Squirrel Migration

[Flysmallie]

I was thinging of using a live trap and moving them out in the county.

One of my neighbors trapped squirrels one year. I think he said he hauled off at least 2 a day for about a month before he finally gave up. So many people with bird feeders and squirrel feeders in their backyards, I don't think you could ever get rid of them all.

[brownieman]

<do you beleive this is "Mother Natures" way of culling the weak out or is this partially an incured event produced in part by man and modern methods, climate change>

I think it part and parcel of the natural cycles of an ecosystem. I don't think mans' effect on the natural world has been an improvement. IMO we still have the mindset of 'conquering' the natural world rather than living in harmony with it. It will prove our eventual undoing when 'Mother Nature' execises the same culling of our specie that we wil see in the coming winter take place with the 'lesser' species that will starve. Taking without giving back has the same eventual effect on the land that it does on a bank account. Ultimately the survival of all species is tied to that of the earth itself.

<can you CC or anyone explain the lack of Catalpa worms...they were thick when I was young, I have a huge Catalpa tree in my yard and have seen no worms on the tree for several years now>

While no expert since I've never had a Catalpa tree nor been around them much my understanding is that the worms pupate in the soil underneath their nursery tree. If so then I suspect that the fertilizers, insecticides and plant poisons spread wholesale on lawns and pasturage have worked exactly as advertised. CC

CC...my hat is off to you sir!!

If all were to understand what you just stated, well...mankind itself would not be headed in the direction we are.

Until as you say "our specie" learns to live in harmony with all and throw the 'control' factor' out the window we will continue the path of self destruction we are on.

>Ultimately the survival of all species is tied to that of the earth itself<

You have an understanding of the eco-system of which we are guests upon far above most...you are both intriguing and wise about the ways of the world and all in it.

Myself, I hold high regard concerning your thoughts and opinions as for I feel you are very wise...if all had your mindset, well...just wish more would adhere to such a belief.

I appreciate your 'knowledge' and am always anxious to read any post you put on this forum.

Thanks...I feel you and I are about on the same page.

bm,..lol

[arowell7]

I believe myself and lots of people in the Springfield area are experiencing the squirrels lack of food through a loss of tomatoes in the garden. Lots of people are reporting that they are finding tomatoes with a good sized bite taken out of it, some people even saying they've seen squirrels running across their yard with a tomato bigger than them. I know I've had 3 large tomatoes ruined with large bites in them. I wonder if feeding them corn or some other sort of feed would deter them from eating the tomatoes or if some other form of control would be useful?

[davekeim]

They also like to play a nice quite game of catch with bow and arrow. Stupid things never throw the arrow back!

Signed,

Cardiac

[Guest]

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[The Caddis]

I'm guessing Leonard has a squirrel looking streamer that he either strips across or floats dead drift.

[flyfshn]

Caddis, I know first hand that Leonard does....and boy do they work well!! We were sitting at a campfire in Salem on Friday night and 2 Armadillos (sp?) came waddling up behind us....never seen one up close and personal!

[brownieman]

Caddis, I know first hand that Leonard does....and boy do they work well!! We were sitting at a campfire in Salem on Friday night and 2 Armadillos (sp?) came waddling up behind us....never seen one up close and personal!

FF,

you're pretty lucky to see one,no less 2...most are born dead by the side of the road, lol

[skeeter]

The squirrels here at my houst are tryong to dig a hole into my atic. This is the first time they tryed to do it here at this house. Living in town I cant shoot them so I was thinging of using a live trap and moving them out in the county. Would some of you have a better idea as to how to stop them?

JC,

Having had the same problem, only mine got in without me knowing about it, I would suggest a high powered air rifle which might be legal in your area. If they succeed in opening a hole and getting in the attic then I would suggest fixing a conibear trap (a google search for "conibear trap" will yield results) over the opening they made so they have no choice but to try and go through it to exit or enter. After you trap the first one ( they won't be alive ), re-set the trap for about a week, if you don't get any more there was probably only one squirrel involved. Squirrels can do a lot a damage in an attic and then you have the hole to repair too so hope you get 'em while they're still outside. If you can't find any small conibear traps to use see if there is a "Critter Control" franchise in your area. They are terribly expensive and charge by the "critter".

[MOFishwater]

I wonder if feeding them corn or some other sort of feed would deter them from eating the tomatoes or if some other form of control would be useful?

Dont waste your time. I finally gave up and quit growing tomotoes, just not worth the effort, they'll foil any attempts to deter them. Worst part I found was that they'd wait until JUST before I decided to try and pick em, they have a 6th sense of when to attack the tomatoes:) Just wish they'd have eaten the whole thing instead of just tossing em on the ground after sampling them and ruining them. Living near a big park makes it impossible to have any type of garden, trapping or shooting was futile, every one I deleted would be replaced almost immediately. Just my experience though...