system with a permanent stream and acres of forest. Is it full of squirrels? No! In a semi-natural environment squirrels have to work for their food, struggle to find safe nests and tree cavities, and avoid predators. One almost never sees a squirrel in the greenbelt. A block away in the neighborhood there are a dozen for each lot.

The point of this rant is that the population of squirrels in such neighborhoods is NOT a natural phenomenon, but directly caused by human changes to the environment. I would be extremely happy if wild predators could eat the excess. But they cannot. Until they can, my dogs, traps, and pellet gun are the apex predators.

Still think the cold is a player here . 100 year old town Lots of nut trees . So similitude to you . Not so much close forest . Land in this area was prehistoric lake . So it’s flat . Heavily farmed . So corn and soybean fields around the town . I have squirrels and the cause sone small trouble . But you are in a war zone .

 

[KillerButts]

The squirrels in my yard have had to resort to extreme measures to survive.

 

[rockm]

A bizarre squirrel activity . I have seen . Canadian National Arboretum . In Ottawa. Has lots of squirrels . In a section of nut trees there is a massive American elm nearby . About 5 feet girth . It is the squirrel pantry . I can get pics in the fall . There is nuts about 2 feet thick piled at the base . Ever branch has a pile of nuts at the junction of the branch to trunk . And every fork in a major branch is the same . The nuts are neatly stacked . Until a area can hold no more . You could fill several pick up trucks with the nuts in this tree

American elm doesn't produce nuts...

For a decade in my previous home I battled squirrels. First with every non-lethal means I could find, but none of them worked. Then with traps and slingshot. I was pretty good with the slingshot except when the rubber broke and slapped me in the face.

When we moved to our present home 20 years ago, I took deep calming breaths and tried peaceful coexistence. It lasted 48 hours. That's how long my trees were on the benches before the first attack. Since then it has been dogs, traps, and the pellet gun. As bad as it is with my bonsai, I am lucky compared to my next door neighbors. While the family was on vacation, squirrels gnawed into their attic, then striped insulation off wires and chewed a hole in PVC plumbing pipe. The resulting ceiling collapse cost $5,000 to repair. Their insurance policy did not cover "rodent damage".

You should see the pellet gun my neighbor has now: Olympic marksman quality with a high powered scope. He kills about 50 a year, but he has four large pecan trees. My oaks and maples are not as attractive so my bag is only about 30 a year. Between the two of us, my bonsai and his home are relatively safe.

This. My neighbors' feeding squirrels cost me $3000 in damage to my roof and interior walls, from squirrels and raccoons. Feeding the damn things encouraged them to lose their fear of humans, which in turn, encouraged them to begin pulling the siding of my house off and gain entry into the walls. Squirrels were first. They chewed support beams and electrical wiring. They were followed by raccoons because raccoons are asshole opportunists. The raccoons peed and crapped on the attic side of interior drywall on the ceilings of two bedrooms--the space between the ceiling and roof is eight inches or so, so it's not an attic. One also gave birth to a little of kits up there, further damaging the wall space (which is in accessible from the interior of the house) I looked into filing an insurance claim against my dipshit neighbor for attracting the animals in the first place (feeding wildlife is against the law BTW, especially when it causes property damage, or creates a health concern--I had both), but it was too hard to prove.

Your love of wildlife will be put to the test when you walk out your front door one hot August day and feel something dripping on your head...you look up and see a panting raccoon leaning out of the hole he's made in your roof panting from the heat, then you realize the little effer has drooled on you...Yeah, it's cute to look at but you may have just contracted rabies--and I'm only half joking.

 

[jtupper]

When we moved into our new home we were literally overrun with squirrels. They were even in our attic. After a few months, my girlfriend asks, "Have you seen any squirrels lately?" I said, come to think of it I haven't. I didn't tell her I had purchased the "Forestry Suppliers Tube Trap Squirrel Trap" from Amazon a while back. I've stopped trapping them since there just isn't anymore around. But I cannot begin to tell you how effective and lethal that trap is. If the population ever recovers (Im sure it will) I will be ready to thin them out again.

 

[HorseloverFat]

American elm doesn't produce nuts...

This. My neighbors' feeding squirrels cost me $3000 in damage to my roof and interior walls, from squirrels and raccoons. Feeding the damn things encouraged them to lose their fear of humans, which in turn, encouraged them to begin pulling the siding of my house off and gain entry into the walls. Squirrels were first. They chewed support beams and electrical wiring. They were followed by raccoons because raccoons are asshole opportunists. The raccoons peed and crapped on the attic side of interior drywall on the ceilings of two bedrooms--the space between the ceiling and roof is eight inches or so, so it's not an attic. One also gave birth to a little of kits up there, further damaging the wall space (which is in accessible from the interior of the house) I looked into filing an insurance claim against my dipshit neighbor for attracting the animals in the first place (feeding wildlife is against the law BTW, especially when it causes property damage, or creates a health concern--I had both), but it was too hard to prove.

Your love of wildlife will be put to the test when you walk out your front door one hot August day and feel something dripping on your head...you look up and see a panting raccoon leaning out of the hole he's made in your roof panting from the heat, then you realize the little effer has drooled on you...Yeah, it's cute to look at but you may have just contracted rabies--and I'm only half joking.

That sounds terrifying!!!

Raccoons, especially deeply urban raccoons are absolute menaces...

Also, rabies is one of the most terrifying possibilities. I watched a video of this Hindi doctor, treating a patient who had contracted rabies, but sought treatment JUST a bit too late.

They document the steady decline... The patient is going through distinct hell like I'd not seen before. "Cujo" only gets some of it!

 

[Gabler]

That sounds terrifying!!!

Raccoons, especially deeply urban raccoons are absolute menaces...

Also, rabies is one of the most terrifying possibilities. I watched a video of this Hindi doctor, treating a patient who had contracted rabies, but sought treatment JUST a bit too late.

They document the steady decline... The patient is going through distinct hell like I'd not seen before. "Cujo" only gets some of it!

Back when I was trapping raccoons regularly, I tried to get a rabies vaccine. It seemed prudent, since I was trapping raccoons to thin the population specifically because of a rabies outbreak. I couldn’t get it. They won’t administer it to humans unless you’ve already been bitten. I just had to be extra careful.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Back when I was trapping raccoons regularly, I tried to get a rabies vaccine. It seemed prudent, since I was trapping raccoons to thin the population specifically because of a rabies outbreak. I couldn’t get it. They won’t administer it to humans unless you’ve already been bitten. I just had to be extra careful.

Yes, the "red tape" surrounding the administration of the vaccine, I've heard, is ridiculous.

An even scarier scenario, is those little flying squirrels, or bats. There's been instances of people being bit by them when trudging around, or sleeping and NOT NOTICING the bite until .. too late, to a point where the medicine will not counter the fatal effects.

You basically have to go, at the moment you got bit, no matter what... Taking time to try to find the animal, or wait to see if you react are often 10-15 minutes TOO long.

 

[michaelj]

A long time bonsai friend . Once told me after trying everything there was to discourage . Them including shooting them . ( don’t work as if it’s good territory) the best defence is friendship . She feeds them nuts , even gives them a garden bed to dig and burry there nuts In . They are territorial . She will feed them buy hand . But she chases them away from her tree . Branches . Once they learn her and establish there territory . They leave her trees alone . Until she has to train new ones .

I tried that, but we also garden and the friendly approach simply led to larger and larger groups of squirrels coming regularly and believing that the entire yard was their restaurant. And the squirrels will eat any and every fruit or vegetable that we grow.

 

[michaelj]

My sling shot and blow gun also work very well. The sling shot takes some practice and so does the blow gun but they are both whisper quiet
There is a wicked sense of accomplishment when you drop a squirrel from a tree and another one right next to it doesn't know a thing.

That would be an advantage. I'm unskilled with those two weapons. The spring in the air rifle makes a very loud noise, so if we have more than one, they all run as soon as I get the first one. And I never get a second shot. If I miss, the squirrel races off at the sound of the spring.

 

[Clicio]

To be erased.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

American elm doesn't produce nuts...

This. My neighbors' feeding squirrels cost me $3000 in damage to my roof and interior walls, from squirrels and raccoons. Feeding the damn things encouraged them to lose their fear of humans, which in turn, encouraged them to begin pulling the siding of my house off and gain entry into the walls. Squirrels were first. They chewed support beams and electrical wiring. They were followed by raccoons because raccoons are asshole opportunists. The raccoons peed and crapped on the attic side of interior drywall on the ceilings of two bedrooms--the space between the ceiling and roof is eight inches or so, so it's not an attic. One also gave birth to a little of kits up there, further damaging the wall space (which is in accessible from the interior of the house) I looked into filing an insurance claim against my dipshit neighbor for attracting the animals in the first place (feeding wildlife is against the law BTW, especially when it causes property damage, or creates a health concern--I had both), but it was too hard to prove.

Your love of wildlife will be put to the test when you walk out your front door one hot August day and feel something dripping on your head...you look up and see a panting raccoon leaning out of the hole he's made in your roof panting from the heat, then you realize the little effer has drooled on you...Yeah, it's cute to look at but you may have just contracted rabies--and I'm only half joking.

I did not say the nuts were from the elm . What I said was the squirrels . Use the American elm as a pantry to store nuts . From nearby grove of various nut trees To a excessive amount . What I was saying is strange is why that one tree . Fir storage . The place is nothing but trees . And I never said I feed squirrels . I mentioned that some people claim success . Being friendly when other methods all fail . I feel like I’m well off for the small amount of squirrel . Havac to my property . And trees .

 

[Relic37]

When we moved into our new home we were literally overrun with squirrels. They were even in our attic. After a few months, my girlfriend asks, "Have you seen any squirrels lately?" I said, come to think of it I haven't. I didn't tell her I had purchased the "Forestry Suppliers Tube Trap Squirrel Trap" from Amazon a while back. I've stopped trapping them since there just isn't anymore around. But I cannot begin to tell you how effective and lethal that trap is. If the population ever recovers (Im sure it will) I will be ready to thin them out again.

Thanks for the info. Just got on Amazon and ordered one...one small step for man, one giant leap in squirrel eradication.

 

[Michael P]

I didn't tell her I had purchased the "Forestry Suppliers Tube Trap Squirrel Trap" from Amazon a while back.

I like it! Always used Havahart traps, but they can be hard to position for best results.

 

[ABCarve]

The witching hour!!