Squirrels 🐿️ number explosions?

[Doing it for the kids]

I’ve never been a fan of them but this year I’ve noticed a lot of damage to a young plantation so it’s all out war.

Shooting out dreys in earnest with the young team but need to start trapping too.

I think fens are still legal, seen some new top entry traps recently that look v effective.

How do others cull them?

Have numbers shot up this last 12 months or is it just me, had one on the kids climbing frame this morning!

 

[Red Fred]

I think there are far more about this year, I see them everywhere.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Yes where ever you go loads of them.

 

[Radio]

Isn’t half the country feeding them, such cute creatures.

 

[Kevtherev]

@Cab-over Pete has had problems with them exploding in his garden.

 

[Bongodog]

Our cats are doing their best to reduce the population, not keen on them bringing them into the house half dead though

 

[Kidds]

I’ve never been a fan of them but this year I’ve noticed a lot of damage to a young plantation so it’s all out war.

Shooting out dreys in earnest with the young team but need to start trapping too.

I think fens are still legal, seen some new top entry traps recently that look v effective.

How do others cull them?

Have numbers shot up this last 12 months or is it just me, had one on the kids climbing frame this morning!

I find cage traps very effective, baited with peanuts.

 

[Kidds]

Grey squirrel shoot wanted Nottingham

Hi looking for a grey squirrel control shoot in small wood or area with issues , im fully insured use sub 12 air rifles with latest sound moderators other pests vermin also controls if needed

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Noticed one on the back patio this afternoon & was burying nuts in an adjacent flower bed
Grrrr

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I’ve never been a fan of them but this year I’ve noticed a lot of damage to a young plantation so it’s all out war.

Shooting out dreys in earnest with the young team but need to start trapping too.

I think fens are still legal, seen some new top entry traps recently that look v effective.

How do others cull them?

Have numbers shot up this last 12 months or is it just me, had one on the kids climbing frame this morning!

My average was between 550 & 650 per year. It went up to nearly 800 in the F&M outbreak when there was nobody about and I could get them on the ground. I caught around 100 in traps and the rest were with a 20b.
I had to work hard but the numbers were reduced.
God knows what it’s like now.
Damage done is irreparable.
As my Dad and others said; there will be no hardwoods in our great grandchildren's time.
SS

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Constantly looking for squirrel damage this time of year especially going into winter.

 

[steveR]

I bought Herself a new .410 3 weeks ago, as her old gun was on it's last legs.
Shot 5, and loves her little Yildiz gun, weighs nothing at all.

Daughter home for a week.
6-7, mostly with .22 from Bedroom window!

Me... One, in the pheasant release pen, so not doing as well

Still lots about the farmstead to be dealt with.
Oh yes, terrier caught one a fortnight ago.

Not seen this many for a long time. And we'll get a lot when shooting in teh woods. Great fun for the walking guns

 

[thorpe]

Mrs playing hell about them, problem bing i take them out with the 12b and it takes the bl00dy feeder as well it's costing me a fortune to replace them! there is more about tho

 

[tw15]

Was slug pelleting the other evening the amount of squirrels out on the field that borders a rspb reserve was amazing . They were out on the field it was like the good old days of lamping rabbits at night they were running in from about 75-100 yards out way over 30 squirrels i counted as i went around a 30 acre field .

 

[thorpe]

do squirrels eat slug,s ? no i don't suppose they do

 

[Danllan]

I’ve never been a fan of them but this year I’ve noticed a lot of damage to a young plantation so it’s all out war.

Shooting out dreys in earnest with the young team but need to start trapping too.

I think fens are still legal, seen some new top entry traps recently that look v effective.

How do others cull them?

Have numbers shot up this last 12 months or is it just me, had one on the kids climbing frame this morning!

Definite increase... lots of damage... blame myself for not culling harder in past years... traps are alright, Kania best we've used, but am absolutely certain that the most effective way is shooting at every opportunity.

 

[Yale]

An outside the box idea would be to contact a local air gun club and find a retired person who is willing to set up feeders and shoot them. We have a guy who has 2 feeders on the farm which he has designed so birds can’t steal the peanuts he baits them with. He shoots them with an air rifle from a hide about 10-15 metres away. Peanuts are expensive but if you have a real issue then it may pay to supply them.

 

[tw15]

Anyone got any recipe's for squirrel ? Times are hard down south . .

 

[Phil P]

Mrs playing hell about them, problem bing i take them out with the 12b and it takes the bl00dy feeder as well it's costing me a fortune to replace them! there is more about tho

12g is a bit excessive for squirrels 410 is a little less destructive. I keep my little bsa ultra in the back of the truck in case a tree rats raise there heads, fantastic little gun for the job.

 

[MrNoo]

Anyone got any recipe's for squirrel ? Times are hard down south . .

They will be after the budget!!
We use fen traps in tunnels here.