The live trap was delivered to our front porch. We have had enough with the squirrels in our yard. Squirrels are cute critters with fluffy tails, and it can be fun to watch their antics, but enough is enough. We have several in our yard and we don’t want them there anymore. In particular, I like to feed the birds. Several years ago a friend told me to use safflower seeds…the birds like them but the squirrels do not. So I bought safflower seeds and it seemed to work for years – squirrels kept away from the feeder. But recently the squirrels must have developed a taste for the safflower seeds because now I am feeding more squirrels than birds.
So, we bought a trap. It works well and does not harm the animal, Gary says. He puts peanut butter and sunflower seeds in a ball in the trap and we wait for the critter to go in for this tasty treat. We’ve captured four squirrels already. We could get more in one day but each time we have to drive the squirrel at least ten miles away from our house to let it go. That’s what the research says…if you let the squirrel free any closer than ten miles it will find its way back to you.
We look for a nice clump of trees and let the squirrel out of the cage. It’s darts out so fast. I wonder what it’s thinking.
At first we just took the squirrels away and let them go. With the fourth squirrel we decided to spray a bit of fluorescent paint on it’s tail to monitor the critter…to see if any of the squirrels we take away actually find their way back to our house. We hope not.
During this pandemic is an interesting time to be doing this…our pandemic pastime. We’re taking drives into the country often for “squirrel transfers” and it’s been kind of fun.
This activity happened last week, before the 6″ of snow came falling down on Easter Sunday, snd stayed on the ground…
Goodness, you really made Dave and I laugh. We can just picture you guys doing this in our minds eye. Let us know if you ever get rid of all the squirrels or if there is an endless supply of bushy tails ready to replace their brethren.
Glad we made you smile – it is rather funny.
We’re in town so they may not be as abundant as in your wooded backyard.
On my gosh, Valerie! How funny! Be careful, though. An unhappy squirrel is a dangerous thing.
That’s true…but this trap is really slick and seems safe.
This would be a full-time job in our yard as squirrels abound. We don’t feed birds, although our neighbor does.
Your story reminds me of a rabbit release in the park that abuts our property. Randy saw a guy releasing a rabbit from a cage into the park several years back. We were not happy given we, at that time, had an abundance of rabbits in our yard chomping on plants and flowers. So…as long as you do not catch in release in our neighborhood. It sounds like you are following proper release protocol.
And I’m with Sheri, please be careful.
We head out to the country, trying to avoid farms too.
I’d be unhappy with someone releasing a rabbit or squirrel near us too!
Delightful tale to help pass the time; thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Richard.
Wondering what the person will think who spots a squirrel in the wild with a florescent tail! : )
It is a funny picture to imagine!
We have been using a wild trap for the squirrels for about two years now. They were populating our yard way too much, were building nests high in our trees, burying their nuts in my flower boxes and having a field day in the garden! You are correct, they have to be taken out at least 15 miles or you will see them returning! A friend did spray with fluorescent paint, took it out about 8 miles and it didn’t take long to return to them! The snow hasn’t seemed to detour them!
We’re waiting for the snow to melt to put the trap back out and resume our squirrel catching. 😉
Brigitte and David and I are all chuckling !