The message
from "mark" contains these words:
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...

I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).

I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

Yes, but they take quite a time to grow.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year,

IME, a large number. (So do hedgehogs, BTW)

? and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success?

IME, quite a lot. A whole clutch goes. The chances are, the bird will
lay another clutch in the same nest, and the sqrl will return.

Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most
other
parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the
continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant."

And grey sqrls are the icing on the cake.

Wise words, IMO, and I
don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from "mark" contains these words:

I would guess that cats do more than their share of keeping the bird
population down.

I think your guess is a good one.

However, cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, grey
squiggles have only been over here for a couple of hunred or so.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

snip


I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Interesting. Are there some estates where they exterminate the squirrels,
magpies etc., and some where they don't, and where surveys of the
pre-breeding populations of the various resident songbird populations show a
significant variance?


Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.


It's only natural for people concerned with the survival of an endangered
species to get hyperprotective about the risks the population faces. But
sparrowhawks are unlikely to specialise on a particular species. Indeed,
they take whatever is available and easy to catch. So if there are plenty of
'unendangered' fledglings about, they'll probably take more of them than the
endangered ones.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit
to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't
it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.


Squirrels are clever, but not clever enough to realise that food left out in
people's gardens isn't intended for them :-)

"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:08:38 +0000, BAC wrote:

A person who has qualms about
the use of poison bait would also be wise to avoid shooting at free
animals unless and until confident of making a clean kill, by the way.

Agreed. Sod the air-rifle, get a 12-bore.

But think about the collateral damage! Can we compromise on a 410?

On 16 Mar, 11:08, "BAC" wrote:
So what is it these particular squirrels are doing in your house/garden that
merits the death penalty? If you really need to kill them, and you can't
manage it properly yourself, why not hire an expert to do it for you, as
quickly and cleanly as possible? A person who has qualms about the use of
poison bait would also be wise to avoid shooting at free animals unless and
until confident of making a clean kill, by the way.

Hi BAC and others, I didn't realise I'd generate so much interest.
Many thanks for the advice so far.

Anyway, I don't really want to enter into the difficult ethical waters
of why kill the cute furry animals! There seems to be plenty of
argument about that in plenty of other threads I've seen. I just
wondered about the practicalities of these bloody traps.

I would get the pros in, but frankly I'm too mean, and as I understand
it they would either use Fenn MkIVs (or similar spring traps) like I'm
trying to, or put down poison. If I can coax the buggers into the
traps they are just as quick and clean whether they're set by me or
the man from Rentokil. I do take your point about my poor marksmanship
and the poor squirrels. I'd rather not half half-wounded nutkins
limping around, so I will be focusing my attention on the traps for
now.

Cheers!

Martin

The message
from "BAC" contains these words:
"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

snip

I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Interesting. Are there some estates where they exterminate the squirrels,
magpies etc., and some where they don't, and where surveys of the
pre-breeding populations of the various resident songbird populations
show a
significant variance?

Yes, and no idea.

Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.


It's only natural for people concerned with the survival of an endangered
species to get hyperprotective about the risks the population faces. But
sparrowhawks are unlikely to specialise on a particular species. Indeed,
they take whatever is available and easy to catch. So if there are
plenty of
'unendangered' fledglings about, they'll probably take more of them
than the
endangered ones.

Sparrowhawks will take pretty nearly anything that flies and isn't much
bigger than a pheasant, and raptors tend not to care wheter dinner is an
endangered species or not.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit
to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't
it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.

Squirrels are clever, but not clever enough to realise that food left
out in
people's gardens isn't intended for them :-)

Why do they run away when caught at it, then? Colon dash close parentheses

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).

I'm sure the traps I have are Fenn, and at first I had a lot of trouble
luring the damned things into the trap. a neighbour told me they like
tunnels, so I covered the thing with bits of twigs and other debris, and the
following morning I noticed there was something strange about the trap, when
I went to have look it had one of the vermin in it.

I now cover them with a dustbin bag, put some peanuts inside on a small tin
lid, and the success rate has been high.

Don't give up, just keep trying, you will be successful in the end.

Alan

"Ophelia" wrote in message
...
Rusty_Hinge wrote:
The message

from Martin Pentreath contains these
words:

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).

Plan B and a lot of practice.

You're unlikely to lure a sqrl into a tunnel.

You could try erecting a board/piece of sheet a few inches above the
ground and putting peanuts under that to accustom it to the cover,
then glueing peanuts to the #### and burying it as before.

With the board set high enough not to be threatening, and low enough
to deter birds, you *MIGHT* succeed.

Want a recipe for sqrl?

Might I suggest the OP learns to use his airgun well? Much better to eat
what you kill if they are edible. I have plenty of recipes if anyone is
interested

I've never found one with enough meat on it to make it worthwhile cooking
it!

Alan

"pied piper" wrote in message
news

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).


Why kill the squirrels?

Because they are vermin, just rats with furry tails.

"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:52:33 +0000, pied piper wrote:


Why kill the squirrels?

Because they are incredibly destructive vermin?

OP: bricks and slate works for me, I don't use any 'bait' - their natural
curiosity usually gets them.

Please enlighten me, you could have saved me a lot of money, I have three
fenn traps.

"mark" wrote in message
et...

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

Do you feed aordinary rats as well?



mark

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most
other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on
the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and
I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their
bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs,
holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over
or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds.
Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and
magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

I wonder if he would feel the same if he wanted to grow things like nuts for
his table?

On 16 Mar, 18:47, "alan.holmes" wrote:

Please enlighten me, you could have saved me a lot of money, I have three
fenn traps.

Hi Alan,

Don't get excited, I think he means he's doing what I've been trying,
ie using a fenn trap but building a tunnel round it with four bricks
and a couple of tiles.

Could you explain a bit more about your tunnel technqiue with the bin
bag? You mean you're burying the trap in the earth (which I'm also
doing) and then making some sort of tunnel with a bin bag? One of the
points of the tunnel is to make sure other species don't go into the
trap, I can't see how a bin bag would manage that, but I'm ready to
try all (lawful) ideas.

Cheers!

Martin

"alan.holmes" wrote in message
...

"mark" wrote in message
et...

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

Do you feed aordinary rats as well?


I most probably do but inadvertently rather than deliberately.
I haven't jumped on the bandwagon that squirrels are tree rats.
Rats are incontinent, constantly dribble urine and can excrete up to 100
million bacteria per ml of urine.
That's why most local authorities offer free rat extermination. This service
as far as I'm aware does not extend to squirrels.

mark