Squirrels

Thank you for this, I may invest in an ultrasonic gadget thing. Just slightly concerned that it might affect my dogs though but it says it shouldn't.

I saw the cheeky little sod today. Scampered along the fence and down to where the hanging baskets used to be. But I've moved them now, so the squirrel buggered off empty handed this time!

 

I realise I may be unpopular in saying this but what we consider pests e.g. squirrels and foxes are just doing what comes naturally to them. They are not deliberately sabotaging our gardening efforts but trying to survive and....if the pickings are easy and rich....well, is it really their fault? It's perspective... The problem is one of nature meeting civilisation.

However, when it comes to rats I am less tolerant! I guess because they are more inclined to directly invade our houses, chew through pipes and wires and carry diseases.

 

.......exactly!

 

Much like tree rats (sorry, squirrels) then. Squirrels are equally as incontinent as other rodents and equally likely to chew through a pipe, which in all fairness is not very. They had done considerable damage in the loft of a house I bought about fifteen years ago.

 

Oh I see. It didn't occur to me that squirrels would live in our homes.

 

And piddle and poo in them too

 

Squirrels in houses though must be the exception....my original post about them referred to them (like foxes) living in the wild and doing what comes naturally to them.

 

What comes naturally is to make a nest in the best spot possible. What's better than a warm loft once you've found it? They can squeeze through the tiniest of gaps too. The urban squirrel has become as brazen as the urban fox.

 

It is easy to appraise animals through just our human filter, e.g. that they are deliberately sabotaging our gardens. Whilst I realise they are a worrying pest in our own homes (and I would not wish that on anyone - I would not like it either), animals are opportunists. The problem lies, as mentioned, where nature meets civilisation. I dislike the idea of killing animals and prefer to go down the deterrent route whenever possible.

 

I agree, rosebay.
Last year, we had European hornets nesting in our eaves. We tried to live-and-let-live, although it was a little difficult (they are attracted to light, so no open windows after dark). hubby, mother and one of the dogs got stung, so if they return this year, I will reluctantly call in the local authorities to remove the nest.
We have rodents of some sort in our living-room extension roof, the main attic, and the garage. I am ok about them being there, but would rather they didn't come into the main living area of the house. Frogs and toads have to be stepped over, if you negotiate the steps down to the cellars. Foxes regularly patrol our garden, much to the frustration of the dogs! (So far, the roe deer have kept away...)
I try to view all this life living alongside us as a compliment to the way I manage the garden, encouraging as much wildlife as possible.
....wish the local stray cats wouldn't use the raised veg bed as their litter-tray though!

 

I realise how text comes across but please believe me when I say that I am being facetious in my anthropomorphic description of squirrel behaviour. As a dog trainer I'm well aware that behaviour is just behaviour, with no good or bad agenda behind it, just animal instinct.

I would never kill an animal (I'm a vegetarian!) If I had a real problem I'd use a humane trap and release the animal far from home as I have done with rats and mice before.

Anyway, happy to report that my strawbs now seem safe since I moved them away from the fence I may chuck a net over them at some point for extra protection.

 

Sadly that is illegal in the case of grey squirrels and rats as they are classed as vermin.

 

Is it really? I didn't know that, oops.