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My sister loves squirrels: she feeds them, photographs them and squeals with joy when they play. My husband has a different view: they clamber all over the yard and cars, they eat whatever they can and just generally annoy the heck out of him "Rats with tails" that's what he says. Mid afternoon on a normal weekday, I feel an ominous presence. As I glance up from the computer I see Wally weirdly leaning over my shoulder, staring with frightening intensity out the window. After I duck to make sure no one is aiming at me, I say “what?” And, as though we have been talking about only this topic all day, he says “I don’t see any movement, hmm.” I pride myself that fairly quickly I realize we are “trap watching”. In the summer of 2010 our peach tree was ablaze with an amazing crop. A few weeks earlier, my son-in-law “Brian the tree man” dared to cull the crop. The pain of seeing perfectly good future peaches getting tossed away was too gruesome to watch. But Brian was correct: all final peaches were bright with orange-red and succulently ripe. “Them thar peaches is just about ready.” As we left on Friday night for the weekend in Tallahassee, we knew on Monday we’d have to start picking. Foolish, foolish, foolish. Two days later as we drove in the driveway, something looked odd, a little empty, OMG: the peach tree was bare, not a peach to be found. Being city folk, my husband sought expert guidance: The Bass Club Boys said “just shoot them bastids!” a calmer professorial voice advised humanitarian trapping via the Havahart sunflower seeded traps. Concerns ricocheted around the family –“Ugh, I don’t want a bunch of dead squirrels in the yard.” – Guess who?, “Papa, what about their FAMILIES how will their moms and dads know where they are?” “Dad, just how many are you cramming in that trap, I don’t trust you, where are you really taking them?” The burdens of relocation are many - where the heck can I take them, if the cost of gas keeps going up I’m gonna have to get another trap and take em by the busload, man it takes so much of my time, wow look at all those cats on the prowl – poor squirrels are going crazy. THE SQUIRREL DIARIES • FALL 2010 – I got 2 today, wow got 6 today, up to 16! • VALENTINE 2011: 26 squirrels so far! They don’t like this tree anymore, have to move the trap. Where are they? Maybe I got them all. Moved the trap. • MARCH: Yippee, 5 in one day. Peach flowers-yea! Smart aleck neighbor: when are you going to start notching their ears so you can track them in case they come back? • APRIL: Tiny, tiny peaches – time to cull – oh no, that hurts! I’m up to 40 squirrels! It ATTACKED ME! Take that you darn squirrels - aluminum sleeve goes around the peach tree trunk. • MAY: They are just begging to join their friends – running INTO the trap, not out – we’re up to 56! The peaches are ripening! I think we only have about 2 more weeks and there are still many squirrels to go. I can’t believe it, I’ve had to empty that trap 3 times today. • JUNE: Trapping is hard work in this heat, how many damn squirrels can there be? Peach harvest – small fruit but plentiful and succulent! • FROM THANKSGIVING 2010 TO FATHER’S DAY 2011: 71 Squirrels were relocated. At this rate we should break 100 by Thanksgiving 2011! _________________________________ HERE’S WHAT YOU DO: Squirrels breed once or twice a year, and give birth to a varying number of young after three to six weeks, depending on species. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, because buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees. Once you discover your squirrels’ paths, place the trap accordingly. Always set the trap on a stable surface, such as the ground, on a porch or deck. Never hang the trap! If you have the time, leave the trap opened and without bait for several days, so the squirrel will accept it as part of the landscape. You should also consider what if any other animals might be in the area of the trap – and what is your plan if a cat, dog, or even a bird may be tempted into your trap. You must be able to see or hear the trap operate, so it would be best to set it only when you have the time to watch or listen for it to operate. Once a squirrel is trapped it must be removed as quickly as possible to prevent stress to the animal. Be sure you are wearing heavy work gloves while handling the trap. Be prepared to listen to a lot of complaining. This squirrel is going to voice its displeasure non-stop! You must relocate the squirrel at least a three miles from your location, even further if you are in a heavily wooded area. An ideal location would have a natural barrier, such as a river or lake. If you're moving the squirrel within an urban area, try to place it across several highways or other busy streets. You should give some thought to where you are going to relocate the squirrel before capture. A place where it can find food, water and shelter would be in your best interest. Don't give this squirrel a reason to return! RTMorse http://www.squidoo.com/deer-gophers-squirrels-crows-rabbits-and-other-wildlife-in-the-garden |
| RODENT RELOCATION |