Squirrel traps
Discussion
I've just ordered a humane squirrel trap from Amazon and now learned it's illegal to release grey squirrels into the wild, apparently they are classed as vermin. I certainly don't want to kill the poor creatures, defeats the whole object of buying a humane trap! What would you do? I'm pretty sure If I do catch any in the garden, I will release them surreptitiously in the local park.
Edited by rolex on Sunday 16th October 14:22
Sorry rolex but that's mental. For every one you remove another will return and they have as much right to the garden as any other animal. All they do is eat nuts and play silly buggers in the trees (which I love watching) - not exactly a problem!!
Why not save the hassle and get a squirrel proof bird feeder instead?
Why not save the hassle and get a squirrel proof bird feeder instead?
We have a squirrel feeder on one side of the garden, which the squirrels use, and a bird feeder on the patio which the birds and the squirrels use, and a hanging feeder on the tree in the front garden, which only the birds use.
And two other feeders that the birds use as long as the squirrels haven't ripped them out of the tree!
And two other feeders that the birds use as long as the squirrels haven't ripped them out of the tree!
Shooting them in the head, in the trap, is nigh-on impossible since they jump around a lot.
You have the choice of either:
- Releasing them 'somewhere'
- Getting in there with gloves and doing the deed manually (bear in mind they scratch and bite something rotten)
- Drowning them.
Squirrel meat is ok, but it's a lot of effort for little reward. Only the rear legs and saddle have enough meat on to be worth eating.
You have the choice of either:
- Releasing them 'somewhere'
- Getting in there with gloves and doing the deed manually (bear in mind they scratch and bite something rotten)
- Drowning them.
Squirrel meat is ok, but it's a lot of effort for little reward. Only the rear legs and saddle have enough meat on to be worth eating.
Mobile Chicane said:
Horrid creatures. The Scousers of the bird world...
:nod: and they are a very interesting case study of 'mans effect on wildlife'from my bird watching guide of 1965 and one from 2008, the average reported length of a magpie has increased by 6 inches (really). Im sure this is due to us turning every major road into a roadkill MaccyDs drive-thru.....hence lots of food for carrion eaters...then they grow....and now they're big enough to take baby birds etc. right bloody pain
I cant think Ive ever heard of a cat getting one either.....its about the only bit of nature - along with wasps - I'll consider killing.
Nightmare said:
Mobile Chicane said:
Horrid creatures. The Scousers of the bird world...
:nod: and they are a very interesting case study of 'mans effect on wildlife'from my bird watching guide of 1965 and one from 2008, the average reported length of a magpie has increased by 6 inches (really). Im sure this is due to us turning every major road into a roadkill MaccyDs drive-thru.....hence lots of food for carrion eaters...then they grow....and now they're big enough to take baby birds etc. right bloody pain
I cant think Ive ever heard of a cat getting one either.....its about the only bit of nature - along with wasps - I'll consider killing.
Nightmare said:
Mobile Chicane said:
Horrid creatures. The Scousers of the bird world...
:nod: and they are a very interesting case study of 'mans effect on wildlife'from my bird watching guide of 1965 and one from 2008, the average reported length of a magpie has increased by 6 inches (really). Im sure this is due to us turning every major road into a roadkill MaccyDs drive-thru.....hence lots of food for carrion eaters...then they grow....and now they're big enough to take baby birds etc. right bloody pain
I cant think Ive ever heard of a cat getting one either.....its about the only bit of nature - along with wasps - I'll consider killing.
EFA
squirrels DO NOT just eat nuts and seeds - pretty much anything goes in my experience.
and woe be tide if they get in your house and can't get out - they will go mental.
I tried a vermin controller a few years back at my ex-s parents' house. he'd come along set the traps about 6 of them and in about 10 minutes they wer full, he couldn't keep up. they were tearing up the garden, eating everything and generally making a mess.
I even killed a few. good to know its illegal to release them...catch 'em and kill 'em.
the wasps of the mammall world imho
squirrels DO NOT just eat nuts and seeds - pretty much anything goes in my experience.
and woe be tide if they get in your house and can't get out - they will go mental.
I tried a vermin controller a few years back at my ex-s parents' house. he'd come along set the traps about 6 of them and in about 10 minutes they wer full, he couldn't keep up. they were tearing up the garden, eating everything and generally making a mess.
I even killed a few. good to know its illegal to release them...catch 'em and kill 'em.
the wasps of the mammall world imho
Nightmare said:
lol, i meant magpies. i like squirrels!
Yes that makes sense sorry!I think magpies are too intelligent for cats, I've never seen one killed by ours (And they have taken all sorts!).
Slightly O/T, we had one cat that kindly deposited large Koi Karp (how????) on our doorstep. I felt very bad indeed and would have been sympathetic to the owner should he complain.
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