Dang squirrels

[BoFuller]

Lately the ground squirrels have invaded my place. I have seen them occasionally, but now they are digging tunnels all around the house. I’ve tried the Havahart traps but no takers. I tried flooding out the tunnels, but that doesn’t seem to bother them either. I tried rat poison but they won’t touch it. I seldom see them, as they usually dig at night, so shooting them is not going to be very successful.
Any other ideas?

 

[Alan W.]

We use to have a large population of ground squirrels around the house. I also tried thinning them with a pellet rifle. My efforts had no noticeable results on the critters.
We got a couple of outside cats. Havent seen a live ground squirrel since. Best decision Ive made.

 

[ponytug]

+1 on the right cats. Not many will/can take on ground squirrels. Ferrets anyone?

We use tube traps from Wildlife Control Services. They aren't cheap, but they are very durable, and the squirrels love to run in them. Once each.

WCS™ Tube Trap - Rust Resistant

WCS™ Tube Trap - Rust Resistant from Wildlife Control Supplies

www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com

All the best,

Peter

 

[old and tired]

Hose from the "tailpipe" of your tractor stuffed into their hole?

 

[chris the wrench]

We had a squirrel invasion when we first moved in to our current house. Ive shot 6-8, but I think the presence of my dog has done more to keep them away. He’s too old to chase them, but I think the smell is enough. Ive heard dog hair can work as a deterrent. My dog sheds a couple gallons a week, or atleast it seems like it.

 

[jyoutz]

Lately the ground squirrels have invaded my place. I have seen them occasionally, but now they are digging tunnels all around the house. I’ve tried the Havahart traps but no takers. I tried flooding out the tunnels, but that doesn’t seem to bother them either. I tried rat poison but they won’t touch it. I seldom see them, as they usually dig at night, so shooting them is not going to be very successful.
Any other ideas?

Last year I trapped 23 ground squirrels with the live traps baited with peanut butter. To avoid birds carrying off the bait I made a bait holder out of 2”pvc with press on end caps and several holes drilled in the pipe to release the scent. I smeared a good amount of peanut butter on the rag and stuffed it into the pipe, then wired the pipe at the back of the cages. But I caught many on just a cracker with peanut butter until the birds discovered the traps and started carrying off the bait.

 

[CalG]

We have rock walls, and so, We have three stripe rock squirrels.

There were lots of them around as usual in early summer.

This is also the second year in a row that a brood of Broad wing hawks were raised in one of our tall yard maples. Last year two chicks, this year there were three. Adults and the young ones are mostly gone now, but I did see one at dusk last evening.

Haven't seen a rock squirrel in a couple of months! ;-)

I'm sure they will return though.

 

[Smokeydog]

Every once in a while we have a population explosion of chipmunks. Pretty easy to trap with bird seed and relocate. King snakes, my night cats (skunks) tend to help with population control.

 

[kenmbz]

We have fox, now down to a few squirrels.
at one point the dogwood tree out front looked like it was a squirrel tree there were so many of them collecting the seeds. Now it's one or two.
The local wandering cats help too.

 

[Bad Boy Biker]

We use the 5 gallon pail method. Works well.

 

[kenmbz]

We use the 5 gallon pail method. Works well.

That works for squirrels? I use it for mice, but think a squirrel would easily hop out?
and how many squirrels would fit in there...

 

[Jstpssng]

That works for squirrels? I use it for mice, but think a squirrel would easily hop out?
and how many squirrels would fit in there...

You need to put water in it.

 

[kenmbz]

i do put water in and a plank, mice can't get out.
Trying to picture a squirrel here that would not be able to jump out.
Guess I have to trust you, but I have seen them jump up many feet while in ponds.

does work great for mice

 

[shooterdon]

That works for squirrels? I use it for mice, but think a squirrel would easily hop out?
and how many squirrels would fit in there...

Mine does not work for chipmucks or ground squirrels but it does catch a good quantity of mice. I do not put water in it so that may be what I need to try.

 

[kenmbz]

Mine does not work for chipmucks or ground squirrels but it does catch a good quantity of mice. I do not put water in it so that may be what I need to try.

The water reduces the mice ability to jump.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've pulled flying squirrels out of sap buckets before. The difference of course is that those have lids on them. The squirrels must go in looking for a drink, and not be able to get out.

 

[bigtiller]

This looks like fun...but maybe use a bigger bottle

 

[Paddy]

I just try to bug them more than they bug me. I'll dump a little old gas down their holes, another day run the garden hose down the holes for 5 min. Other days I'll just take a leak down there hole. I have poured cyanine pepper down the hole and fired up the leaf blower.

Rat traps work great if you can put them up high above your pets

I lay 2 inch iron pipe down flat near there holes. my Jack Russel will chase them in to the pipe. I swing the pipe like a bat at a concrete pier. Out sides a very dazed critter. jack Russell crushes it skull

There are still a few out there but hundreds ready to move in......

 

[Jstpssng]

The water reduces the mice ability to jump.

Mice will go out of their way to die. I once left an empty beer bottle out in back of the wood pile after stacking. When I picked it up a few days later there were 3 dead mice in it.

 

[CalG]

trapped mice I throw out to the hawks!