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Location

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Date Posted

Mount Prospect,illinois

Well, i woke up this morning and looked out my window. I noticed 2 squirrels curiosly close to a few newly pollinated females. I went outside to shoo them away and noticed one female had been bitten clean off. Another (my biggest so far at softball size) had chew marks on it. I may be able to save it but who knows.
I never realized i would get so angry/frustrated over this. I guess since you put time and effort into growing these things just to have it bitten off. I put a wire cage over the 2 remaining females.
I am now declaring an all out offensive on Squirrels and any other rodent for that matter. Any advise on how to "get" these guys would be appreciated. Note: while a gun would work, i live an a suburb of Chicago and walking around shooting a rifle might not be a good idea.

7/1/2007 9:24:48 AM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Dave, Get a trap and catch them. Then you can give the squirrels swimming lessons.

7/1/2007 10:01:19 AM

pellet gun,,,poison peanuts,,nasty cat,,lazer site slingshot,,,all effective for those in an uban setting

the really large sticky traps work too thier eyes really bug out when stuck on one and you approach them !!!

7/1/2007 12:10:02 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Muhuwahahah!!! (insert picture of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers). I now have a squirrel trap..AND a 5 gallon bucket that will be 1/2 filled water with sunflower seeds. Any rodent bastards i have missed? Muhuwahahaha!!!!!!!!

7/1/2007 12:29:08 PM

Long Island,New York

Where's Brooks? I complain about squirrels taking me out and I get called a sandbagger...just aint fair........
Havaheart traps work great...

7/1/2007 1:27:25 PM

Ohio

G, you might have one, ok maybe two squirrels running around,, but your still a sandbagger, Ha!

7/1/2007 4:55:15 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

Dave, cover the pumpkins with laundry baskets. I have trapped them before, but they come back. My neighbor has spray painted a few tails.. They find their way home.

7/1/2007 9:47:25 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Put a round clothes basket around them. I have been battling squirrels and birds for years. A fake snake or 2 works great as well...Ray

7/1/2007 9:55:55 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

If/when i trap them (it is a havaheart trap LIpumpkin) they will be transported at least 13 miles away. I now have wire cages over the pumpkins but the laundry basket sounds much better.

7/1/2007 10:13:31 PM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

George, I haven't had one come back from swimming lessons yet! lol Kenny

7/2/2007 5:45:24 AM

President - GPC

HaveaHeart trap, I have trapped 35 so far this year and have moved them out to the country to the Land of the Raptures......

7/2/2007 9:00:20 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

OK, now i have more of a problem. Question. Do squirrels chew off the ends of a main vine. I came home today and found the last foot of my main vine separated from the rest about 3' away. What really got me going was that it had a female that was going to open in a few days.

7/2/2007 5:59:19 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

Yes, I had squirrels chew the tips before. You will have to cover the tips as well. They are thirsty. It has been dry here. Supply them with some water. I can install a pond for you. Prices start around $6000.00. Squirrels skunks and all varmint can't hold their breath very long under water - right on Kenny

7/2/2007 10:18:03 PM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Dave,

I cover my main tips with a cloths basket. To keep the swim team off them. We had rain for 8 days in a row her last week and the squirrels were still chewing off the tips of secondarys all the way back to where they were buried. And we have 2 bird baths with in 10 feet of the patch. I don't think they chew because there thirsty I think they do it for entertainment. Come to think of it that's the same reason I give them swim lessons. lol

Kenny

7/3/2007 6:11:32 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

I did get a couple of clothes baskets to try to protect the tips ($1.50 each at walmart). I also, now have poison peanuts and a too small trap in the area. I am going to get a bigger one from a buddy. The squirrels currently push my trap around but never go in. I may end up culling the pumpkin that the squirrels gnawed on. The gouge seems deeper than i thought and i dont want to waste my time if it is going to go into the cavity in a few weeks.
George, a pond would be cool but i would have to stock it with muskie and bass. I dont think the wife would go for it though.

7/3/2007 9:09:20 AM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

I use apples for bait, and a couple small tent spikes to hold the trap in place.

7/3/2007 9:56:25 AM

President - GPC

Peanut butter cracker for me, since 35 tree rats have departed this way there is enought feco material and urine sitting beneath the trap to attract them also, for days I had no bait in the cage but still got a tree rat.

7/3/2007 10:17:13 AM

addison Il

Darn! you found out me and Beckys evil plot, those are our trained squirrels we are using to get rid of the competition. Now we have to go out and try and train bunnies @#$!!**

7/4/2007 1:30:09 AM