Trapping Squirrels?

[HawkeyeLinus]

A pesky squirrel has been discovered to be the culprit for pulling the almost ready flowers off the hibiscus in our deck. Can’t shoot him - only door that provides an angle is too close and he’s quick, lol. Anyone have some proven methods for catching them? It’s the regular kind, not a ground squirrel.

 

[kcghost]

Don't your local animal control offer traps that they lend out??

 

[warren]

Yup, trap and relocate. A word of warning, if you don't move them a few miles away, they'll be back at your house before you are. Plus, know that another squirrel will probably quickly move into the empty territory. Hopefully, the new guy won't be a lover of hibiscus. You can or, could get traps at Lowe's up here. I believe Amazon sells them also. I just use peanuts in the shell to bait.

 

[dsturg369]

Sounds like a pot of squirrel and dumplings in the making to me

 

[TN Jed]

Yep hibiscus laden squirrel would make a fine pot of dumplins.

 

[AJL67]

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I got me a high powered pellet gun and kill chipmunks, squirrels, and ground hogs without a thought.

Of course my daughters whine and throw fits, but damned if I lose all of my tomatoes to the tree rats, and ground hogs will eat everything within a 500 yard distance.

Pellet guns are totally legal, and advocated my my local law enforcement for garden pests.

 

[woodsroad]

Try this

 

[PA Piper Mike]

 

[greeneyes]

I spent all summer trapping the squirrels that were chewing into my garbage cans. The wire traps with the drop down doors at Amazon work great.

I began by writing numbers on their haunches to identify them to see if any were returning. They were. They don't care that they've been caught.

I found that a dunk in some cold water was unpleasant enough to keep them completely away from the garbage cans.

 

[scloyd]

I trapped one in our basement with a Hav-a-Heart trap (wire cage type). Easy peasy.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If you're not trying to catch him alive, mux up some baking soda and peanut butter.

 

[georged]

Sqrrrlz make excellent BBQ. Laid out in rows in a smoker, they tenderize and flavorify after a few hours into Carolina-style sammich meat that rivals pork.

Gray cook MUCH faster than reds, so either keep them separate or remember to take the grays out at the right time.

The only catch is learning how to dress them quickly and easily. One you have that part down, you'll WANT the silly things coming around. A serious (non-toy) pellet rifle---or pistol if you're good with one---and a single pfffffttt is all it takes. (Head shots only, of course).

 

[Reggie]

Try C4 Plastic explosive

 

[captpat]

We were plagued with squirrels when we lived in No. Virginia. I used a Havahart trap and then killed them, it was easier than using a pellet gun which was my other alternative. Squirrels really go after black oil sunflower seeds, it's like crack to squirrels, so I used that as bait. Relocation is a reliable method it you relocate miles (like tens of miles) away. Less than that and they'll find their way back. Squirrels can be very destructive as we had one get into our attic an do a bunch of damage -- they're nothing more than rats with a fuzzy tail.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Don't your local animal control offer traps that they lend out??

No such "animals"!

 

[Kobold]

I used one of these when a squirrel was in my attic. Picked it up from the hardware store and used a dab of peanut butter and some sunflower seeds as the bait. I then transported it to the woods a town over from us. I would have preferred to just shoot him (or her) but my wife would have thrown a fit. I hate squirrels.

 

[greeneyes]

I used one of these when a squirrel was in my attic. Picked it up from the hardware store and used a dab of peanut butter and some sunflower seeds as the bait. I then transported it to the woods a town over from us. I would have preferred to just shoot him (or her) but my wife would have thrown a fit. I hate squirrels.
View attachment 231195

I tried this one first and it turns out that a strong squirrel can start to jam the door upward. Once the door is warped the trap won't spring again as the mechanism requires that the door and lock (that wire bracing against the door) is perfectly level and perpendicular. I scrapped it and bought one that is similar but where the door slides down. Works like a charm time and time again even as the squirrels ram the door full speed. Squirrels are much more fierce and strong than I had imagined. My bait was almonds held in place with peanut butter. Squirrels are picky and I found things like bread didn't work well.

 

[carlomarx]

This approach gets two thumbs up from me. The best of applied science, red neck engineering and proof guys never grow up.

 

[elessar]

Two words, Squirrel Catapult