squirrels

[claire2965]

lking out kitchen window yesterday and noticed a big fat squirrel wandering down the path. i dont mind them but i am thinking of relocating my veggie plot later this year to the bottom of the garden where the squirrel came from. is there anything i should be concerned about and if so how do i deter him.

[johntheeng]

There are lots of squirels near to me and plenty come into the garden but never bother with the veg. Getting to the feed we give the birds is a different story. They try every thing to get to that.

[MAndrew]

Use a bb gun! Well,no, just let them live

[golden14]

water pistol - my dad uses one to keep them off his bird feeder. A "Super soaker" is ideal for the job

[claire2965]

i dont have a bird feeder but i think one of the neighbours does. the squirrel seems to b passing thru to his garden and as long as he does this i dont have a problem.. even if he doesnt i have a good deterent(2 staffies).

[Alison_Kristina]

Red or Grey?

Ali.

[claire2965]

grey not the unusual red

[adgecutler]

I only joined today and then see this post, grey squirrels are one of my biggest problems at work as I am in charge of a fair ammount of plantation (native hardwoods). The trees were getting to around 10 years of age and then the squirrels would destroy them by ring barking. I have also had problems lately with squirrels eating beetroot foliage (I never realised they would do this). Please do not be taken by their image, they are awful beasties and I have witnessed them raiding birds nests to eat the eggs and chicks and kill many of our native hardwood trees not to mention nearly wiping out our native red squirrel via the squirrelpox they carry (they can remain unaffected yet transmitted to reds it is an awful death). The method I find most successful is fenn trapping, these should be used carefully as they are powerful and can be very damaging to the environment is used improperly and must not be used where Red Squirrels are present. Firstly you should build a box for the trap to be set within with a round entrance around 2" and about 2' long the height is also important and should just give clearance for your trap to close (the squirrel can be foul trapped if thrown up by the jaws). I find peanut butter the best bait to use and it has accounted for over 200 squirrels on my rounds in the past 2 years. Kania traps are also very good but expensive, I must again stress that these traps should be used sensibly and you should seek more advice than mine alone before comencing your trapping program. I hope this information is of use to you and wish you luck,
Jamie.

[adgecutler]

I forgot to mention these traps must be checked at least twice daily.

[dripworld]

Feed them in the other side just give something for them instead of beating.

[bantiekeeper]

We have squirrels on the allotment but if the bantams are out they chase them off! No longer grow sweetcorn though as the squirrels love it, as well as the magpies and pheasant and ........!

[texeltom]

they make very good eating as long as you get them skinned sharpish.they aint native and are a serious pest,hence they are on DEFRA's hit list.
ARCHIVE: Defra, UK - : Wildlife Management - Non-native species - Examples of non-native species in the UK

[grass]

Like the idea of dripworld, just give them foods on the other side so they won't bother you.

[adgecutler]

But they will still breed, spread and eventually wipe out our native reds.