[James Hutchins]

Re: Damn Squirrels!

Can you make a weekend event out of it, and invite a buddy with a retriever dog over? I know it's icky to be that close to the vermin, but they should be offed for good, so there's no (angry) survivors to organize an uprising.

Maybe the dog can be trained to drop them in a deep bucket of water, with high sides?

(But going back to my earlier post, the other good thing about the pregnant ones is you're really ridding the world of 5 or 6 at a time.)

I have a slew of trained gun dogs and therein lies my problem. The dogs bark like crazy in thier cages at the squirrels running about, a few of them tease the dogs. The squirrels can out run and maneuver the dogs. The squirrels only do this when no one is outside in the yard. So when I am in the upstairs office in the West wing (270 degree vantage point there) I look out and scan for the vermin. The pellet gun works great at 1250 FPS as there is no smoke when I fire it from inside the room. One of these little fellas:

and no more squirrel! I then send a little niglet out to fetch and take home to be skinned (the squirrel, not the niglet). They are so cute, running out from behind trees just like a ball boy at Wimbledon.

[Mistress Cookie]

Re: Damn Squirrels!

I have a slew of trained gun dogs and therein lies my problem. The dogs bark like crazy in thier cages at the squirrels running about, a few of them tease the dogs. The squirrels can out run and maneuver the dogs. The squirrels only do this when no one is outside in the yard.

That's horrible! (But, I'm sad to say, not unexpected.)

Now, this can be a controversial subject, but have you considered getting a rat terrier as backup? The one below is available for free, Online. I'm having the owner hold her for a day, and I PMed you their info.

The "ratters" -- like the terrier -- are bred to chase (and slaughter) small running animals. As a man, of course you wouldn't ever be seen with a small dog or let one in your house, but if you just let the terrier live outside, it might keep the squirrels away from the kennels.

AND an added benefit would be you wouldn't even have to feed it: It can live off the squirrels it kills, and that might even provide good incentive for it to work hard?

.

[James Hutchins]

Re: Damn Squirrels!

Excellent idea, M-C! Though the thrill of the hunt is a bonus. Zipping over to a window in my Scooter Chair® and cracking off a round is a lot of fun. I'd also be concerned with the dog going after a messican field worker. They are a squirrelly vermin too.

I'll contact the owners of the dog and give it a whirl. I guess it can stay in the chicken coop with the hired help.

[Mistress Cookie]

Re: Damn Squirrels!

I'm so glad I could be of help to another True Christian™!

From what I could tell, these owners are having to unload all their dogs (there's something like 300) fast because city "officials" are inserting themselves into their privately owned and operated business. And this is the third time they've pulled this stunt! It's just another example of government taking it upon itself to decide for us what we can and cannot do. What's next?

Until the ratter arrives, you might try pouring some lye into the hollow of any tree you know has a squirrel "nest" in it. But don't use more than a half gallon, because my late husband killed a tree that way once, by using too much, and it also erroded some water pipes that were underground. You don't need as much as you'd think. The fumes do half the work for you.

PS: I would be afraid of keeping the terrier with the help in the chicken coop, because they might eat it.