It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood........

[ybnorml]

Sun is out and temps are mid 20's......
2 squirrels have fallen from the branches.....more to follow !!!

[NewValker]

I been getting 5-6 a week for 2 months. Non ending supply of the little bastards...
Don't know why, but they insist on digging up my lawn. Dig in the woods & live—dig my yard and die.
Wrong choice=death...
Craig

[Jess from VA]

I been getting 5-6 a week for 2 months. Non ending supply of the little bastards...
Don't know why, but they insist on digging up my lawn. Dig in the woods & live—dig my yard and die.
Wrong choice=death...
Craig

I'm with you.  I had squirrels about wherever I lived, but this is the first place they ever made a daily practice of digging up my lawn and landscape, constantly.

I am not allowed to discharge firearms on my property (legally), so I have had really good luck with this stuff out of a rifle*.  They warn it is underpowered (no gunpowder, just rim-fire primer, so only recommended for handgun length bbls), but I have never had a slug hang up in my 18" bbl Ruger 10/22.  I do have to single load with needlenose, it will not cycle a semiauto.  I do run an oil patch down the bbl from time to time.  It is perfectly accurate at yard distances, but will lose accuracy at longer ranges.  It's dirty, but so is all .22 rim-fire.

*  https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2506295321/aguila-super-colibri-ammunition-22-long-rifle-20-grain-lead-solid-point

It's really quiet; quieter than any supersonic pellet rifle. (listen on this vid) (still kills them dead)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhqfXV2shvA

PS:  It's kind of humorous... I don't know how much brain power these tree rats have, but after years of eradication, now, if I don't raise my windows carefully and quietly, the little bastards run off or hang out on the other side of a tree for a half hour.  If I just slam my window open, they take off like shot out of a cannon.    

[Tony C.]

We have lots of squirrels,too. Can't shoot on my property, but I don't own a firearm anyway. We've inherited a competition BB gun from Sherry's Dad, but I'm a lousy shot. So the squirrels roam free.

[Jess from VA]

For years, I ran two Have-a-Heart live traps (with whole peanut bait).

Then drowned them in a Rubber-made garbage can of water.  I would take a dozen a week (spring to fall)... for years.

Once caught, you have to lock the doors on each end with vice grips before giving them the swim, or the doors will open when the trap is turned sideways to drop them in the can, and they shoot out of the water and climb your face with sharp claws.

The irony of using Have-a-Heart traps in this manner was not lost on me.  But these bastards caused no end of damage to my property, and I'm not driving 2000 squirrels to some safe haven elsewhere.  Around here, everyone has all the squirrels they need.  BTW, they are gone in under a minute.

Time for your baptism buddy.  (the squirrel size Have-a-Heart traps have a door on both ends)


Swim tank. (if you want to run this in winter, add antifreeze to the water)


I did this out of sight of neighbors, but there were no trapping laws/seasons on squirrels to worry about (check your own DNR state laws).

In summer heat, you can't throw the carcasses in the garbage without maggots and flies, so I bagged them and made squirrel Popsicles of them in the basement freezer until the night before garbage pickup.

And no, I don't eat squirrel (or rats).

It's not as fun as shooting, but it's fully legal where I live (unlike shooting), and because you don't have to hunt (just set the traps and go about your business, to check later), over time, this method takes out many more than by shooting.

[NewValker]

Yes Jess, they're quick learners. Couple years ago I had a bleeding heart liberal next door and after every kill shot the cruiser showed up in my driveway. So I switched to my bow. If they spotted me with a gun, they'd scatter. I arrowed 5 while they stood there trying to figure out what I was up to. When they learned what silent death from the deck meant, they ran no matter what I had in my hands. Neighbor is bedridden now, no PD anymore.
When the grandkids are here, I have them unlock the slider, and watch the rats go. They know after the lock noise comes the gun noise haha.
And the carcasses? Bait to shoot the coyotes of course.   
My wife thinks there's something wrong with me, BUT, when 1 knawed his way into the attic, she was screaming get the gun and kill it!
Anti-freeze is great for mice in the shed. No, no kids or pets can get in it.
Craig

[Jess from VA]

We get a lot of falcons and hawks around here, and I tried leaving the carcasses up on my 7" fence for them to eat.  But for some reason, they are only interested in other birds, live birds. 

Had a big red tail hawk around my place for years.  Don't know where he went.

He (she?) was a real beauty, but didn't want any help with lunch.  Got annoyed if he caught you just watching him.



Don't want to give the wrong impression.  I love wildlife.  Just not yellow jackets and grey squirrels. (not big on rabid skunks either)

[ybnorml]

Our neighbor's young female black lab comes running over here every time she hears gun shots.
She grabs the dead squirrels and takes them home....
#8 shot with a 20 gauge, or .22 pistol...all depends on the tree they are in.

[Oss]

Hey Craig,

I told Meathead what has happened to some squirrels and rabbits last year that got caught in Oss' garden

They were caught in the have a heart then a certain Valkyrie owner drove over to where Rt 9 passes over the Croton river,  put the trap on jersey barrier on side of bridge - open trap
and then the squirrel or rabbit rushes out  Count to 3 mississippi they hit the water  Sometimes a really energetic one you have to count to 4

If the little bugger swims to the bank it may live a nice life away from home, if it swims into the Hudson sayonara as its miles wide there.  Of course some dont ever pop back up.  Wife wont let me drown them so not an option here   This method cuts down on recidivism pretty well

[NewValker]

I believe we have a winner here.  Letting em run off a bridge into the Hudson River wins 1st place!
Craig

[The emperor has no clothes]

I believe we have a winner here.  Letting em run off a bridge into the Hudson River wins 1st place!
Craig

To hear Evan tell the story is even better.  But I'm rather heartless when it comes to squirrels. I spent an entire summer waging war on them once. They would chew their way into my attic. I swear I could hear them up there laughing at me.