Darn squirrels!

[Captainkirk]

Yeah, cute and furry they may be, but...

This year they have decimated my pear tree. They've plucked just about every pear within arm's reach, eaten about half of it, then drop it on the ground and move on to another. Sure, there are lots of pears higher up where I can't reach them. But they leave those alone. Every night I spend a good half hour raking up golfball-sized half eaten green pears and tossing them in the yard waste bin.

OK; first off, I live in-city so shooting them is not a 'legal' option. Not that it's prevented me from trying in the past (I have a decent pellet gun) but technically and legally it's a no-no and is probably not safe to be pointing a pellet rifle airborne anyway due to neighbors. The squirrels don't generally go ground-to tree, but jump from other nearby trees and use the power lines to go from yard to yard. I really don't want to snuff the little boogers, but they are raising havoc with the pears and the bird feeders as well and I've had my fill. I work all day so I can't sit on the back porch all day with a pellet gun anyway. Anyone have any luck trapping them and dumping them out in the country somewhere? If so, what trap setup did you use, and type of bait?

[Carpdaddy]

I have used a 22 with CB shot successfully, about like the pellet rifle, may not work there. But if releasing I recommend it be in a pot of boiling broth with some dumplings added later so they don’t escape!
Or try this option...
https://images.app.goo.gl/CHXjGMNaAH6EiHD57

[Captainkirk]

Oh, I do like that one, Tony! Squirrel Trebuchet...AKA "Hurl-a-Squirrel"!

[jaydee2trad]

we use PCP 22 cal air rifles. have silencers on them. I protected a friend's apple and pear trees because he never got any to make a pie with. Harvested over a hundred that year. another friend uses a live trap with some bait just for squirrels, he transplanted over 60 one year. The wife has become quite the shot with her Benamin Discovery, I use a BSA R10, both with Hawk scopes. they are rough on gardens as well and the house. they chew up everywhere that they can on the house (log home) and destory bluebird houses. tie jigs with squirrel tails. used to eat them but got tired of them. quick fry and then slow cooker. good luck

[Hill billy]

A 22 rifle with a silencer or a good pellet rifle is in order. Take those young ones flour and brown them both sides in a skillet with cooking oil. I prefer lard. After Browning add water turn down the heat to very low and cover. Let them simmer for an hour or so. The older tuff ones I leave in for a good while. After removing you have good gravey material. Don’t forget salt and lots of pepper.you won’t have a squirrel problem after that.

[EWill]

Captain, As far as live baiting I can't help you, but I had a lot of squirrels myself. I discovered by accident that they love AMDRO MOLE AND GOPHER BAIT. I had a real problem with moles and started putting these pellets in their tunnels. The squirrels would dig the pellets up and suddenly I have no moles and a lot less squirrels. I never meant to kill the little buggers but I'm not losing any sleep over it. Also I never found a dead squirrel in my yard, don't know where they went to die. Worth a try.

[Captainkirk]

I've gotten to the point where I have no problem "offing" the little buggers, but I'm not willing to risk some stupid fine or other enforcement for "poaching" or discharging a 'firearm' within city limits (rolls eyes) or similar nonsense. Seems animals have more rights than property owners these days. I may give the bait a shot, or traps, hurl-a-squirrel, etc. If all else fails, well...

[jaydee2trad]

We have taken out the window screen for a shot with the air rifle from inside the house, back away from the window so noise stays inside. Wife took out a grey yesterday with my air rifle, it got too close to the garden. Actually in her book if it is even around on the place it is already too close. We also have a cat that will not pass up a free meal. all but the tail will be gone in about two days time.

[Grizzly]

I pirated this from another forum,

As a band of squirrels had become quite a problem, the Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrel infestation. After much prayer and consideration, they concluded that the squirrels were predestined to be there, and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will.

At the Baptist church the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a water-slide on the baptistery and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim, so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week.

The Lutheran church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist church. Two weeks later the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water-slide.

The Episcopalians tried a much more unique path by setting out pans of whiskey around their church in an effort to kill the squirrels with alcohol. They sadly learned how much damage a band of drunk squirrels can do.

But the Catholic church came up with a very creative strategy! They baptized all the squirrels and made them members of the church. Now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.

Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue. They caught the first squirrel and circumcised him. They haven't seen a squirrel since.

[Elkman]