Squirrel Trapping....!

[Rolfe 2]

On one of my long term contracts I have been experimenting a little bit with some different squirrel control methods and using a combination of a couple of tried and tested techniques. I have been having some success using two different methods in the same location notably the squirrel pole as used and described by GW and a squirrel cage placed where the feeding station would be.

I had noticed in the past that once a squirrel was in the cage which was placed on a fallen fir tree that had lodged itself conveniently (for me) against another tree, that other squirrels would appear to see what was going on. So utilising this, I decided to fix two snares either side of the cage about two feet away from each end.

The tree was quite a bit thicker than the normal squirrel pole so I had to restrict the entrance to the bent hazel hoops to force the squirrels to go through them by carefully placing brash to narrow the access points so they encountered the wires

The cage was originally baited with peanuts, but these disappeared during the day having been taken by the blue and great tits, and if placed out last thing at night they were removed by the wood mice.

I remembered that hazel nuts threaded on a wire and hung in the back of the cage were a useful bait, as I had used the idea in the past after seeing the method used by another pest controller from up north somewhere who had used it with great success. The cage and snare set-up had been in operation for a few days without much interest being shown but this morning I was rewarded by the sight of two trapped squirrels, one in a snare (foul caught around the middle unfortunately) and one in the cage, which were both quickly dispatched and everything re-set. The one in the snare was caught as I approached as it, and two other squirrels, scuttled off at a rate of knots.

[heritage 202]

Good results from a proffessional set there,well done mate just out of intrest,in this situation what is your favorite method of dispatch ? i know airguns are becoming popular but i still favour the use of a hessian sack and a set of cage fingers, i think that in the right situation,its more discreet.

[Rolfe 2]

Good results from a proffessional set there,well done mate just out of intrest,in this situation what is your favorite method of dispatch ? i know airguns are becoming popular but i still favour the use of a hessian sack and a set of cage fingers, i think that in the right situation,its more discreet.

 

I use an air rifle for dispatch in a woodland situation simply because its quick and efective and saves having to carry a sack and a priest. I still use an air rifle when dealing with domestic squirrel jobs, but always take the caged animal home to dispatch it (never on site). I have a set of fingers (cage comb) at home if i need to use them but very seldom do to be honest.

 

Rolfe.

[woodga 170]

nice set up there and the way the trap was sited on the slope of the tree made the closing of the door much quicker. yes you can often take the squigs nosey mates from snares placed near those cages iv actually seen one on top of a trap with a sqig inside patience paid off for you nice one

[Rolfe 2]

nice set up there and the way the trap was sited on the slope of the tree made the closing of the door much quicker. yes you can often take the squigs nosey mates from snares placed near those cages iv actually seen one on top of a trap with a sqig inside patience paid off for you nice one

 

Yes there were two other sqizzers actually on the trunk as i approached......so a caged squirrel really does attract others to the vicinity.(thats why the muti-catch type cages can sometimes be very effective) I had toyed with the idea of using two cages back to back with the openings at opposite ends, but opted for the wires instead. These fallen trees are a magnetic draw for squirrels and they love running up and down them something we can exploit to our advantage and also it keeps the cages up out of harms way from ground vermin as well.

 

Regards

 

Rolfe.

[DUCKWING 302]

ROLFE ,

 

 

 

I SNARED OVER 60 SQUIRRELS THIS WINTER IN SNARES SET FOR MINK , MAINLY ON RIVER FALLEN TREES ....... THEY TO BE HONEST CAN BE A PAIN THOUGH THEY ARE GREAT BAIT FOR POCKETS

 

MAY I SUGGEST ........

 

YOUR SNARES WERE SET TOO LOW WITH PROBABLY NO CHIN STICK ......... THE ANGLE OF THE TRUNK AFFECTS THE HIGHT OF THE SNARE ..........

 

ALL THE BEST

 

DUCKWING .

[watchman 256]

only ever done a bit of rabbit snareing but its good to see someone like yourself working through a problem and getting the desired result,very good that mate

Edited April 28, 2010 by watchman