[?] Looking for ideas on how to 'deter' grey squirrels.
Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! Ideas please! TIA - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
David Chapman wrote:
Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! Ideas please! TIA - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think you will have your work cut out trying to get rid of them by catching them and moving them. Assuming you can catch them all next year the ones a little further away will simply repopulate your local area. I built a bird table recently and expected the local squirrel population to be all over it. In fact they pretty much have left it alone. I think the reason is because I gave it all a really good coat of exterior grade varnish and their claws can't get a grip on it. I have spotted a couple on there but they have jumped from the ground up to it (the table is probably only 100 to 130 cm up). I think that is about the limit of what they can jump vertically though as I have seen numerous squirrels fail to make it - one of which brained itself on the edge of the table. As for things hung on wires. I would get a large plant pot base (the things that catch drips) and put a small hole in the middle. Tie a knot in the wire and then thread it through the hole then hand the lot up. As long as the flower pot base is wide though the squirrel won't be able to reach round to grab the wire below. Of course the whole thing has to be outside jumping range. |
I quite like this rspb chillie powder idea, apparently it won't bother
the birds at all - http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/advic...deterrents.asp |
David Chapman wrote:
I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! snip Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? I've never heard a way to deter them that works. "Termination" is best. Try a Fenn trap, although you need to be careful where you set these, or you may catch birds or cats. Follow the instructions. They're about a tenner. Bacon rind tied around the plate is good bait. Otherwise, a "live trap" is useful 'cos you can see what you've caught. If it's a grey squirrel, dunk the trap and contents into a water butt. Mind your fingers, both Fenn traps and squirrels bite and they will have you if they can! Don't put your fingers near a live squirrel! Other than that, it's a steady hand, a steady eye, and an air rifle (at the legal non- Firearm Certificate power limit), however this has the disadvantage that you've got to hang around waiting. Squirrels take both bird eggs and chicks, eat your flower bulbs, nibble yout nuts, and can make a terrible mess of your wiring/insulation if they get into the loft. |
Theres an article on Which? Online called "Living With Squirrels". You
can sign up for a free trial if you haven't got a login or I can email you the main bits of it. |
David Chapman wrote:
Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! Ideas please! TIA - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I agree with Chris - extermination by any means necessary is the best thing. I think it should be the law... An air rifle is most effective. Humane traps are very effective and simple to make. (I speak from experience) Look at the traps on www.tomahawklivetrap.com for some ideas. Basically a cage open at one end with a hinged door held up with an arm which releases the door when a squirrel steps on a plate once well in the cage to get the food placed inside. You need some sort of latch to prevent the door being pushed open and the cage needs to be made out of squirrel proof material. If you aren't up to making one then you can buy them in the UK - just google for them. Whether you move them or kill them, it will be a constant battle with new squirrels moving in from outlying areas. I wish you luck. Alan. |
Squirrels take both bird eggs and chicks, eat your flower bulbs, nibble yout nuts, .... Aaaargh. That'll make you eyes water ;-) - Dave. David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
"David Chapman" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! Ideas please! TIA - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A non-FAC air rifle is the only real answer. Unfortuantely rehoming them or asking nicely doesn't help. PS. Don't get too close, they gang up and remember, they are tree-rats. |
David Chapman wrote:
snip I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! We cleared our local tree rats with my old Webley Vulcan. They are tough little animals so you need a well placed shot. Have been told that they are great on a BBQ as a small snack, but yet to try this. Also, any fly fishing friends would be grateful for the tails. /Heds |
On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 13:43:06 +0100, David Chapman
wrote: I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! Indeed. Leave them to it and squirrel-proof the bird table. A squirrel can climb or slide _down_ almost anything, then jump off the food to the floor. They're less good at climbing _up_ though, so conical "rat funnels" on a vertical post will usually stop them. Make them big enough, make them smooth (i.e. metal or glass), and dont; have the table overlooked by a jumping platform. -- Smert' spamionam |
"David Chapman" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? There are some ingenious devices which I intended tryingbut didn't get round to it. But suddenly, in the last eight or nine months or so, they've stopped visiting our garden. I can't understand why, except that one of our banties really did take exception to them. None of the other hens ever had an effect, it might be pure co-incidence. Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! More would come in to fill the gap Mary |
Chris Bacon wrote:
...If it's a grey squirrel, dunk the trap and contents into a water butt. Mind your fingers, both Fenn traps and squirrels bite and they will have you if they can! When I was at kindergarten Teacher thought it was a good idea to have a squirrel in a cage in the classroom to teach us little ones about "Nature". Don't put your fingers near a live squirrel! It's on the front page of the newspapers today about children leaving primary school unable to read in England. I could read before entering primary school, perhaps schools should bring back the squirrel. Owain |
"doozer" wrote in message ... David Chapman wrote: Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! These wretched scavengers go for any food that we put out to feed the blue-tits and other small birds. They manage to steal complete fat- balls, coconut halves and other delicacies despite my suspending these items from tree branches using thin, greased, wires to make things more difficult for them. It's been quite interesting trying to develop new ideas to try and thwart them and see how innovative they can be in still getting the bird's food, but it's now getting beyond a joke. Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Are squirrel traps easy to make, and do they work? If I could catch a few of the critters I'd take them a few miles away and release them, hoping that they don't have such a good homing system as pigeons! Ideas please! TIA - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think you will have your work cut out trying to get rid of them by catching them and moving them. Assuming you can catch them all next year the ones a little further away will simply repopulate your local area. I built a bird table recently and expected the local squirrel population to be all over it. In fact they pretty much have left it alone. I think the reason is because I gave it all a really good coat of exterior grade varnish and their claws can't get a grip on it. I have spotted a couple on there but they have jumped from the ground up to it (the table is probably only 100 to 130 cm up). I think that is about the limit of what they can jump vertically though as I have seen numerous squirrels fail to make it - one of which brained itself on the edge of the table. As for things hung on wires. I would get a large plant pot base (the things that catch drips) and put a small hole in the middle. Tie a knot in the wire and then thread it through the hole then hand the lot up. As long as the flower pot base is wide though the squirrel won't be able to reach round to grab the wire below. Of course the whole thing has to be outside jumping range. More fun to hang the bird feeder over a pond. They can slide down the string to the bird food but from there there is only one way they can go. |
David Chapman wrote:
Has anyone in this NG found a satisfactory way to 'deter' grey squirrels from a garden without actually using poison, electricity, or other means of 'terminating them with extreme prejudice' ? Air rifle is good sport. You can eat them too. Oh. You want a non lethal way Simple. Don't leave food out. |
"TonyK" wrote in message ...
"David Chapman" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! Is there not a natural predator that would attack squirrels? Maybe the odour of a ferret might deter the little pests? Just my tuppence worth. Mungo |
On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 22:50:36 +0000 (UTC), "Simon"
wrote: More fun to hang the bird feeder over a pond. They can slide down the string to the bird food but from there there is only one way they can go. Big catfish too. |
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... In an old house we once renovated there was a set up to cause rats to fall into a barrel of water, took us some time to find out what it was! I'm not sure that even it's real purpose but old local farmers etc couldn't come up with anything more likely. Basically it was a wire strung across the roof with pieces of slate with a hole drilled in the middle threaded onto it. The rats would apparently cross the wire, be unable to turn, try to climb onto the slate which would then spin round causing them to fall into the water. If you were to hang a birdtable, nuts, fat balls etc off a wire like this, between two largish (so they couldn't jump over it) bits of spinning slate/board etc, I wonder if it might work for squirrels too?? Just a thought.... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, it's been aired here before I'm sure. Mary |
On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 20:39:38 +0100, Andy Dingley wrote:
On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 13:43:06 +0100, David Chapman wrote: I'm looking for ideas on how to eliminate/reduce the number of grey squirrels that frequent our garden. Fat chance, I hear you say! Indeed. Leave them to it and squirrel-proof the bird table. A squirrel can climb or slide _down_ almost anything, then jump off the food to the floor. They're less good at climbing _up_ though, so conical "rat funnels" on a vertical post will usually stop them. Make them big enough, make them smooth (i.e. metal or glass), and dont; have the table overlooked by a jumping platform. We only have red squirrels here, and not too many of them, so I leave them to it. In an old house we once renovated there was a set up to cause rats to fall into a barrel of water, took us some time to find out what it was! I'm not sure that even it's real purpose but old local farmers etc couldn't come up with anything more likely. Basically it was a wire strung across the roof with pieces of slate with a hole drilled in the middle threaded onto it. The rats would apparently cross the wire, be unable to turn, try to climb onto the slate which would then spin round causing them to fall into the water. If you were to hang a birdtable, nuts, fat balls etc off a wire like this, between two largish (so they couldn't jump over it) bits of spinning slate/board etc, I wonder if it might work for squirrels too?? Just a thought.... -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
Many thanks to all who posted interesting, practical, amusing and some downright dangerous suggestions. Much appreciated. I'll certainly be trying some of them very soon. ATB - Dave David C.Chapman - ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 15:16:12 +0100, Holly in France
wrote: In an old house we once renovated there was a set up to cause rats to fall into a barrel of water, took us some time to find out what it was! I wouldn't recommend it. I once had a rat-drowning tank in an attic (not deliberate). As it took seemingly _days_ to drown a rat (you could hear squeaking) it was easier to give them a ramp to climb out on. |
On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 15:13:29 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote:
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... If you were to hang a birdtable, nuts, fat balls etc off a wire like this, between two largish (so they couldn't jump over it) bits of spinning slate/board etc, I wonder if it might work for squirrels too?? Just a thought.... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, Is it? Oh well, great minds think alike then :-) it's been aired here before I'm sure. Quite possibly, not as far as I have seen in this thread though? In fact come to think of it, I think I have posted about the rat trap idea here before, I might even have thought of it for squirrels before and forgotten it again! -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 15:13:29 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote: "Holly in France" wrote in message ... If you were to hang a birdtable, nuts, fat balls etc off a wire like this, between two largish (so they couldn't jump over it) bits of spinning slate/board etc, I wonder if it might work for squirrels too?? Just a thought.... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, Is it? Oh well, great minds think alike then :-) It wasn't my idea! But if I wanted to kill squirrels, which I don't, it would have been one I'd try. On the other hand, a squirrel once got itself into one of our ponds and out again. There's nothing quite so miserable as a sodden squirrel but it did get out of a sheer sided plastic lined pond so it might have done from a barrel. Mary |
On 7 Apr 2005 08:03:05 -0700, "selfbuilder"
wrote: I quite like this rspb chillie powder idea, apparently it won't bother the birds at all - http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/advic...deterrents.asp 1) dog 2) gun Aparently them make nice pies. My neighbour (the game keeper) dogs live on squirrels / rabbits and the odd fox. Not that the dogs catch them, he shoots them & cooks em up ..... Rick |
In message , David Chapman
writes Many thanks to all who posted interesting, practical, amusing and some downright dangerous suggestions. Much appreciated. I'll certainly be trying some of them very soon. Don't try the barbecue one, or if you must, stew the squirrels first. Same applies to making pies of them - cook them until they're tender before you put the pie crust on. Don't think of them as rats, they get a clean diet and are fine to eat. Slow cooking is best for them, and then they're very good. -- Sue ]:(:) |
"Sue" wrote in message ... Don't try the barbecue one, or if you must, stew the squirrels first. Same applies to making pies of them - cook them until they're tender before you put the pie crust on. In my experience only the back legs have enough meat on them to make them worthwhile - but that is extremely good. The worst part is taking off the skin, it's very firmly adhered. Barbecuing isn't a suitable way of cooking, I can't see the point in stewing and then grilling. I cook the whole legs in the oven, covered, with seasoning and perhaps onion or garlic, and a little oil or fat but no water. I wouldn't put them in a pie, I like to hold the bone and bite off the flesh as I do with bird legs. Don't think of them as rats, they get a clean diet and are fine to eat. They're not rats. Rats are edible, again only the back legs unless you're starving as some people who've eaten them have been. What an animal eats has no bearing on its flesh. Mary |
On Sat, 9 Apr 2005 22:25:08 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote: What an animal eats has no bearing on its flesh. BSE and cannibal cows ? I've heard there are also BSE(sic) risks to squirrel in West Virginia, where they're a commonplace diet item in some of the more rustic parts. |
"Andy Dingley" wrote in message ... On Sat, 9 Apr 2005 22:25:08 +0100, "Mary Fisher" wrote: What an animal eats has no bearing on its flesh. BSE and cannibal cows ? a) the flavour of flesh wasn't changed b) the nervous system was where the 'infection' was. I've heard there are also BSE(sic) risks to squirrel in West Virginia, where they're a commonplace diet item in some of the more rustic parts. So have I. but again only the nervous system would be infected. The problem with BSE infected animals was that every part of the caracase was used by some 'food' manufacturers - mechanically recovered meat (MRM) contained everything. Everything. I was happy to continue eating cattle flesh and offal but would never and have never eaten commercially produces pies, pates, sausages - anything which could contain unknowns. Mary |
On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 19:30:43 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote:
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 15:13:29 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote: "Holly in France" wrote in message ... If you were to hang a birdtable, nuts, fat balls etc off a wire like this, between two largish (so they couldn't jump over it) bits of spinning slate/board etc, I wonder if it might work for squirrels too?? Just a thought.... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, Is it? Oh well, great minds think alike then :-) It wasn't my idea! I know, but it was mine! :-) Not originally apparently, but in that I thought of it independently. But if I wanted to kill squirrels, which I don't, it would have been one I'd try. Perhaps this wasn't clear - I wasn't suggesting it as method of killing them, just of making them fall off before they reached the birdtable. -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 18:34:32 +0100, Andy Dingley wrote:
On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 15:16:12 +0100, Holly in France wrote: In an old house we once renovated there was a set up to cause rats to fall into a barrel of water, took us some time to find out what it was! I wouldn't recommend it. I never saw it in action, and having read about your experience I wouldn't recommend it either. I once had a rat-drowning tank in an attic (not deliberate). As it took seemingly _days_ to drown a rat (you could hear squeaking) it was easier to give them a ramp to climb out on. Rats do swim well don't they, so I suppose it would take them a long time to drown :-( Ugh... -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, Is it? Oh well, great minds think alike then :-) It wasn't my idea! I know, but it was mine! :-) Not originally apparently, but in that I thought of it independently. I've occasionally thought of something brilliant and been devastated when I've discovered it wasn't original. How are the mighty fallen :-) The older you get the more often it happens, you get used to it ... :-( But if I wanted to kill squirrels, which I don't, it would have been one I'd try. Perhaps this wasn't clear - I wasn't suggesting it as method of killing them, just of making them fall off before they reached the birdtable. They might drown ... Mary |
Mary Fisher wrote:
"Andy Dingley" wrote in message... "Mary Fisher": What an animal eats has no bearing on its flesh. BSE and cannibal cows ? a) the flavour of flesh wasn't changed What animals eat can change the taste of their meat. Anyway, why are you continually polluting this group with this sort of rubbish? Try u.r.f+d.m or alt.useless.tittle-tattle in future, please. |
"Chris Bacon" wrote in message ... Mary Fisher wrote: "Andy Dingley" wrote in message... "Mary Fisher": What an animal eats has no bearing on its flesh. BSE and cannibal cows ? a) the flavour of flesh wasn't changed What animals eat can change the taste of their meat. That's true. But that wasn't the point of the answer. Anyway, why are you continually polluting this group with this sort of rubbish? Try u.r.f+d.m or alt.useless.tittle-tattle in future, please. Why are you reading my posts? And what's u.r.f+d.m? Mary |
"Geoffrey" wrote in message ... On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 13:06:06 +0100, "Mary Fisher" wrote: And what's u.r.f+d.m? uk.rec.food+drink.misc? Geoffrey! Where've you been hiding? Mary |
On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 10:43:49 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote:
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... It's one of the common ways of dealing with them, Is it? Oh well, great minds think alike then :-) It wasn't my idea! I know, but it was mine! :-) Not originally apparently, but in that I thought of it independently. I've occasionally thought of something brilliant and been devastated when I've discovered it wasn't original. How are the mighty fallen :-) Quite :-) My best ever idea was in the early 80s when I was watching my brother in law painstakingly cutting the stencil for lettering a headstone. Thought this could be done by computer using DTP software or similar, as long as one could find someone to develop a cutting machine. But, oh no, everyone thought that stonemasons would never be interested in such a high-tech new-fangled thing. But....ALL the headstones are done this way now, they even use this system for light marking of stone which is to be V-cut by hand. Only very unusual lettering or designs are set out manually these days. I should have taken out a patent on the idea at the time, might have been a millionaire by now instead of struggling with digger tyres :-) The older you get the more often it happens, you get used to it ... :-( Thanks for the warning :-) But if I wanted to kill squirrels, which I don't, it would have been one I'd try. Perhaps this wasn't clear - I wasn't suggesting it as method of killing them, just of making them fall off before they reached the birdtable. They might drown ... I just meant to hang up the birdtable on the wires in mid-air, not over barrels of water. -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
Holly in France wrote:
Quite :-) My best ever idea was in the early 80s when I was watching my brother in law painstakingly cutting the stencil for lettering a headstone. Thought this could be done by computer using DTP software or similar, as long as one could find someone to develop a cutting machine. But, oh no, everyone thought that stonemasons would never be interested in such a high-tech new-fangled thing. In a student project in the 1980s on bank marketing I suggested my 'client' bank should have 24-hour call centres to deal with customer enquiries. I even suggested they be located in areas of low labour cost to reduce high street branch overheads. What a totally impractical idea that was. Owain |
"Owain" wrote in message In a student project in the 1980s on bank marketing I suggested my 'client' bank should have 24-hour call centres to deal with customer enquiries. I even suggested they be located in areas of low labour cost to reduce high street branch overheads. What a totally impractical idea that was. You're very brave, admitting to be the author of that! Mary Owain |
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