Grey squirrel damage to Lapa

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by whis4ey, Aug 5, 2013.

  1. whis4ey

    whis4ey Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    1,341
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    N. Ireland
    Ratings:
    +803
    Any suggestions as to how to rid myself of these little blighters? IMG_1701B.jpg IMG_1702B.jpg IMG_1703B.jpg IMG_1704B.jpg
     
  2. mowgley

    mowgley Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2005
    Messages:
    3,564
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Wanna be gardener
    Location:
    Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
    Ratings:
    +6,627
    Hi @whis4ey

    Sorry to see the damage to your lapa.
    Grey Squirells are a nuisance in my area too. They were nesting in the loft!
    I got one of these
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/STV-STV076-Squirrel-Cage-Trap/dp/B001O4ZJYI/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url
    And baited it with a snickers chocolate bar and a digestive biscuit with peanut butter on top!
    Caught 4 in all.
    But when you catch it you will have to kill it because I believe it's against the law to release them.
    But if you can't bring yourself to kill them you have to take them 5 miles away from your house or they will come back,(so I've read somewhere!)
     
  3. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2011
    Messages:
    36,111
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Dingwall, Ross-shire
    Ratings:
    +54,317
    Grey squirrels are classed as vermin so should be destroyed. Have you actually caught them in the act Whis4ey? My brother has had problems with squirrels and he invested in a rifle, they rarely bother him now! Have you got a friend or neighbour that might have a fire-arm and would help you out? Or would you prefer the more humane route?

    Squirrels can destroy just about anything and were in the process of wrecking my brothers loft area, even chewing through cables.
     
  4. whis4ey

    whis4ey Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2006
    Messages:
    1,341
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    N. Ireland
    Ratings:
    +803
    Thanks Mowgley .... I have ordered one :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • whis4ey

      whis4ey Head Gardener

      Joined:
      Nov 23, 2006
      Messages:
      1,341
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      N. Ireland
      Ratings:
      +803
      We only spy the little bu&&ers now and again, so a rifle would mean a lot of time spent looking out into the back garden :)
      I have ordered a trap and will drown the culprits. It is going to be expensive and difficult to repair the damage they are causing :(
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 2, 2011
        Messages:
        36,111
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Dingwall, Ross-shire
        Ratings:
        +54,317
        I know it's not cheap to thatch a roof Whis4ey let alone the mess they are making, the sooner they're gone the better for you. :)

        Squirrels are one problem we don't have here!
         
      • hans

        hans Gardener

        Joined:
        Jun 10, 2005
        Messages:
        1,093
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Wales
        Ratings:
        +748
        I'm afraid I agree with Sheal. I shoot every single one I see, and so do my neighbours, vermin indeed. Tree rats.
        Remember the Red, we used to have loads when I was a schoolboy. Memory still good..now where did I put the newspaper.
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • "M"

          "M" Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 11, 2012
          Messages:
          18,607
          Location:
          The Garden of England
          Ratings:
          +31,886
        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 2, 2011
          Messages:
          36,111
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          Dingwall, Ross-shire
          Ratings:
          +54,317
          I don't understand that "M" :scratch: These laws are ridiculous! You can't bludgeon a squirrel to death but you can hit it on the back of the head......what if it moves, are you then considered to be bludgeoning because you failed the first time? Drowning would be a lot kinder and probably quicker.
           
          • Agree Agree x 2
          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 11, 2012
            Messages:
            18,607
            Location:
            The Garden of England
            Ratings:
            +31,886
            I didn't write the rules, Sheal ;) and the laws appear to be so contradictory and confusing :dunno:

            If you can't drown a squirrel, why is it permissible to drown slugs in beer traps? :scratch:
             
          • whis4ey

            whis4ey Head Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 23, 2006
            Messages:
            1,341
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            N. Ireland
            Ratings:
            +803
            I don't think there are any legal repercussions to killing vermin humanely :)
            Like everything else these days, one has to listen to total nonsense from so called 'experts'
             
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Feb 2, 2011
              Messages:
              36,111
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Dingwall, Ross-shire
              Ratings:
              +54,317
              Sorry, I wasn't blaming you "M". :) The laws in this country are becoming ridiculous and trying to define what is right or wrong even more so!
               
              • Friendly Friendly x 1
              • "M"

                "M" Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 11, 2012
                Messages:
                18,607
                Location:
                The Garden of England
                Ratings:
                +31,886
                Don't cross your fingers, Sam ... you need them to do a search for the regs in NI :dbgrtmb: Better to be safe than sorry.

                Sheal, I know you weren't :heehee:
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Jiffy

                  Jiffy The Match is on Fire

                  Joined:
                  Aug 25, 2011
                  Messages:
                  11,616
                  Occupation:
                  Pyro
                  Location:
                  Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
                  Ratings:
                  +33,572
                  So we can poison a rat which will take a few days to die,not drown a squirel 3 to 4 minutes, hit a squirel over the back of his head:scratch: with the teeth and claws on a squirel no chance
                   
                • whis4ey

                  whis4ey Head Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Nov 23, 2006
                  Messages:
                  1,341
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  N. Ireland
                  Ratings:
                  +803
                  hehehe
                  I firstly typed a reply to your comment off the top of my head, as it quite simply seemed to be too ridiculous for words. Then, with the benefit of good old Google, I found out what you were talking about and couldn't believe my eyes. I then did exactly what you suggest, and found that similar legislation exists over here ... read it, found it to be totally obscure and vague to the extreme, with no real indications regarding the eradication of vermine etc (copied almost word for word from the English Statute without (obviously) any thought whatsoever having been put into it.) Jiffy's comments (above) regarding the poisoning of rats rings very true. I think we need some clarification in regard to vermine ... I have no difficulty with the need to stop the unnecessary suffering of animals per se :)
                   
                  • Agree Agree x 2
                  Loading...

                  Share This Page

                  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                    Dismiss Notice