squirrel trap plans

[Steve B]

Steve

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[Dean Hoffman]

Won't it be a bit tricky to adjust for the weight of the tree branch?

[Steve B]

The tree branch will be free standing, and not touch the tube. Sorry, that was a crude drawing, but it is that simple. A branch, a barrel, a tube, and some peanut butter and water. I think it will work fine. I'll know soon, as I'll probably get the parts tomorrow and start on it. The squirrels have been collecting the apples on the ground, and it's just about time for them to head up the tree.

Steve

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[Andy]

Andy comments:

I've seen a similar device which is used in Asia to catch rats and mice. A squirrel is large compared to the 5 gallon barrel, and they are smart little buggers, so I'd be curious as to whether it works on and animal as large as a squirrel, but good luck....

Many time I have gone into my garage to find a drowned mouse in a 5 gal bucket that has a couple inches of water in it, such as a mop pail that hadn't been emptied....

Please post back here to let us know how the idea works out....

I would suggest putting grease on the part of the tube that will lower the squirrel into the water to make it really slick. Their feet will grip really well, and they, unlike rats, can almost wrap their feet around the tube to get a better grip.

Andy in Eureka, Texas

[jimmydahgeek]

They use these a lot in the Michigan UP to catch mice. Instead of water they use antifreeze. Not only does it keep the water from freezing but it kills them quicker and keeps the smell down..

What a friend of mine did to keep the squirrels out of his bird feeder was run a wire out to it and hook the wire to a switch in the house. When he saw the squirrel going up the pole to the feeder he would flip the switch. Works great.

Jim

[jamesgangnc]

Simply wrap the trunk of the tree with a 24" wide piece of aluminum flashing. They can't climb then. Pretty common solution.

[Steve B]

That's one mighty darn smart strong squirrel if they can do it inside the tube!

Steve

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[Jim Elbrecht]

And it works fine [12" flashing is what I use] as long as there isn't another tree branch within 5 feet of the tree you're trying to protect--- 10 if it has some height over the target tree.

The squirrels are welcome to my mulberries is so far as there is no guard on the tree. But they rarely climb that tree. They come from my neighbors maple- to his oak- to my maple- to my hickory- BFJ [big f-ing jump] to one spruce- then to the next spruce- down the ash tree-- and over to the mulberry.

My peach tree in the back has some similar access from a couple sumacs and an oak tree. The buggers climb up the kids swings to jump to the cherry trees.

The flashing *has* kept them out of the birdhouse where they killed the owlets this spring-- or maybe they just lost interest.

Jim

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

I do. I toss them into the compost pile & next year they'll be tomatoes.

Automation is a wonderful thing. My garbage folks replaced my two 'customer supplied' cans with one that they supply that the truck can dump. So now I have two garbage cans to play with. Jim

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

I'll give 'em 1/2 of my net worth. . . $0/2.

I'm not fond of heat myself. I played with this right in front of the squirrel cage [the irony escaped me until just now] fan I salvaged from my old furnace. That moves some air!

If some physics geek is reading this I hope he/she chimes in- I'm sure it makes some difference-- just don't know if it makes enough for us to think about.

Jim

[Steve B]

I had grandiose ideas of a Rube Goldberg contraption with all sorts of gates, switches, latches, and such. What I ended up with was a sheet metal tube (I couldn't find any poly tube), a 1x3, a hinge, and a couple of other simple things. Total cost at retail, less than one dollar. I put it out this evening with some apples in the water, and some peanut butter in the barrel. I was going to add some yeast, but my wife could not find it, so that might be tomorrow. Instead, I cut some fresh apple slivers and threw them down the canyon side where I know the little darlings live. I will take some photos after it sits for a couple of days.

MAJOR CAVEAT for newbies - check it daily, or the smell will knock you down. Ever dispose of a squirrel the size of a regulation NBA basketball? Don't ask.

Steve

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[hallerb]

I dont understand why anyone would want to kill a squirrel, they are cute and inoffensive and can be tamed if you want.......

just protect your building so they cant get inside, and to discourage them futher dont leave their favorite foods out, that will only attract them

[Jim Elbrecht]

From about 10 feet away, I might give you 'cute'-- close up they are rats.

No way are they 'inoffensive' - they are vermin of the lowest order.

My war with squirrels began when they killed the baby Pileated Woodpeckers in my back yard.

It has continued through the years as they pillage my garden, destroy my birdfeeders, wipe out my fruit trees, and raid the birds nests [this year they got a Screech Owls eggs]

I've never had any inside.

Got plans for an inexpensive indoor greenhouse that can include an orchard and 5000sq foot garden?

You can be as nice to squirrels as you want anywhere but on my property. The fuzzy tailed rats are personae non gratae here.

Jim

[Steve B]

I would suggest that hallerb get a few of them around his house and then get back to us in a few months. You forgot to mention they carry fleas, and all manner of stuff. Tamed? They'll bite you first chance they get. I hate even touching them, they smell so much.

Checked my trap this morning, and it was tipped. Found out it needed tweaking a bit. Reset it, and am going out to check this afternoon. How many did you get today?

Steve

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[Oren]

They taste better than whale blubber. plan and simple!

Toss in some brown gravy and biscuits -- you can't beat it with a stick.

[hallerb]

havahart trap move them far away.

my best friendfeeds squirrels, they come right up to me, are cute and havent bitten anyone.

i have taken peanuts to toss them........

I DONT beilieve in killing anything unnecessarily!

[Steve B]

When they strip your fruit trees, it's necessary.

Steve

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watch for the book

[hallerb]

they must eat too, just like humans.

so what sort of fruit trees? do you really need that fruit and are going to use the fruit?

by the time the birds and insects get to fruit trees around here theres little left to harvest

[Jim Elbrecht]

So are you the bastard that keeps dropping them off at my house? Eliminate the middle man- kill them yourself.

Until they do--- But feel free to do whatever you want with 'your' squirrels.

Nor do I. Perhaps our definitions of necessary differ?

I kill mosquitoes, mice, rats, hornets and yellow jackets & a bunch of other vermin. [not to mention stuff I eat and wear] I 're-locate' bees, snakes, spiders & critters that are just in the wrong place.

Jim

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

If you are a vegan, then I can at least respect your choice [though I don't understand it at all & I'm the wrong guy to be proselytizing to]. If you're not a vegan than you're just an anthropomorphizing, whacked out, meddling, nutjob. Drop dead.

Need? Are you a city boy who has never had the pleasure of eating food straight from the vine/bush/tree/ground?

Your squirrels don't eat fruit?

Jim