squirrels

[granretire]

I am plagued by squirrels in my garden. What is the most effective way to deal with them? I am thinking of purchasing some form of trap - but don't want to waste my money

[RATTER15]

Squirrel trapping is the most effective way of eliminating your problem, the traps are readily available about �15 each and squirrells are very easy to catch. place trap near trees with some fruit inside the trap. You need to deal with the trapped squirell with a few hours of it being trapped for humane reasons, you are not legally permitted to release the squirrell once it is trapped, it should really be killed, but I have released hundreds but always many miles from where they were caught.

good luck!!

[SHEHE]

We had badgers in the garden , lovely to look at but very destructive . They dug up the borders , veg patch etc. so we put the cheapest hottest curry powder all over the garden and it worked , don't know if it will work with squirrels , but a cheap way of trying to get rid of them . Only works in dry weather also smells like the local take away !! Good Luck

[enfable]

I had a problem with cats in my garden and was told to put down Orange Peel. This not only got rid of the cats but also the squirrels that regularly visited.

I like having the squirrels in the garden so replaced the orange peel with shop bought cat repelent but the squirrels have not yet returned.

[spudqueen]

If they are grey squirrels then RATTER15 is right, as they are not a native animal you are not allowed to release them back into the wild and you would therefore have to kill them. However if they are red squirrels that is completely different.

[brandon66]

Hi granretire,

This may solve your problem:
http://www.ratbait.co.uk/index.asp?function=DI SPLAYPRODUCT&productid=204

[paddywak]

Spudqueen & Ratter are right about greys, they are vermin. If however you are lucky enough to have reds, these are a protected species & must not be harmed. Even tho reds virtualy impossible to see in the wild throught Britain they are our native species & should be encouraged when ever possible

[RATTER15]

Sorry all I should have made a point about the red squirrel I only trapped throughout Devon and as we have no wild red squirrels in Devon it never occurred to me but of course you are right!!

[SizzleSquid]

you are cruel, whats wrong with the squirrels? they are part of nature and live in trees, they wont go in your house. whats wrong with sharing your green space in them? in my part of london im lucky to see a sparrow, weve no wildlife. you should be grateful. i saw a cooking programme with that river cafe guy hugh fernlea whittingstall. he cooked the surplus squirrels on a bbq. how bad!

[rdv]

squirrels are like rats and although they look cute because of their tails they do enormous damage to our woodland. If they get into your loft they also like to chew the wiring which is bad news

[paddywak]

There's nothing wrong with red squirrels, (they're natural to Britain), apart from the fact they've been driven to the edge of extinction by the imported grey vermin.It is virtually impossible to see a red in the wild but every where you go the woods are over run by the grey tree rat. A classic example of man introducing foreign plants or animals to a system to the detriment of the local plant or animal life.

[newtron]

If they're Gray Squirrels, I would buy an air gun and do some target practice!

[RATTER15]

newtron, NO animal should be used as target practise, that is just sick!!!
I have no objection to a squirrel being shot with an airgun but it needs to be a suitable weapon and used by an experienced person!!
Not by someone who just buys any old airgun for target practice!!!!

[RATTER15]

Sizzlesquid, they do go into your homes!! as a pest controller I used to have to deal with squirrels on a regular basis in peoples home, usually nesting in the loft. A squirrel in the house can do an enormous amount of damage, and they are not an indigenous species and they have caused the demise of the red squirrel, a far nicer squirrel!!

[newtron]

Good point. Make sure that the air gun is powerful enough to kill the squirrel. Be sure you understand all the safety rules associated with the air gun. Then get a target and practice until you are a decent shot with that gun and then go squirrel hunting! I hear squirrel is pretty tasty!