Squirrel War of 2016

[RSKY]

After posting last year of our neighborhood war on squirrels, neighbor shot 153 off a one acre lot, I thought I would have a 2016 year so far update. After more than 200 killed off four acres last year we have only killed around fifteen or twenty this year. The reason why is feathered. A nest of some type falcon is in my neighbors yard. There will be a screech then silence. And another one has bit the dust. I have not seen them take a squirrel but the guy across the road is disabled and sits in his front yard for hours every day and he has seen them hit one or two. Has also seen them get something smaller like a mouse or vole.

I said they are falcons but I'm really not sure. The red-tailed hawks are the most numerous around here and they have a relatively long slender wing and spend their time either perched in a tree or gliding thru the air with hardly a beat of their wings. These things in our yard every day have short stubby wings, never glide always moving fast, and did I mention that they are fast when they shoot across the yard. Kinda like a grey flash.

Anyway, if you are having squirrel trouble just lure some falcons to your yard.

RSKY

 

[k0ua]

Perigrines?

peregrine falcon - Google Search

 

[teejk]

cooper's hawk perhaps?

 

[kf4uda]

We have developed a large population of American Kestrels (Sparrow Hawk) in the last few years. Take a look and see if this looks like what you have: American Kestrel, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[Zerk]

Wow. I was having problems, 10, settled them down.

 

[rekees4300]

We are surrounded by woods full of squirrels but our Black Lab keeps them at bay. Nothing he likes better than to chase squirrels. :squirrel::dog:

 

[MossRoad]

My guess would be a Sharp Shinned hawk or a Cooper's Hawk. Peregrine falcons primarily eat birds, like doves and pigeons.

Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk - FeederWatch

 

[RSKY]

Whatever they are they have thinned the squirrel population considerably. Just wish I knew how to attract them.
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OK, I know somebody is gonna say 'have plenty of squirrels' to attract them.

RSKY

 

[dickfoster]

Whatever they are they have thinned the squirrel population considerably. Just wish I knew how to attract them.
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OK, I know somebody is gonna say 'have plenty of squirrels' to attract them.

RSKY

If you've never tried it, fried squirrel is pretty tasty. Roll in flour and fry it up like you're pan frying chicken. No it doesn't taste like chicken but rattle snake does.

 

[teejk]

Whatever they are they have thinned the squirrel population considerably. Just wish I knew how to attract them.
OK, I know somebody is gonna say 'have plenty of squirrels' to attract them.

RSKY

If you figure it out please post back...Pretty much feeding sunflower now for the rose-breasted grosbeaks but we have a few acrobatic squirrels that can get into that feeder. They were jumping from the bird bath so we moved it. Now they simply leap from the ground. Need a taller shepherds hook I guess. I have to check our regulations again but last I looked a home owner is allowed to shoot them out of season...I'm getting to that point.

 

[bcp]

Put up a 10ft section of 4 inch plastic pipe. Put your feeder on top. Fill it with a cup screwed to the end of a 10ft, 1 inch PVC pipe. If squirrels can't jump to it, the birdseed is safe. The 4 inch pipe is too slick for them to grab, and too large for them to reach around.

Bruce

 

[teejk]

Put up a 10ft section of 4 inch plastic pipe. Put your feeder on top. Fill it with a cup screwed to the end of a 10ft, 1 inch PVC pipe. If squirrels can't jump to it, the birdseed is safe. The 4 inch pipe is too slick for them to grab, and too large for them to reach around.

Bruce

Well...we go through a lot of bird-seed here and having to take a ladder out to fill it would be a problem. I fabricated a tube from 6" galv heating duct to fit over the standard shepherd's hook (had to fill it with upside down beer cans because the little red squirrels could shinny up that pole with little effort) and that worked for years. Now we are over-run with the grays that are very good at getting into that feeder (they tried the "Yankee Flipper" but gave up on that one). The wild berries will be coming soon and I can stop feeding soon. Until then I guess it's .22 time.

 

[CalG]

Three down today, CO2 powered .22 cal air rifle. " PFFFT!"

 

[davesl708]

Three down today, CO2 powered .22 cal air rifle. " PFFFT!"

That works.
I use a .177 pellet. Works great. Hawks and fox clean up.

 

[oldballs]

My home made bird feeder was mounted on a 1" galvanized pipe that was about 5 feet out of the ground. Using old grease and motor oil I kept the pipe so slick that the critters could not climb it. Plus, I enjoyed watching them work at it.

Finally I removed the feeder and now just enjoy watching various animals and birds as they just go about their day without my feeder....except for the water in the bird bath.

Cheers,
Mike.............Hi Dave

 

[teejk]

My home made bird feeder was mounted on a 1" galvanized pipe that was about 5 feet out of the ground. Using old grease and motor oil I kept the pipe so slick that the critters could not climb it. Plus, I enjoyed watching them work at it.

Finally I removed the feeder and now just enjoy watching various animals and birds as they just go about their day without my feeder....except for the water in the bird bath.

Cheers,
Mike.............Hi Dave

Was thinking about the greased pole but I'm sure the dogs would find it. More entertaining idea that I have is tobasco sauce.

 

[k0ua]

My home made bird feeder was mounted on a 1" galvanized pipe that was about 5 feet out of the ground. Using old grease and motor oil I kept the pipe so slick that the critters could not climb it. Plus, I enjoyed watching them work at it.

Finally I removed the feeder and now just enjoy watching various animals and birds as they just go about their day without my feeder....except for the water in the bird bath.

Cheers,
Mike.............Hi Dave

Best solution yet. That is what we did this year. Took them all down, Now no squirrel troubles, most left, and the remainder stopped pooping all over our decks and live in the trees where they belong. I think we are done with feeding. Leave the animals and birds alone, and they will be a lot less trouble. I did have a racoon desecrate my new paint job on one of the deck rails. He hasn't come back though.

 

[oldballs]

Yeah, I figure that the animals were surviving all on their own long before I put up my bird feeder; and they still will be here long after I'm gone. So I guess the question is whether one just wants to enjoy watching the birds at one's feeder or not, cause they can get along without us.

 

[TCJatko]

If you've never tried it, fried squirrel is pretty tasty. Roll in flour and fry it up like you're pan frying chicken. No it doesn't taste like chicken but rattle snake does.

With 153 on a acre, I'd be developing recipes.

 

[dickfoster]

With 153 on a acre, I'd be developing recipes.

I've only had it fried but I suppose you could roast it like any other meat. It's also a key component in a lot of recipes for Brunswick Stew which is also pretty tasty. I just made up a batch of stew but used pork and chicken. I didn't think my native Los Angeleno wife would be able to eat squirrel unless she didn't know what she was eating. I have managed to turn her into a Carolina style BBQ fan however which is the only real BBQ.