Stopping Squirrels

[Fleurisa]

The RSPB say you can add chilli powder to your bird food to stop squirrels from eating it. Has anyone tried this and did it work?

[cheops]

We have not had squirrels around our gardens for two years now. When we had they were so destructive - eating through the stalk just before sunflower heads so they fell to the ground,- claw marks deep into unripe plums and other plums pulled off and left untouched on the ground, - digging everywhere and so on. I bought a squirrel trap online and loaded it with several peanuts. Soon caught one and within a few weeks had caught a dozen. Each time I drove the caged squirrel to a local park several miles away and released it. Have been squirrel free ever since and have very grateful neighbours. One could return to colonise again but if one does the trap comes out again. So try that unless you don't mind the squirrels around and only want them to stop thieving off your bird table.

[veggiechicken]

It is illegal to release and relocate grey squirrels once captured - just saying!

[bearded bloke]

What VC said ^^

[cheops]

Gosh didn't know that. How stupid a law is that unless it is trying to stop the spread of the grey squirrel into new habitat. --which is a joke in itself as the grey squirrel has spread like wildfire in England bullying and ousting the native red squirrel as it spreads.

[Fleurisa]

My dad used to catch grey squirrels in a trap and then dunk it into his waterbutt to drown them, but he found out that is illegal too. So now he traps them and then shoots them with an air rifle which is legal, but it takes a couple of goes and they don't die quickly. But apparently its legal to do!

[cheops]

Yes you are right - I have read the RSPA website and it is indeed illegal to humanely trap a grey [not red] and release it elsewhere yet in their own words I quote ---------- 'Grey squirrels can legally be caught and killed by a variety of methods, including live-catch cage traps, approved spring traps or a
specific rodenticide poison that is only approved for use against grey squirrels by a local authority or professional operator. However,
such methods may not be legal in areas where red squirrels could also be at risk. For example, it can be an offence to kill, injure or
take a red squirrel, or to damage or obstruct its place of shelter.'
So it seems as usual the law is an ASS.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Greys eat very well in a game pie.

Potty

[cheops]

Ha ha no doubt.

[DannyRam]

We tried chilli powder but it didn't work for us.

[Whitney]

The RSPB website has posted a list of deterrents for grey squirrels, though I’m not sure if they all work. Just try them all and see which ones do work. The RSPB: Advice: Grey squirrel deterrents

[Boza1970]

The Air rifle makes an excellent deterent and the squirrel (grey of course) makes steady slow cooker ingredient.

[Olorin2001]

It is illegal to release and relocate grey squirrels once captured - just saying!

You can eat them, quite tasty, but, may contain nuts.

[Piggle]

One bit me once....... It was a rescue squirrel. ( believe me, I don't condone it but she had had it since it was a baby ! ) anyway, I digress. So, one bit me once, I had a tetinus shot obviously but I must have poison blood as it died the next week ...... And that my friends is called Karma.


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[Vince G]

The Air rifle makes an excellent deterent and the squirrel (grey of course) makes steady slow cooker ingredient.

My pal's father-in-law shoots them to stop them getting to his walnuts, but he's italian and I heard they shoot and eat anything that moves! I've therefore probably eaten them. Restuarants should get them on their menus asap, might reduce numbers a bit.