[Archived] Squirrels

[MCMC1875]

Is there a humane way to stop these pests digging holes in lawns?

[Flopsy]

Get a cat,

Shotgun,

or non-leathal trap

speak to RSPCA they might be able to help

[MCMC1875]

They don't mind cats.

I'll class your other suggestions as non-humane.

Edited October 6, 2005 by MCMC1875

[Flopsy]

shotgun it is then

[thenodrog]

Not that easy to do legally Flopsy. I went for a shotgun licence application form to Blackburn nick (for the same reason to get rid of the tree rats ) and was told to apply in writing to Lancs police at Hutton....... simply to be considered for an application form! Once one gets a licence there are all sorts of conditions and expense to meet in order to keep a shotgun (not firearm.....thats worse). Best answer but far less humane is to pot em with a decent air rifle but unless you put food out regularly to 'bring em on in' it is difficult to get a clear shot.

btw Strange given all these regs to figure out why gun crime is on the increase dont you think? Or could it be just another sign of police taking the easy option of prioritising against the wrong elements of society again?

[Flopsy]

Its all Dunblane's fault

Lets ban legal firearms because that'll stop gun crime. Errrrr because criminals will follow the law its obvious.

Half the gun crime isnt actually with real guns - its replicas - however you have to be a right 'guns and ammo' anorak (like me) to tell the difference.

As for scaring squirrles can you not get some type of pyrotechnics (ie noise makers) to scare the little buggers off

[thenodrog]

As for scaring squirrles can you not get some type of pyrotechnics (ie noise makers) to scare the little buggers off

351678[/snapback]

You only scare em somewhere else. They are not native, have no natural predators, dont hibernate and really need culling.

Strange and baffling thing about grey squirrels. They appear to have no road sense and are frequently killed by cars BUT if you drive at them, aimimg at and intending to kill them (which I usually do) they nearly always manage to dodge. Why is this?

[Flopsy]

Its coz their sole purpose in life is to irritate the hell out of you

[Friarsnig]

Apparently they're really nice to eat, especially the younger ones, but you'll need two or three to make a decent sized pie. It's a bit like rabbit I'm told.

[thenodrog]

Not unique then those squirrels are they?

[Lee]

Our cats aren't interested in the squirrels. But I agree with Mr MCMC1875, there's hundreds of the buggers about at the moment.

[Flopsy]

Not unique then those squirrels are they?

351691[/snapback]

we try our best

[dave birch]

Some 10-80 bait will get rid of them.........

and anything else that happens to sample it

[1864roverite]

put bi carb of soda in amongst some nuts, that will rid you of them once and for all

[Eddie]

I thought that was only pigeons?

[1864roverite]

works on pigeons, gulls, rats and squirrels/moles or whatever. The right combi puts them all off and often expands them until they pop

[den]

I like Squirrells.

[thenodrog]

Roasted or braised Den?

[den]

Rare.

[thenodrog]

Thats exactly how I would like grey squirrels too Den.

[colin]

But be careful not to have a pop at the red squirrel

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Aaaagh, bless.

Edited October 6, 2005 by colin

[Billy Castell]

Not that easy to do legally Flopsy.  I went for a shotgun licence application form to Blackburn nick (for the same reason to get rid of the tree rats ) and was told to apply in writing to Lancs police at Hutton.......  simply to be considered for an application form!  Once one gets a licence there are all sorts of conditions and expense to meet in order to keep a shotgun (not firearm.....thats worse).  Best answer but far less humane is to pot em with a decent air rifle but unless you put food out regularly to 'bring em on in' it is difficult to get a clear shot.

btw Strange given all these regs to figure out why gun crime is on the increase dont you think? Or could it be just another sign of police taking the easy option of prioritising against the wrong elements of society again?

351670[/snapback]

My girlfriend's dad is a licensed gun owner, and restores antique rifles. He has many restrictions placed on him. He has to keep then in a locked cabinet at all times when they are not in use on a shooting range, and he'd get them taken off him if he visits a doctor for mild depression. Whilst some of these new post-Dunblane rules are reletively sensible, it is worth mentioning that the Hamilton chap who killed all the kids was granted a licence by the police Chief Inspector, who considered him of sound mind, despite reports to the contrary. iIn other words it was the police who messed up, not necessarily the system.

It's the illegal guns that cause all the damage and mayhem, not the licensed gun owners who apart from one tragic case tend to be pretty decent people. The police seem to put the restrictions on the law-abiding gun owners to appear tough on gun crime, but are incapable or unwilling to take on the more difficult case of the rise in crimes involving illegal guns.

Anyway, kill the grey sods and bring back the red tuffty lugs.

[philipl]

Going off into AESF territory but here's a list of all the different sorts of squirrels in the world.

The Japanese Pygmy Flying Squirrel is oh so cute whilst the Black Giant is a multi-coloured monster you wouldn't want in your back garden!

Anyway, there are no reds round Blackburn- they are all nasty greys. I was amazed that the sweet little reds are native all the way from Portugal to Japan and that there are flying squirrels in Finland.

Easiest and most humane way to kill a squirrel. Wear thick gloves and drop trap with squirrel into water which covers the trap. Takes about a minute.

Don't mess with them to do it a more humane way if you value your own skin and blood.

Edited October 6, 2005 by philipl

[MCMC1875]

Philip

Drop me a PM when you're next in Blighty ASAP. Job's a good un.

Edited October 6, 2005 by MCMC1875

[andy82]

Just bring in something thas higher up the food chain!