Blasted squirrels

[sunndog]

Drowning is not allowed?

That's exactly what I was going to suggest, trap it then drop the trap in water butt or similar.
Don't be tempted to open the trap and try to grab though....although if you do make sure and get someone to film it

 

[C_Claycomb]

Here is an article from the time.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ea...undreds-face-fines-for-killing-squirrels.html
followed by:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/aug/19/grey-squirrel-drowned-challenge-rspca

It would be interesting if there had been anything new since these events in 2010. I had not realised it was really that long ago.

 

[gonzo_the_great]

It suggests that they should be shot with an air rifle or shotgun.
If you loosed off a shotgun in your back garden, the police would certainly be down on you.

RSPCA recommends taking it to a vet to have it put down, at a cost of £30!
How could anyone argue that the stress of doing that to a wild animal, was less than a quick drowning?!

 

[Broch]

I guess the answer is, if you do not have a legally accepted way of killing them, don't trap them.
If you really want to do it get a small air pistol. You will have to hold it down (with very thick gardening gloves, they have a ferocious bite) to make sure it's a single clean shot to the head.

 

[Toddy]

I have squirrels getting into the loft at the moment, although i've sealed up the only entrance i could see. Crafty buggers are still getting in somehow.

I bought a trap similar to the below;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defenders-...&qid=1545212460&sr=8-3&keywords=squirrel+trap

Perhaps catch them then release a fair distance away?

I'm on number 4.

It might surprise you. They come back.

One of the neighbouring streets had a problem with a squirrel, and with squeamish home owners.
The same squirrel worked it's way along a row of bungalows, was trapped and released time after time, house by house, by 'demand' of the home owners. Until it entered the loft of a lady who grew up a farmer's daughter who plainly told the pest remover fellow to kill it.
End of.

They are clever, determined, and they are destructive little blighters, even if they are cute and fun to watch. Suburbia is a rich feeding ground for them.
Bit like rats really and I'd happily quickly drown the occasional rat that tries to set up home in my compost bin instead of the slow poisoning with bait.

M

 

[Sundowner]

I just give them a barrel full of pigeon shot . They are dead before they hit the ground

 

[Wayland]

Good vegetarian here though.
Ah, I'm just vexed because I hoped the wee birds would find the strings interesting, and indeed where the squirrels dropped bits of the string and the popcorn broke, there are little birds busy gleaning.

It's the total destruction that the squirrels cause that really irks and frustrates though. A lot of my neighbours no longer feed the birds at all because of the voracious squirrels.
Usually I just try to make things awkward for them, but in this weather there's not much fun being out there rigging up obstacle courses.

M

Squirrels are vegetarian so doesn't that make them part of a vegetarian diet, or have I got it wrong?..

 

[Wayland]

It might surprise you. They come back.

One of the neighbouring streets had a problem with a squirrel, and with squeamish home owners.
The same squirrel worked it's way along a row of bungalows, was trapped and released time after time, house by house, by 'demand' of the home owners. Until it entered the loft of a lady who grew up a farmer's daughter who plainly told the pest remover fellow to kill it.
End of.

They are clever, determined, and they are destructive little blighters, even if they are cute and fun to watch. Suburbia is a rich feeding ground for them.
Bit like rats really and I'd happily quickly drown the occasional rat that tries to set up home in my compost bin instead of the slow poisoning with bait.

M

As it's illegal to release an invasive species, doesn't that apply to grey squirrels as well?

 

[Janne]

What happened to the Grey Squirrel cull?

Works?

Our Green Iguana cull is progressing nicely. Estimated 15% of them are now in Iguana Nirvana, eating juicy flowers...

 

[Toddy]

As it's illegal to release an invasive species, doesn't that apply to grey squirrels as well?

Only if folks get caught apparently

 

[Toddy]

Squirrels are vegetarian so doesn't that make them part of a vegetarian diet, or have I got it wrong?..

No, and you have, I find the propsect most unappealing. I'd rather eat the nuts before the squirrels get them

 

[Broch]

Only if folks get caught apparently

Nope, as we said earlier it's still illegal. You just don't get punished if you don't get caught

 

[Toddy]

Nope, as we said earlier it's still illegal. You just don't get punished if you don't get caught

I do take your point, but would add that if more folk would quietly just do away with pests like rats and greys then we might actually start to really whittle down their numbers.
Suburbia is mostly squeamish and of the opinion that all wildlife needs protecting.

 

[sunndog]

No, and you have, I find the propsect most unappealing. I'd rather eat the nuts before the squirrels get them

Very old wisdom suggests that if you want to eat the nuts before the squirrels then first eat the squirrel

 

[sunndog]

I guess the answer is, if you do not have a legally accepted way of killing them, don't trap them.
If you really want to do it get a small air pistol. You will have to hold it down (with very thick gardening gloves, they have a ferocious bite) to make sure it's a single clean shot to the head.

Shoot them while in the cage trap or Folks will be down A&E in droves with rabies and shot off finger tips lol

 

[Broch]

I do take your point, but would add that if more folk would quietly just do away with pests like rats and greys then we might actually start to really whittle down their numbers.
Suburbia is mostly squeamish and of the opinion that all wildlife needs protecting.

I understand the sentiment but the studies that have been carried out have concluded that without a wholescale slaughter they just fill up the vacated space from the surrounding area. I have shot quite large numbers in the past; the year later the population is just the same. We will never get reds back here in our deciduous woodland so they fill a niche (and make a nice pie ).

 

[Janne]

Nature's way.
A population can take some severe culling. There are exact optimal culling numbers for many species in various countries.

 

[Broch]

Nature's way.
A population can take some severe culling. There are exact optimal culling numbers for many species in various countries.

Optimum culling numbers for the species to survive healthy and long lives - all we are doing by 'culling' grey squirrels is making it less stressful for the ones left

 

[Broch]

However...

Just in from the Royal Forestry Society (literally just come into my in-box):

http://www.rfs.org.uk/news/2018/12/40-000-boost-to-grey-squirrel-control-research/

 

[Janne]

Nice to spend money on research. UKP 1.1 million..

Another way is to start killing them now.

They will never be eradicated, but with a severe ongoing cull the Reds can hopefully expand their areas/