Squirrel problem

Poor bird. Yes I know they can just hit those windows hard, you'd think they would get it after the first time. I saved a cardnial ---who was over at the little shopping center--he knocked himself out, I got a box, he came too in the box, so let him loose in my woods.

Yes, Fern4 , I do believe the cats can keep squirrels away, or at least stressed to not populate too much. My cats seem to take some joy at running at them often enough.

 

I had awful Squirell probs digging up bulbs .. burying peanuts in their shells all over the garden.... eating the bird food from the feeders and the bird house ... and spooking my blue tit nesting boxes so i thought RIGHT .... i bought a trap .. caught 3 in 3 days and took them to the forest and released them .. no problems since,... and the Squirels are happy and so am i .. Michael

 

fair play to you using a live trap Michael

 

Read this ..... so be careful

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ng-prosecution--releasing-squirrels-wood.html

 

I think part of the law about trapping and releasing squirrels has to do with animal cruelty. Squirrels are extremely territorial animals and can sense the presence in their territory of one that is not a member of their squirrelly 'tribe' (or whatever it's called). Anyway, the point is, these squirrels will hunt down the invaders and savagely kill them.

 

As far as I am aware,some time ago I was told by our local council pest control officer that grey squirrels are classed as vermin,and if caught should be disposed of in a humain way,i.e gassed or shot.Did you also know that it is a criminal offence to drown a rat,you can kill them anyway you want but do not drown then,

 

you could also introduce to a area that doesnt have any as well ...

 

There is a thread on the forum somewhere about the RSPCA prosecuting someone for cruelty after drowning squirrels after capture. In that case the RSPCA recommended getting a vet to put them down.

 

It is legal to use poison which leads to an excruciating death taking many hours. Sick isn't it.

 

You aren't allowed to release them because they are non native.
Best thing is to cull and eat them, or deter them by using hot red pepper in the bird food.
If they were culled then the reds would stand a chance of making a come back.

I took the extreme measure of relocating myself Down here there are no greys (yet! - there are some in northern Italy). So if I see a squirrel, it's a red And there are plenty and they are SO cute

 

i thought you were going to say bring them back to North America

 

Ha ha ha yes, that would be the best thing honeybunny
A few years ago I was involved in the rescue of a bat that had stowed away on a ship from America. He flew back to America............ on an aeroplane

 

HB
Do you have squirrels in Ireland ?

 

we do indeed @Spruce , the reds are native and still have strong holds that are grey squirrel free, god love the reds they may be fighting the good fight but they ain't winning the greys im afraid are a huge issue here too.

speaking of which, i saw my first ever grey squirrel last year in my very own back garden! he just strolled across the decking as bold as brass quite worrying though as there is a red squirrel conservation area not too far from here.