Squirrel Invasion!

[Wilberforce]

See to be totally overun with the tree rats. Any suggestions on the best control options? Guy with an air rifle occasionally vists and soon knocks a few out before they get too wise. They have no interest in going in any traps, probably due an abundant food sources near by. Any tips to try and get on top of them, just counted 9 on the lawn!

 

[Scholsey]

Buy your own air rifle. £500-600 and you would have a decent squirrel capable air rifle.

 

[Wilberforce]

Buy your own air rifle. £500-600 and you would have a decent squirrel capable air rifle.

Not a shooting man, would up with a lot of holes in the sheds!

 

[serf]

Not a shooting man, would up with a lot of holes in the sheds!

These in a box with big enough hole for squirrel

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Where are they living?

If in dreys, at this time of the year it’s great sport and v effective taking them out. Take .22 and put a few through each one and then shotgun for any runners.

Took the wife out on Mothering Sunday with the kids - had about 9, entertained all parties and good vermin control - double win!

Otherwise fen traps on tunnel traps or you could try scaffold boards and bait them, get them use to running along them then a few fens out.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

These in a box with big enough hole for squirrel


View attachment 1004326

Aka fen traps. Not to be confused with gin traps which are now illegal but in most of grandad’s potting sheds still up and down the country!

 

[unlacedgecko]

Kania traps are the thing for squirrels.

 

[Yale]

Peanut gravity feeders set on a good tree.

Set up a hide and when the nuts are going fast spend an hour or two popping them off.

Guy comes here with an air rifle doing it,says a preloaded one with a regulator is the best to maintain even pressure and accuracy.
He says head shots are the best for a clean kill and welfare wise.

Currently a tally of 46 in the last 9 months.

 

[DRC]

Definitely a bad year for them locally . Shot a few, but haven’t time to sit around all day .
don’t go near the traps .

 

[Wood field]

Not seen many here, last spring they would literally run across the grass between trees
I shot 30 over the spring summer with a cheap .22 pcp
Our regular shooters got loads with 410 shotguns

 

[unlacedgecko]

Do you not have a local shooting syndicate? I've been in organised squirrel shooting days. 20+ guns walk a line through the forest and blast every drey. Normally done in Feb.

No ground game to be shot at. That was my job with terriers and a short shovel. Over 2 days we accounted for 300+.

 

[Jhabc]

See to be totally overun with the tree rats. Any suggestions on the best control options? Guy with an air rifle occasionally vists and soon knocks a few out before they get too wise. They have no interest in going in any traps, probably due an abundant food sources near by. Any tips to try and get on top of them, just counted 9 on the lawn!

Box traps! I've caught eighteen in the last 7 days using two of them - and hundreds over the years. They are total creatures of habit and just put a trap where you have seen them run. Very often it's beneath the very same tree. Monkeys nuts are the best bait in my experience. Occasionally birds take them and if so replace with walnuts or horse chestnuts etc. I then use my son's junior .22 airgun to despatch them in the cage.

 

[Dry Rot]

Someone ought to start a vermin control forum....

Oh, we've already got one!

Shooting and Metal Detecting

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[hendrebc]

These in a box with big enough hole for squirrel


View attachment 1004326

When I was about 15 I caught 50 squirrels under one oak tree over about 3 weeks with 3 of those traps baited with whole maize. I've caught hundreds and hundreds over the years. They're really easy to catch life's to short to try shooting them takes too long to get a decent amount.

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

 

[Wilksy]

When I was about 15 I caught 50 squirrels under one oak tree over about 3 weeks with 3 of those traps baited with whole maize. I've caught hundreds and hundreds over the years. They're really easy to catch life's to short to try shooting them takes too long to get a decent amount.

I was going to suggest maize cobs

 

[tepapa]

When I was about 15 I caught 50 squirrels under one oak tree over about 3 weeks with 3 of those traps baited with whole maize. I've caught hundreds and hundreds over the years. They're really easy to catch life's to short to try shooting them takes too long to get a decent amount.

Don't spoil my fun, I've shot about 40 this year since the spring all out of a window in the house.

Shot 3 on Sunday afternoon all within a minute as they were helping themselves to the chicken feed.

It's amazing where they keep coming from, I though I'd had them all when I had the first 6 in the spring I wouldn't have believed you if you'd
said there was another 30 in the area.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Caught one on friday, re set the trap and there was a rat in it this morning!! Re set trap again at around 9am and lunch time there was a squirrel in it with another one keeping it company!! That one tommorow hopefully, it’s costing a fortune in peanuts

 

[hendrebc]

Don't spoil my fun, I've shot about 40 this year since the spring all out of a window in the house.

Shot 3 on Sunday afternoon all within a minute as they were helping themselves to the chicken feed.

It's amazing where they keep coming from, I though I'd had them all when I had the first 6 in the spring I wouldn't have believed you if you'd
said there was another 30 in the area.

Shooting them is definitely fun but I don't find it nearly as effective as trapping them.

 

[tepapa]

Shooting them is definitely fun but I don't find it nearly as effective as trapping them.

I had a blue tit nest in my trap box in the spring which is why I started shooting them. I'm not sure how it got in as it's supposed to to keep birds out.