Getting rid of squirrels

[VTFJ40]

The wife sets up an obstacle course with food for them in the summer. We laugh our asses off some mornings. Most go from the trees to the feeders, but steer clear of climbing on the house. It's only certain ones that actually screw around on the roof of the house (mostly the barn). Those ones usually get sniped with the pellet gun (when the wifes not home). The smart ones stay well behaved and well fed. One has been around for a few years and is pretty fat. Prolly make a good meal.

The little red ones are the biggest pain in the ass.

[IDave]

Originally Posted by Jman

shooting is much more fun.

IH8SQUIRRELS. . . .

That's what I'm thinkin'. And I get to practice shooting left-handed.

[green73]

GRRRRRRR!!!!! FAWKING SQUIRRELS!!!!!! They have taunted me for quite some time. 1st negative encounter was in 1995, they got under the hood of my ma's Camaro, and ate the wires that go to the fuel injectors. Winter of 2000/2001, while living in Alaska, they got under the hood of my Prelude (sold it!), ripped the cone air filter off, and stuffed food in the tubing all the way to the throttlebody. I caught them in the act, once, and jumped off of my apartment bacony wearing only shorts, in sub zero weather into 2' of snow, to chase them off. For the last 2 winters (now living in Virginia) they have assumed I don't mind them living in my attic. Well I do mind! Last winter I camped out in the attic one night, beer in one hand, BB gun in the other. I shoot blindly at them in the darkness. BANG!!! OOPS! I hit the main power wire in the attic., shutting all power off to half the house. This year they found the way to the garage!!!! LEAVE MY SHIT ALONE, I shout at them, but they just don't understand english I guess. Who did I piss off in a previous life to have an EVIL squirrel faction haunting me! BTW full auto with my Airsoft MP5 has been fun shooting at thim this year!

[White Shark]

Originally Posted by green73

GRRRRRRR!!!!! FAWKING SQUIRRELS!!!!!! They have taunted me for quite some time. 1st negative encounter was in 1995, they got under the hood of my ma's Camaro, and ate the wires that go to the fuel injectors. Winter of 2000/2001, while living in Alaska, they got under the hood of my Prelude (sold it!), ripped the cone air filter off, and stuffed food in the tubing all the way to the throttlebody. I caught them in the act, once, and jumped off of my apartment bacony wearing only shorts, in sub zero weather into 2' of snow, to chase them off. For the last 2 winters (now living in Virginia) they have assumed I don't mind them living in my attic. Well I do mind! Last winter I camped out in the attic one night, beer in one hand, BB gun in the other. I shoot blindly at them in the darkness. BANG!!! OOPS! I hit the main power wire in the attic., shutting all power off to half the house. This year they found the way to the garage!!!! LEAVE MY SHIT ALONE, I shout at them, but they just don't understand english I guess. Who did I piss off in a previous life to have an EVIL squirrel faction haunting me! BTW full auto with my Airsoft MP5 has been fun shooting at thim this year!

And I thought that I hated squirrels. I actually don't mind tree squirrels as long as they stay off my house and out of the fruit and nut trees. The ground squirrels are a big problem around here. I've probably wiped out better than a thousand between my .22 and 12 gauge gubs. No biggie. Squirrels, pigeons, English starlings and the like are all on my list. My Sheridan .20 / 5MM air rifle has whacked plenty of vermin and will continue to do so in the future.

[yooper]

I've determined that most squirrels have a severe lead deficiency. I usually help them out by administering a direct injection to the brain, usually through a .177 inch round incision....they tend to return the favor by not destroying my bird feeders or chewing on the house any more. Here are a few examples of properly treated squirrels. Notice how well rested they appear:






Hope that helps.

[Kofoed]

Kolibri ammo in your 22 rifle.

10 grains, 295 fps. quieter than a .177 700 fps pellet gun.


I don't have a squirrel problem.

[FJ60Cam]

Dangle a rat trap (mouse trap is too weak) that's been laced with peanut butter by the entrance hole to your house. The next one up is a goner and his dead ass will keep the others away.

Side note- peanut butter works as a universal bait for any species on the planet.

[skyshark186]

How do I get rid of squirrels?

[Front Range 4x4]

Convince one of your neighbors to feed them and they'll all hang out there. The woman behind me feeds them peanuts and they swarm her place. Never see any in my yard, maybe due to my dogs though. The dogs spend their time out there searching for and eating peanuts.

[fergus]

I've had the same problems over the years with red squirrels.I covered the small hole in the gutter/facia with stainless steel sheetmetal(20ga).They won't survive chewing through that...pellet gun works good too and seems to scare the rest of them away for a while.........

good luck

[skyshark186]

Originally Posted by cxs

Convince one of your neighbors to feed them and they'll all hang out there. The woman behind me feeds them peanuts and they swarm her place. Never see any in my yard, maybe due to my dogs though. The dogs spend their time out there searching for and eating peanuts.

There ya go. Get a big bag of peanuts and throw them in your neighbors yard.

[Fly Rod]

Originally Posted by username?

Dangle a rat trap (mouse trap is too weak) that's been laced with peanut butter by the entrance hole to your house. The next one up is a goner and his dead ass will keep the others away.

Side note- peanut butter works as a universal bait for any species on the planet.

Bad idea! They love to eat thier own kind! I have watched a single road kill grow into a quadruple as tehy get squished while feasting on each other.

[CodyRx7]

I shot when 12 times point blank.....and nothing hurt him...

And then...

[projektdotnet]

Originally Posted by CodyRx7

I shot when 12 times point blank.....and nothing hurt him...

And then...

ROFL

[ff347]

I purchased a small rodent trap after they invaded my attic, caught one in the attic and shot his ass in the cage. (Having all new aluminum put on the house $3200, seeing that look on their faces as I put the barrel of the Ruger to their head? PRICELESS!)
Now I leave the cage at the base of the trees in the yard with some peanut butter and crackers and have a strict catch and kill policy. CB's in the 10-22 is the most fun, squirrels are from hell.

Scott

[ar2stp48]

Ruger 10-22 and a box of subsonic ammo works for me. If those nearby are upset by the noise and/or your decreasing the pest population, consider a plastic pop bottle for noise reduction. For one or two shots it is amazing.

[yooper]

Originally Posted by ar2stp48

Ruger 10-22 and a box of subsonic ammo works for me. If those nearby are upset by the noise and/or your decreasing the pest population, consider a plastic pop bottle for noise reduction. For one or two shots it is amazing.

Cool idea. How do you rig that, just tape it on and shoot through it once to make a hole? Why is it only good for one or two shots? You got pics?

[skyshark186]

Basically the theory is that the rapid expansion of the gasses leaving the barrel makes the majority of the sound. Since most of that gas is contained and slowed inside of a sealed(at least mostly for the first couple of shots) object most of the sound is dampened.

Usually we used 1 liter bottles because the larger opening allows you to tape it over the front sight on most rifles. The 20 oz are useful when there are no sights in the way. If you want to do it proficiently(redneck although it is) you can use black electrical tape to take up the space between the outside of the barrel and the inside of the bottle lip.

[yooper]

I know the theory, was just wondering how to do it in practice. I would expect that the first shot would be way off target....maybe drill a 1/2" or so hole in the center of the bottom of the bottle?

[skyshark186]

I say in theory because its not technically legal here.

Not really that far off. Easily good enough to hit a squirrel at 10-15 yards.

Drilling a hole defeats the entire purpose of putting it on there. It will still be more quiet than before.....but not as much as if you just do it and leave it whole.

[NMuzj100]

Be careful. They can be dangerous in groups.

Squirrels Attack

[ar2stp48]

The pop bottle silencer is not legal anywhere by BATF rules; "any attempt to reduce the sound blah blah blah The following is for educational and information purposes only:
Use black electrical tape to build up the barrel dia; then slip on a bottle and tape in place. The 1 L works, so does the 2 L. Do NOT drill a hole. The plastic does not slow or deflect the 22 enough to notice at close range.
There are several other homebrew idea, and several books for "educational use only" about making them. Google homemade silencers or suppressors9the true name) Palidin Press is one; Delta is another. The pop bottle works great, give it a try. The squirrels are waiting.
My next toy is going to be a 10/22 with legal suppressor; looks like the target version. Before any questions, yes they are legal. All you have to do is pay the feds $200 and do the paperwork.

[LabRat11]

Originally Posted by wob

How's the local hawk population?

Ding - Ding - Ding .....

My neck of the woods has a healthy red tail population. My house is in a small clearing in the woods. 2-3 years ago a pair set up a nest high up a tree in the corner of the clearing / back yard. We (family) made the effort to keep the disturbances at a minimum that spring in the hopes that they would stay. Went so far as to close all the blinds on the windows on the back of the house - except for one small slit in one window - well we are curious. Sure enough later that spring 2 chicks. Totally cool to see the parents return to the nest with dinner. Wanted to but never did catch them in the act of the snatch. Squirrels were on the menu frequently. Hoped they would return to the nest - haven't been back yet Oh well.

[yooper]

Originally Posted by ar2stp48

My next toy is going to be a 10/22 with legal suppressor; looks like the target version. Before any questions, yes they are legal. All you have to do is pay the feds $200 and do the paperwork.

KEWL! Please share with us when you do get that.

[skyshark186]

You mean the one they sell on gunsamerica that looks like its a heavy barrel but its actually and integrally suppressed rifle? Those are neat.

[ar2stp48]

Not familiar with gunsamerica version. That is exactly what is looks like. I know two class 2 manufactures that produce this style. Their silencers are both super nice ---and quiet. One of them produces a full auto version that is also fully suppressed. Looks just like the semi but has a selector switch. Paper work is doubled on this as you have to do a set for full auto and another for the silencer.
Probably buy from the dealer where I bought the Sten. Great quality work and a few bucks cheaper. I supply the Ruger + $200 for feds + about $550 for the work.

[yooper]

Wow, a full auto suppressed 10/22 would be sweet. I've thought about building a two barreled "gatling" gun with a crank from a kit. Still technically a semiauto weapon, so no pesky paperwork...