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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 17:00:07
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I know this topic is way of base and I won't be offended if it gets deleted. I figured this was a great wild life data base, so here goes.
I'm having a problem with squirrels eating my vehicles. Last spring I had $900 damage done to the soft body work on my Grand Prix. I trapped 6 with limited success using a Hav-A-Hart trap. Now it's started again with them getting in engine compartment of my new Tundra. Opened the hood the other day to look around and there's one laying on top of the intake manifold. I ran him out and my Jack Russell and Lab played tug-of-war with him. I don't know what it is that attracts them. My neighbor spent $700 getting hoses and wiring harnesses repaired. The house sits 40 yards from the woods and they are fearless in coming up to it.
HEEELLPP
Mark |
NRA Life Member
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aj3156
Average Member
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 17:11:27
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| Do you want to keep them alive or kill em? |
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FW
Senior Member
USA
378 Posts |
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IraqVet2003
Advanced Member
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 18:48:58
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| 5 gallon bucket of water half full with some nuts in it and a ramp so they can get in. Once in they cant get out, no more squirrels. Happy trails. Vet |
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lightman
Average Member
127 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 18:56:58
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| We have that problem here with mice eating the insulation off of wire on farm equipment.It seem that some wire insulation is made from vegetable oil.I'm thinking that a good dog may help your problem. Lightman |
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oneokie
Advanced Member
USA
871 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 18:59:04
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| Leave the hood up. They will find another place to stay. |
Dumb can be overcome, but Stupid goes on forever. |
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IraqVet2003
Advanced Member
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 21:24:51
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| G+Forf=got to put water in the bucket as well. |
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BISCUT
Moderator
2243 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 21:29:31
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quote:
Originally posted by IraqVet2003
5 gallon bucket of water half full with some nuts in it and a ramp so they can get in. Once in they cant get out, no more squirrels. Happy trails. Vet
Just don't forget to change out the water From experience I can attest to the odor after a few days of "soaking"  |
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Wolfgang
Advanced Member
1553 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 01:08:08
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| Depending on the squirrels, moth balls will keep them from under the hood but it may keep you out of the cockpit if running with the windows up. Serious, sometimes it works, just put a handful in an old sock and hang it somewhere under the hood that it's not going to get sucked into any moving parts or catch fire if you forget to pull it out before taking off. This is a little messy and sounds stupid but it works...get the hottest ground red pepper you can find, melt some shortening and make mix just enough of it into the pepper to make a paste and smear it on the wiring harnesses and anywhere you think they are traveling. The grease sticks the pepper to their fur & feet, they clean it off with their tounge and usually will stay clear from then on. Less messy is putting a bunch of rat traps under the hood, once they get whacked a time or two, they'll avoid the situation. I used both of the latter ones to keep them from chewing my plastic feed barrels apart. |
 Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything."
Harry S. Truman
mark@fire-iron.biz
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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 02:53:24
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quote:
Originally posted by lightman
We have that problem here with mice eating the insulation off of wire on farm equipment.It seem that some wire insulation is made from vegetable oil.I'm thinking that a good dog may help your problem. Lightman
I have a Jack Russell bitch but she can't catch them before they can get to a tree. If I let them out through the garage she will go right to the truck and sniff them out.
She's hell on mice. Since I got her 2 years ago she has brought countless mice into the house to show off. She'll also dive into any active ground hog hole she can find. |
NRA Life Member
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86thecat
New Member
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 03:27:24
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| Fence the yard, get a couple more Jack Russels and let them tag team the squirrels all day (and night) long. A dog door into the garage might be a good idea too. Once an area becomes over populated with squirrels they become incredibly destructive. They will chew holes through the eaves to get into a garage or attic to nest and generally wreck the building as well as eating up your vehicles. If you use havahart traps make sure to check fish and game regulations as trapping or relocation may be illegal. If poison is legal in your area it may be best to just quietly set out bait stations. Some of your neighbors may think they're cute, be feeding them peanuts and freak out if they find out you're killing them. Guess how I know this. I'd also check with your vet to see if the dog(s) need a rabies booster if squirrels in your area are carriers. Don't forget about CB caps in a bolt action rifle. And remember they're just rats with fuzzy tails. |
Edited by - 86thecat on Nov 06 2009 03:38:30 |
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Brawny James
Junior Member
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 06:06:43
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Howdy,
P-nut butter is the best bait!
James
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fishstan2
Advanced Member
USA
1601 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 08:19:31
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Twud, good to see you back on here. Fort Bragg N.C., My neighbor used to have a real problem with squirrels, till she got two large calico cats. Let me tell you, you think your Jack Russel is fast, and the places those cats could go, those squirrels did not stand a chance. It would not be uncommon to come home and she would have about 3 or 4 dead squirrels on her front porch and mean almost every day. They stayed away from her house after a while, and by the way did you know cats can climb . LMAO. I hope this helps. Stan |
WILLIAMS, STANLEY W.
SGM U.S. ARMY
CAMP TAJI IRAQ
"SHOOT EM FROM LONG" RANGE" |
Edited by - fishstan2 on Nov 06 2009 08:31:19 |
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IraqVet2003
Advanced Member
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 09:28:18
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| I have a problem with sqirrels as well, I use my compound bow to keep them in check. I stand I my back deck which is elevated and wait for the to get om the ground. A 400 gr arrow moving almost 300 fps does a pretty good job nailing thier head to the ground. Good practice to, when possible I like to try and run a broadhead down their side and split them open. Vet |
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ten2six
Senior Member
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 10:27:51
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Rat traps and peanut butter, like Brawny James mentions, will solve the problem...if you, or your neighbors don't have a pet that could get caught, as well. A good pellet rifle, with a good scope and the Predator ballistic tip pellets is a more selective method. We've got Eastern gray squirrels that aren't native to this part of our state, so no seasons, no limits, no qualms about popping them. The little Douglas squirrels are too few and too small to be a problem here, so I leave them be.
Hope you solve it quick. |
"Chances are, when we meet intelligent life forms in outer space, they're going to be descended from predators."
- Michio Kaku |
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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2009 : 12:46:41
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Took my truck to the mechanic I use. He went all over it and could find no damage.
I wish I knew what they were after. There has to be something in the hoses and wiring harnesses that either tastes good or fulfills some deficiency in their diet.
I was thinking about setting out a mineral block, the kind we use for horses, in the woods and away from the house. Couldn't hurt and and would only draw the deer. |
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Squirrels
