Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 12/20/2015 1:00 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:46:42 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Not an option where I live. Even if it were, the red squirrels are
sneaky little *******s and fast as hell. When I was releasing them from
the trap they would accelerate from 0 to about 70 mph in 1 second flat
and be gone before you could even take aim. :-)

You rarely see them running around in the woods, unlike the grey squirrels.


As Tim could point out, squirrel hunting requires patience and being
able to sit still. You don't stalk them, you just sit where they hang
out and wait. Eventually they ignore you and come out.



I have no interest in hunting them but when they set up residence in
your house it's time for them to be encouraged to move on. They can be
very destructive if left there long enough, including chewing through
wiring and starting a fire.




When I grew up we had nice Grey Squirrels. Some Midwestern idiots brought
some of the red fox squirrels here, illegally. Now most of the Bay Area is
overrun with red squirrel, as they are more aggressive than the native
grey. We have probably 10 or 12 living in the palm tree and the owl box I
installed, they eat a lot of the sunflower seeds I put in the bird feeder.

- show quoted text -
I have no interest in hunting them but when they set up residence in
your house it's time for them to be encouraged to move on. They can be
very destructive if left there long enough, including chewing through
wiring and starting a fire.
......

Richard, there's seone in here that needs to share your experiences so they can have a finer apretiation for the cute little woodland creatures...

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 13:00:18 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:46:42 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Not an option where I live. Even if it were, the red squirrels are
sneaky little *******s and fast as hell. When I was releasing them from
the trap they would accelerate from 0 to about 70 mph in 1 second flat
and be gone before you could even take aim. :-)

You rarely see them running around in the woods, unlike the grey squirrels.


As Tim could point out, squirrel hunting requires patience and being
able to sit still. You don't stalk them, you just sit where they hang
out and wait. Eventually they ignore you and come out.

Exactly. The little *******s are hard to skin too. And tough!
--

Ban idiots, not guns!

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 05:40:21 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 8:16:39 AM UTC-5, Mr. Luddite wrote:
Good news is: They're gone.

Learned a lot about theses little pests though and thought I'd pass on
what I discovered in case anyone else ever has this problem.

First, contrary to what I originally thought, these were not baby or
young grey squirrels. They were full grown American Red Squirrels.
Red Squirrels are common just about everywhere, you just don't see them
out and about as often as the grey squirrels. They are slightly larger
than a chipmunk. The fur is not necessarily as "red" as you might think
but their underbelly is white and they have black rings around their eyes.

I was catching 7 or 8 a day in a HaveaHart trap that I was setting in a
workshop in the attic and then releasing them. Mistake number one.
As others pointed out, they were returning to the house probably faster
than I was coming back from the woods where I released them. Good news
was ... there weren't as many of them as I feared. They were just about
6 or 7 repeat visitors.

I discovered how they were getting in. The four season's porch we have
does not have a poured concrete foundation like the rest of the house
although it does have a stone facade on the framing that looks like a
foundation. The floor framing is insulated but, because it is also
heated, there are gaps in the heating piping from the house basement and
an easy route for the little critters to get in the basement and then
into walls, etc. Plugged the gaps.

I also found a large hole dug under the facade on the side of the house
facing the woods. Filled it in with rocks, gravel and dirt and then
sprinkled some squirrel and rodent repellant everywhere around where the
hole previously existed.

Caught a few more in the trap but now it's been two days that the trap
remains empty and we don't hear any little critters running around up
there or in the walls at night.

Now, here's some info I found interesting and unbelievable:

In Massachusetts and a few other states, it is illegal to trap
squirrels, even if on your property. I think they are referring to grey
squirrels, but the statute doesn't distinguish what squirrel they are
talking about. You can hunt squirrels ... but only during squirrel
hunting season (twice a year). It requires a hunting license and you
can shoot them or hunt them with bow and arrow. Trapping is *not* allowed.

But, get this:

It is also illegal to transport and relocate squirrels or any other wild
animal in this and many other states. Two primary reasons.
First, squirrels are smart little *******s. Once they associate lights
with the potential of a warm, dry attic they like to invade. Relocating
them, regardless of the distance, only serves to transfer your squirrel
problem to someone else. The second reason comes from
tree hugging, animal rights organizations. They claim that squirrels
are very territorial and will attack and kill an immigrant to their
area. The animal rights people are concerned about the stress put on
the poor little creatures. There is actually a licensed animal rights
group who will attempt to "relocate" squirrels under controlled, minimal
stress conditions.

It turns out, if one was to completely stay in accordance with state
laws, the only way to legally get rid of them is to hire a licensed pest
control company who will set traps and then dispose of them by
euthanasia. Killing them after capture is considered the most humane
method of disposing of them because it causes the least amount
of stress on them. However, to be totally law abiding, the property
owner can't do it. You have to pay $1,000 or more to have it done.

I found several articles written by professional pest control experts.
One attempted to test the belief that squirrels will find their way
back to where they set up home by trapping them, tagging them and then
releasing them at different distances from where they were caught.
At three miles, almost all the squirrels returned. At seven miles, half
returned. In one case a tagged squirrel returned after being released
*25* miles from where it was caught.

Best method to euthanize them?

Shooting: Not recommended, either by pellet gun or firearm of any
type. Most residential areas don't allow discharge of a firearm
on your property anyway unless you are located far from any roads
or other houses.

Poison: Definitely not recommended. Stressful to animal and, if
they die in your house it's going to stink for a couple of weeks.

CO2: Not recommended. Dangerous to do and not always effective.

Drowning: This is the recommended and most humane way to euthanize
them. Once trapped, put the entire trap in a big bucket of water. Only
takes about 15-20 seconds and it's all over. Give it a full minute or
two in order to be absolutely sure.

We are now squirrel free.

Our old house was constructed with cedar siding. One day, the squirrels decided that it tasted good, and started chewing on it. The offenders got a tub of rat poison and peanut butter mixture on the roof for a day. That stopped the chewing. A "magnum" pellet gun cut the local population down, and we never had the problem again.

The current house (brick) has an issue with squirrels getting into the leaf-guarded gutters. They chew a small opening in an end and setup a home in there. Then they run through the gutters, which drives my black lab, Buddy, crazy. I've lost two downspouts... one chewed flat, and one pulled completely off the house. The suppressed S&W M&P 15/22 is currently handling that task.

Tell me you're not going to shoot the dog!

Mine has chewed up the cornerpiece of the vinyl siding where a chipmunk (I guess)
climbed up. The siding was on the house when we moved in, twenty years ago, and
finding the same stuff is impossible. Of course, the siding companies would *love* to
redo the whole house!

I've only lost one downspout.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 10:09:10 AM UTC-5, John H. wrote:
On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 05:40:21 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 8:16:39 AM UTC-5, Mr. Luddite wrote:
Good news is: They're gone.

Learned a lot about theses little pests though and thought I'd pass on
what I discovered in case anyone else ever has this problem.

We are now squirrel free.

Our old house was constructed with cedar siding. One day, the squirrels decided that it tasted good, and started chewing on it. The offenders got a tub of rat poison and peanut butter mixture on the roof for a day. That stopped the chewing. A "magnum" pellet gun cut the local population down, and we never had the problem again.

The current house (brick) has an issue with squirrels getting into the leaf-guarded gutters. They chew a small opening in an end and setup a home in there. Then they run through the gutters, which drives my black lab, Buddy, crazy. I've lost two downspouts... one chewed flat, and one pulled completely off the house. The suppressed S&W M&P 15/22 is currently handling that task.

Tell me you're not going to shoot the dog!


No, of course not.


Mine has chewed up the cornerpiece of the vinyl siding where a chipmunk (I guess)
climbed up. The siding was on the house when we moved in, twenty years ago, and
finding the same stuff is impossible. Of course, the siding companies would *love* to
redo the whole house!

I've only lost one downspout.

Yeah, the one that was chewed flat was like a cheese grater inside. When I cut it off, a squirrel fell out that had fallen down into it and was scrambling around inside when Buddy attacked. (our downspouts empty into corrugated pipe that is buried and eventually ends up in the woods to carry water away from the house) He looked pretty bad, but shot off into the woods, happy to make it out alive.

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:16:36 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Good news is: They're gone.


I discovered how they were getting in.

I would still keep looking. These guys are pretty resourceful about
exploiting the smallest hole and enlarging it.


Now, here's some info I found interesting and unbelievable:

In Massachusetts and a few other states, it is illegal to trap
squirrels, even if on your property. I think they are referring to grey
squirrels, but the statute doesn't distinguish what squirrel they are
talking about. You can hunt squirrels ... but only during squirrel
hunting season (twice a year). It requires a hunting license and you
can shoot them or hunt them with bow and arrow. Trapping is *not* allowed.


I am not sure about now but when I was in Maryland, the red squirrels
were protected and you couldn't take them at all.

But, get this:

It is also illegal to transport and relocate squirrels or any other wild
animal in this and many other states. Two primary reasons.
First, squirrels are smart little *******s. Once they associate lights
with the potential of a warm, dry attic they like to invade. Relocating
them, regardless of the distance, only serves to transfer your squirrel
problem to someone else. The second reason comes from
tree hugging, animal rights organizations. They claim that squirrels
are very territorial and will attack and kill an immigrant to their
area. The animal rights people are concerned about the stress put on
the poor little creatures. There is actually a licensed animal rights
group who will attempt to "relocate" squirrels under controlled, minimal
stress conditions.


The 3d reason is the spread of diseases. That is the main reason why
we can't move Gopher Tortoises.


Drowning: This is the recommended and most humane way to euthanize
them. Once trapped, put the entire trap in a big bucket of water. Only
takes about 15-20 seconds and it's all over. Give it a full minute or
two in order to be absolutely sure.

I drown a few of my rats and it took a surprising length of time. I
decided shooting was more humane. For sure 30 seconds did not do the
trick. Up around a minute, they were just wet.

Rats may be tougher than squirrels tho.

On 12/20/2015 8:42 AM, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:16:36 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Good news is: They're gone.


I discovered how they were getting in.

I would still keep looking. These guys are pretty resourceful about
exploiting the smallest hole and enlarging it.


I've gone around the entire house looking for entry ways. Found none
other than the hole going under the 5 seasons porch. Checked soffets
using binoculars and can't see anything other than one small hole that
I had already patched.

The fact that I haven't had any repeat customers is encouraging.
For the past week or so they have been very active up there, especially
from about 9 pm and all night long until morning. It has been nice to
get a decent night's sleep.



I am not sure about now but when I was in Maryland, the red squirrels
were protected and you couldn't take them at all.


According to Wiki, they are not under any conservation concern other
than in Arizona where their numbers have been diminishing since 1987.

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 09:27:45 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 12/20/2015 8:42 AM, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:16:36 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Good news is: They're gone.


I discovered how they were getting in.

I would still keep looking. These guys are pretty resourceful about
exploiting the smallest hole and enlarging it.


I've gone around the entire house looking for entry ways. Found none
other than the hole going under the 5 seasons porch. Checked soffets
using binoculars and can't see anything other than one small hole that
I had already patched.

The fact that I haven't had any repeat customers is encouraging.
For the past week or so they have been very active up there, especially
from about 9 pm and all night long until morning. It has been nice to
get a decent night's sleep.



I am not sure about now but when I was in Maryland, the red squirrels
were protected and you couldn't take them at all.


According to Wiki, they are not under any conservation concern other
than in Arizona where their numbers have been diminishing since 1987.


Lucky Arizonians.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 12/20/2015 8:42 AM, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:16:36 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Good news is: They're gone.


I discovered how they were getting in.

I would still keep looking. These guys are pretty resourceful about
exploiting the smallest hole and enlarging it.


I've gone around the entire house looking for entry ways. Found none
other than the hole going under the 5 seasons porch. Checked soffets
using binoculars and can't see anything other than one small hole that
I had already patched.

The fact that I haven't had any repeat customers is encouraging.
For the past week or so they have been very active up there, especially
from about 9 pm and all night long until morning. It has been nice to
get a decent night's sleep.



I am not sure about now but when I was in Maryland, the red squirrels
were protected and you couldn't take them at all.


According to Wiki, they are not under any conservation concern other
than in Arizona where their numbers have been diminishing since 1987.





Ship them to AZ! Problem solved.

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 08:16:36 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Good news is: They're gone.

Learned a lot about theses little pests though and thought I'd pass on
what I discovered in case anyone else ever has this problem.

First, contrary to what I originally thought, these were not baby or
young grey squirrels. They were full grown American Red Squirrels.
Red Squirrels are common just about everywhere, you just don't see them
out and about as often as the grey squirrels. They are slightly larger
than a chipmunk. The fur is not necessarily as "red" as you might think
but their underbelly is white and they have black rings around their eyes.

I was catching 7 or 8 a day in a HaveaHart trap that I was setting in a
workshop in the attic and then releasing them. Mistake number one.
As others pointed out, they were returning to the house probably faster
than I was coming back from the woods where I released them. Good news
was ... there weren't as many of them as I feared. They were just about
6 or 7 repeat visitors.

I discovered how they were getting in. The four season's porch we have
does not have a poured concrete foundation like the rest of the house
although it does have a stone facade on the framing that looks like a
foundation. The floor framing is insulated but, because it is also
heated, there are gaps in the heating piping from the house basement and
an easy route for the little critters to get in the basement and then
into walls, etc. Plugged the gaps.

I also found a large hole dug under the facade on the side of the house
facing the woods. Filled it in with rocks, gravel and dirt and then
sprinkled some squirrel and rodent repellant everywhere around where the
hole previously existed.

Caught a few more in the trap but now it's been two days that the trap
remains empty and we don't hear any little critters running around up
there or in the walls at night.

Now, here's some info I found interesting and unbelievable:

In Massachusetts and a few other states, it is illegal to trap
squirrels, even if on your property. I think they are referring to grey
squirrels, but the statute doesn't distinguish what squirrel they are
talking about. You can hunt squirrels ... but only during squirrel
hunting season (twice a year). It requires a hunting license and you
can shoot them or hunt them with bow and arrow. Trapping is *not* allowed.

But, get this:

It is also illegal to transport and relocate squirrels or any other wild
animal in this and many other states. Two primary reasons.
First, squirrels are smart little *******s. Once they associate lights
with the potential of a warm, dry attic they like to invade. Relocating
them, regardless of the distance, only serves to transfer your squirrel
problem to someone else. The second reason comes from
tree hugging, animal rights organizations. They claim that squirrels
are very territorial and will attack and kill an immigrant to their
area. The animal rights people are concerned about the stress put on
the poor little creatures. There is actually a licensed animal rights
group who will attempt to "relocate" squirrels under controlled, minimal
stress conditions.

It turns out, if one was to completely stay in accordance with state
laws, the only way to legally get rid of them is to hire a licensed pest
control company who will set traps and then dispose of them by
euthanasia. Killing them after capture is considered the most humane
method of disposing of them because it causes the least amount
of stress on them. However, to be totally law abiding, the property
owner can't do it. You have to pay $1,000 or more to have it done.

I found several articles written by professional pest control experts.
One attempted to test the belief that squirrels will find their way
back to where they set up home by trapping them, tagging them and then
releasing them at different distances from where they were caught.
At three miles, almost all the squirrels returned. At seven miles, half
returned. In one case a tagged squirrel returned after being released
*25* miles from where it was caught.

Best method to euthanize them?

Shooting: Not recommended, either by pellet gun or firearm of any
type. Most residential areas don't allow discharge of a firearm
on your property anyway unless you are located far from any roads
or other houses.

Poison: Definitely not recommended. Stressful to animal and, if
they die in your house it's going to stink for a couple of weeks.

CO2: Not recommended. Dangerous to do and not always effective.

Drowning: This is the recommended and most humane way to euthanize
them. Once trapped, put the entire trap in a big bucket of water. Only
takes about 15-20 seconds and it's all over. Give it a full minute or
two in order to be absolutely sure.

We are now squirrel free.


The last works for rats and chipmunks (rats with stripes) too.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!