Squirrel Trapping

[Colonialgirl]

Well, I thought about posting this on the "Cook a Squirrel" conversation, but it didn't seem to fit there . So HMMM, much head scratching, pony tail twisting, and cups of hot tea, I decided to start a NEW thread : :? :?

So, Yeah I set a squirrel trap on the railing by the area where I feed the birds, I usually bait it with bird seed mixed into a cheap "crunchy" peanut butter and make a kind of a "Suet Block" bait. It HAS been quite successful and I've trapped 8 or 10 squirrels (SEE why I don't want to feed them; I CANT afford it !).
I have been transporting them 4 or 5 miles down the road to a "county horsey Park" and setting them loose in the woods; Hence wondering about Cooking Them .
BUT THIS MORNING, I discovered an animal I would have NEVER Expected to see in the Trap nor in this area !! A WHITE RAT !! :shock: :shock: :shock: You know the kind you use to have in school in the cage or a large fish type of glass aquarium (dry of course !!) Maybe you became acquainted with them in Biology class when you filleted them to see the internal workings. YUP!! That type of WHITE RAT.
Must be somebody's pet that escaped; Wonder how far it has roamed and where did it hear about the bird seed on the railing ??
I thought about dumping at the horse park, or even up the road at the local water catch pond (about 1/2 mile); But after sitting here cogitating (is that the right word?), I decided to wait until the school buses dump off their loads and see if anyone LOST a white rat and/or if someone would LIKE a pet White Rat, although he doesn't seem that friendly at the moment, but maybe that's thanks to the trap.
Any suggestions?
:roll: :roll: :wink:

 

[RoninPA]

Pamela, Dispatch him now, he knows where you live! However, if you have a gripe with any of the school kids parents, give the rat to them :D :D :D . J/K I'd take him far away and release him.

 

[Fox Mike]

As I was reading this one of the three squirrels, that 'visit', arrived and I chased him away. . .again. Have had a racoon visit a while ago and last week a opossum was a visiter. I can do without the racoon. I can put up with the squirrels and the opossum. Found a young opossum some time ago; Linda wouldn't let me keep him for a pet. I am convinced that the ONLY WAY to outsmart a squirrel is to find a way to 'levitate' the feeders.

 

[Specs]

Squirrels are easy to discourage. I use a simple 1 1/2 in 12 foot conduit driven down so the tube in a cage feeder hangs from a hook on a crossarm about 8 feet up. Add a metal squirrel baffle to the pole just below the feeder, and then get a 3 foot section of galvanized dryer vent pipe, drill 2 holes 1 in. from the end and mount with wire to the baffle bracket so it hangs just below the baffle. The other option is to just set the pipe on top of the baffle, but drop the baffle down about 3 feet. This setup even keeps raccoons and possums out of the feeder. I guarantee foolproof for everything but flying squirrels at night. The pipe and baffle are both the type which edge lock so that you can install on existing pipe.


OR use a 4 in. schedule 40 post.

 

[RolandDeschain]

We never realized we had a "squirrel problem" till our cat that used to hunt them died. Then one day I came home and 12 squirrels ran out of my strawberry patch. Constant bird feeder raids, ate virtually all our strawberries, and demolished our blackberry patch too. The varmints would chew off the entire blackberry plant just to make it easier to get to the berries. Was impossible to shoot them out - one spring I shot 36 out of my backyard with NO noticeable reduction in their population.

Finally we got another cat that hunts and kills them. Will even leave their carcasses deposited on the back porch as proof. And once again, the squirrel problem went away. For whatever reason, killing them with a gun doesn't seem to deter them, but just the presence of a squirrel hunting cat makes them avoid the yard completely. I still see them in the woods around the house, but thanks to Mr. Casper, our yard and garden is once again a squirrel free zone.

 

[pete44ru]

.

I'd kill & dispose of (bury) the rat immediately, since it's obviously been running wild - and could have picked up a disease (like rabies).

.

 

[Dave P.]

Just use on of those squirrel recipes from the other thread.
It's just another rodent that SOME people like to eat!
You knew this reply was going to happen....
Dave

 

[wheelgun1958]

55 gal drum full of water. Drop trap with rat into drum, and retrieve in 10 minutes. Job finished. The local coyotes would remove the carcass.

 

[Black Dog]

Try Droll Yankee squirrel proof bird feeder. http://drollyankees.com/product/yankee-flipper-bird-feeder/ Pretty expensive now. I have had two for over 20 years and they cost half that when I bought them. Really work - rechargeable battery, powerful motor, spins ring at very high rpm, flips squirrel (or large birds like some doves) right off. Quick learning curve - they don't come back after one or two experiences. Black Dog

 

[Black Dog]

http://drollyankees.com/product/yankee-flipper-bird-feeder/ Black Dog

 

[Colonialgirl]

http://drollyankees.com/product/yankee-flipper-bird-feeder/ Black Dog

Looks like FUN to watch !!

 

[Cholo]

It's more fun to shoot them :)

 

[Scout943]

Air gun fun ! :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[Specs]

I use a live trap and my Single Six with Colibri powderless 22. No pumping or CO2 required. 2018 count 73.

 

[eveled]

I've wondered if being all stressed out in a trap, will ruin the flavor of the meat.

 

[JackpineWillie]

My sister in law gives their tails a little shot of pink spray paint before releasing in the park in order to identify any that might return. Also there are a number of quiet pellet guns that will do the job. On the rat, use the full aquarium!

 

[Colonialgirl]

I DO have a Ruger .177 Air Rifle with a scope; It's quite accurate and would have a pretty chipped stock if I "notched" every time.