killing squirrels

[MomOf2squirrels]

I have a neighbor on my block that kills squirrels. Does anyone know of a way to keep the squirrels out of her yard? I have put blue food coloring on Galileo so that this neighbor knows she lives here and won't kill her (I hope) Today I heard a shot from a pellet gun and went outside. Galileo was out playing and I called to her. I saw a squirrel in the neighbors yard but was not sure what was going on with it. Just then Galileo came running up to me and got on my shoulder. I brought her in the house and put her safely back in the cage and then went back out to check on the other squirrel to find my neighbor bludgeoning it to death. She was trying to tell me that the squirrel was sick and there were a couple in the neighborhood sick. I told her to call me next time she sees a sick squirrel and I would take it away. She was trying to tell me they may have had rabies. But I told her that was not true that squirrels don't carry rabies. I know they can carry rabies but it is very unusual according to the CDC. I could call the police I know, but then she would just retaliate and may actually kill Galileo or do something to get even. I am thinking more along the lines of buying her some kind of thing that would make the squirrels avoid her yard all together. Like maybe some dried blood they sell at garden centers. Does anyone know of any other things? Please help before this heartless woman kills anymore innocent squirrels for digging in her stupid flower pots.

[mugzeezma]

I have a neighbor on my block that kills squirrels. Does anyone know of a way to keep the squirrels out of her yard? I have put blue food coloring on Galileo so that this neighbor knows she lives here and won't kill her (I hope) Today I heard a shot from a pellet gun and went outside. Galileo was out playing and I called to her. I saw a squirrel in the neighbors yard but was not sure what was going on with it. Just then Galileo came running up to me and got on my shoulder. I brought her in the house and put her safely back in the cage and then went back out to check on the other squirrel to find my neighbor bludgeoning it to death. She was trying to tell me that the squirrel was sick and there were a couple in the neighborhood sick. I told her to call me next time she sees a sick squirrel and I would take it away. She was trying to tell me they may have had rabies. But I told her that was not true that squirrels don't carry rabies. I know they can carry rabies but it is very unusual according to the CDC. I could call the police I know, but then she would just retaliate and may actually kill Galileo or do something to get even. I am thinking more along the lines of buying her some kind of thing that would make the squirrels avoid her yard all together. Like maybe some dried blood they sell at garden centers. Does anyone know of any other things? Please help before this heartless woman kills anymore innocent squirrels for digging in her stupid flower pots.

Shoot her plants with a little round up ... sorry, I'm not patient on animal murderers.

Did you tell her in Illinois wildlife belongs to the state and her actions are punishable with a stiff fine in the HUNDREDS of dollars?

[momma2boo]

Shoot her plants with a little round up ... sorry, I'm not patient on animal murderers.

Did you tell her in Illinois wildlife belongs to the state and her actions are punishable with a stiff fine in the HUNDREDS of dollars?

Contact Animal Control ... contact PETA .... video tape her behavior and then use it as black mail. Tell her if she ever hurts another squirrel she will plastered all over the nightly news!

BTW: Does she have animals?

[MomOf2squirrels]

She does have animals. Well her grandson has a dog. I would video tape her if I could. This was the first time I actually have seen her doing anything. Before I just suspected. I would rather teach her about squirrels and try and be kind. I fear if I did anything threatening to her it would just make it worse on the situation. We have both lived in this neighborhood for years and years and no one is going anyplace soon. I just want to find out if there are ways to keep squirrels from even wanting to go in her yard.

[momma2boo]

She does have animals. Well her grandson has a dog. I would video tape her if I could. This was the first time I actually have seen her doing anything. Before I just suspected. I would rather teach her about squirrels and try and be kind. I fear if I did anything threatening to her it would just make it worse on the situation. We have both lived in this neighborhood for years and years and no one is going anyplace soon. I just want to find out if there are ways to keep squirrels from even wanting to go in her yard.

I am just concerned if you encourage them to come to your yard will they be able disassociate one yard from another and go into her yard thinking all humans are kind. If that is the case then you might have to scare them all away for their own good.

[Jester]

I posted this in another thread yesterday, not sure how effective this would really be but "in theory" it might work since many wild animals rely on scent.. I know a lot of sporting goods stores sell animal urine/scents, deer, bear, pheasant, etc., used for luring animals for hunting purposes. Maybe if you purchase a scent of a predator species such as a bear or wolf or whatever they might have, and spread it in her yard, squirrels might smell that and avoid there. Theoretically, dog urine might even work since they're predators and tend to chase squirrels. Could dilute the scent, fill up a water gun with it, and spray it around her yard while she's not around. Best case scenario, you keep the squirrels away. Worst case scenario, you just covered her yard in urine as payback (:icon_devil).

Or if she is willing to cooperate with you, they do sell electronic rodent repellants that give off a high pitched frequency. Not sure if they work on squirrels, but if they do plugging one in near her garden might keep them away.

[rozdow]

Is it legal for her to be shooting wildlife in your area? Perhaps you could capture Galileo & relocate him so you could be more assertive with this idiot woman. Have you read the thread on teeenagers with BB guns? Lots of good suggestions there. tinfoil

[Twi_prime]

My dad told me once that garden ornaments that move will scare them away. Things like pinwheels and those birds with wings that spin in the wind. Someone else told me that used cat litter would repel them. Just thoughts. I don't know if they work.

[Anne]

I love my squirrels, but I love and am trying to grow potted plants as well. I just bought "Critter Ridder" at Lowes; it's made(put out ) by the Hav-a-heart trap company. I am testing it to see if it works. It didn't cost much, so worth a try. It is sprinkled on the pot soil and is supposed to keep a whole host of animals away. Get her some, if it works you have saved some squirrels. Other than that I don't know what to do. I am sure I would be going to jail over this myself and I am about one of the mildest people in the world-loved Ghandi! Wind moving pinwheels will drive moles from your yard.

[Milo's Mom]

this is just a thought, but how about lending her some have a heart traps...since she suspects that there are sick squirrels in the area, it might be best to catch them and evaluate them to see if they are sick...if they are sick they could be transmitting the disease to other animals, potentially even her grandson's dog. If they are captured and treated for the sickness it will prevent it from becoming an epidemic...ya know what I mean. Assist her in her attempts, but do it your way and the way that will save the squirrels, which will also make her happy. Possibly you could even offer to set up the traps and check them regularly throughout the day...this way she will not even have to deal with it...but if she is one of the stupid ones....well, you can't fix stupid.

Just had another thought....squirrels do not like cats and they do not like dogs...what if she brushes the dog or even goes to the local hair salon and gets some of the hair clippings and places the fur/hair around the base of her potted plants...the squirrels will smell it and not go near it (in theory)...maybe????

[SammysMom]

This may be stupid, but Sammy HATES aluminum foil. Maybe if there was a rim of it on the pots? I mean he runs if he hears me take out the box of foil from the drawer in the kitchen. Of course it may just be a phobia of his...lol
On a serious note, I am having the same problem with a neighbor who has them in his attic and I have never been so upset about a neighbor issue in my life. My prayers are with you and all the potential victims. :grouphug

[MomOf2squirrels]

Thanks everyone for your input. Poor Galileo is wondering why I haven't let her out yet. A lot of your ideas sound good. This neighbor has been my neighbor for 30 years. I really wish she would move. My friend who I am dating said he would confront her and call the police. I know in my heart of hearts this is what I should do. But I really don't think that would stop her. I am going to try that stuff from lowes and see if that works and will bring it to her gift wrapped and try and have a sit down with her. It's so saddening that this has happened. I hear shots regularly from her house, but have never seen her bludgeoning a wounded squirrel. Or a squirrel that had been hit by her pellets or bebees. I know I won't be able to live with myself until I try and stop her. I just hope I can stop her and still keep the peace.

[SammysMom]

When you figure it out please share your solution. I'd like to punch my neighbor in the face! Shove him in a dog crate and throw him in the ocean!:soapbox

[astra]

Thanks everyone for your input. Poor Galileo is wondering why I haven't let her out yet. A lot of your ideas sound good. This neighbor has been my neighbor for 30 years. I really wish she would move. My friend who I am dating said he would confront her and call the police. I know in my heart of hearts this is what I should do. But I really don't think that would stop her. I am going to try that stuff from lowes and see if that works and will bring it to her gift wrapped and try and have a sit down with her. It's so saddening that this has happened. I hear shots regularly from her house, but have never seen her bludgeoning a wounded squirrel. Or a squirrel that had been hit by her pellets or bebees. I know I won't be able to live with myself until I try and stop her. I just hope I can stop her and still keep the peace.
let him confront her - won't hurt and might help, while you are looking for other ways
PS just thought of it - since you've lived with her for 30 years, can you think of anything else, non-squirrel related, that is not in compliance with something (e.g., law, by-law etc etc)?... something about her house, the way she does things in her yard, around the house etc?Anything at all that could bring her to the attention of authorities?...
with people like that authorities can mean much, and if she gets "noticed" for one thing, that, first of, can re-direct her focus, and secondly, might make her more cautious about what she does outside and to the outside

[Rescue04]

maybe we can shoot her and then beat her to death. squirrels just annoy her. i would turn her in.

[Jester]

I just thought of another approach! :thumbsup

What if you confronted her about it indirectly instead of directly, and in the process scare her out of continuing. You post fliers around the neighborhood (and one conveniently in front of her house) about an unknown person, that you don't know who is doing it yet, shooting a pellet gun. If you lie and state that the authorities are already involved in the investigation of who is behind the incident, she'll get scared and stop. Also if she thinks that others are listening and watching for someone using a pellet gun for them to report, then she'll be even more afraid to continue. The fliers could say something like this:

Dear neighbors, I am both shocked and saddened to find out that an unknown person
in this pleasant neighborhood has been shooting my at my pets with a pellet gun. I hear
the shots often, so I know the person is local. Authorities are looking into the matter,
but I ask that anyone with information, both old information and future, regarding
these harmful activities please contact me at __________. And to whoever is shooting
at my pets, please stop for your own sake because I would hate for this to continue
and become a legal matter. Thank you.

Pretend you don't know who is shooting at your squirrel and all the wild ones, and mention your "pets" instead of your squirrel because sadly many people do not care as much about squirrels, but the thought that it could be a helpless puppy or something would definitely catch their attention.

[MomOf2squirrels]

I've decided to confront her directly but as my friendly neighborly self and just appeal to her humanitarian instincts if she has any. I am going to Home Depot and get some squirrel repellent, they have several different kinds. I will buy some cookies from the local grocery store and just go to her house, knock on the door and ask if I could please talk to her. I will reiterate how much Galileo means to me and how happy she makes me and how I love the squirrels in our neighborhood too. and I will ask her to please try another way to rid her yard of unwanted squirrels. And how I saw her bludgeon that squirrel that I know she shot already. And it has hurt my soul deeply to see a woman I have thought so highly of all these years do such a cruel and heartless thing. I hope my kindness will work. I have always thought that if you are kind and thoughtful and try to appeal to a persons conscience that it goes further than threats and scare tacticts. Maybe print up some information on why we need squirrels.

[MomOf2squirrels]

Milos Mom it's a nice idea about the traps but I wouldn't want to give her anything that would put a poor little squirrel at her mercy. I wouldnt trust her to call me.

[Moneypenny4M]

When you figure it out please share your solution. I'd like to punch my neighbor in the face! Shove him in a dog crate and throw him in the ocean!:soapbox

You go, girl! While you're at it, would you do the same to my neighbor please?:dono

[Moneypenny4M]

let him confront her - won't hurt and might help, while you are looking for other ways
PS just thought of it - since you've lived with her for 30 years, can you think of anything else, non-squirrel related, that is not in compliance with something (e.g., law, by-law etc etc)?... something about her house, the way she does things in her yard, around the house etc?Anything at all that could bring her to the attention of authorities?...
with people like that authorities can mean much, and if she gets "noticed" for one thing, that, first of, can re-direct her focus, and secondly, might make her more cautious about what she does outside and to the outside

Well, if flashing me/grabbing me is not in compliance with law, that's for sure, and for years I never made a formal complaint because I was afraid he'd retaliate- in this very way! But Astra, great suggestion about looking for things not in compliance. But turds can turn the table on you!

[SammysMom]

Years ago... I'm afraid I would actually have hit him. Now I am more of a middle-aged law-abiding citizen who rants and raves online about my violent fantasies. I wish that I could actually do it, but the idea of getting arrested makes me lose my courage. Now, I have to try to pray that this a** h*** ends this horrible plan. :osnap