BB Gun

[Negerto30]

My dad informed me he wanted to buy one to kill squirrels today bc a squirrel is ruining things in his yard in order to build a nest. A bbq cover was ruined and a cushion was slightly chewed. Apparently it started with them taking newspaper and making a mess, which my dad is fine with, and progressed to the cushionnext to the bin being ruined (front porch) to a bbq cover in the back yard. Also, the trash cans have been chewed for awhile now (also ok). I have been feeding a young squirrel whose mother died for about a month now, and he said he noticed the damage a week ago. I told him I'd buy polyfil to leave on the porch.

Aside from the cutie he wants to kill, I was supposed to release my two babes I'm overwintering at his house! He was convinced I released them behind his back! He obviously cares and would rather not kill MY squirrel, which isn't actually my released squirrel. Now that he knows it is not mine he will be more likely to kill it. Even if it was mine if much more damage was done they'd be in trouble. My parents hate my squirrels but I've cared for them for almost a year so they have a soft spot but their house is their pride and joy so..... Just wondering how I save my parents house, this wild and assure my dad I can release my two babes.

PS. I told my dad if I released them in his yard their would be a basket with their names on it with everything they need to survive the winter and two condos nailed onto the tree.

[farrelli]

Firstly, I'd threaten to disown your father. Killing to prevent a bit of damage is just ridiculous. I would also try to not feed those sqs anywhere near the home or encourage them to come close to it.

[CritterMom]

And I would NEVER release my babies there - you certainly didn't raise them and do all that work so that your dad could kill them for being squirrels. I strongly suggest that you find someone one the board near enough to you so that they can release your babies FOR you. You won't likely be able to visit them as often but at least you will know they won't be shot...

[Milo's Mom]

So my response has nothing to do with the squirrel, really. If your Dad cared soooo much about the outdoor furniture cushion WHY is it still outside at this time of year?:eek Only an idiot would leave a cushion outside year round, living in the north east....unless of course you leave them out for the squirrels to pull apart for nest stuffings.:tilt

[pappy1264]

Go buy several big bags of polyfil, put in baskets around near the trees. The squirrels will leave him stuff alone. I put bags of it out every year.

[Charley Chuckles]

Someone I know just told me the other day (after she already was hearing the story of Simon) that her husband was so tired of the squirrels tearing their porch screen, he was shooting them with a pellet gun :soapbox:Cry I said don't put any bird food etc. out there, she said there isn't any food on her porch ...well it really sucks and I was sickened by this, I don't know what to tell them to get the squirrels to not do this, and until I find an answer I am sure they will continue to murder the poor babies :shakehead
I did see this on TV and wondered if they would really work, maybe just put some around and they would repel the squirrels from the areas that they don't want them to be ...worth a try :dono

http://mint-x.com/

[stepnstone]

Most States have ordnances against shooting any weapon that projects
any type object within a residential area. Would not think Jersey would be
any different.
I'm sure what "dad" is proposing to do is illegal and maybe he needs to be
advised of the law.

[Negerto30]

It's defintely a last resort. He's not one to kill animals and I can't see him going through with it. I told him if he kills one another one will take it's place. I counted eight squirrels within a block of my house yesterday. It's just crazy that he's lived there over twenty years and the year I'm supposed to release squirrels there he has an issue. I'm just glad the worst damage was on a $50 cover and not the furniture bc I've seen the damage my squirrels can do. I'm going to put polyfil in the recycling bin since it. Looks like we are getting cold weather again. He said he'd trap them and move them which I still think is sad!

[BigNibbler]

This is a very unusual thread and I think it gives us all a lot to think about.
One of the reasons I never had children is because so many others I know have had serious strife from their kids. I know parents who are punched out, who have kids with all kinds of problems and so much stress and discord. And while many have experienced pain at the hands of a squirrel or other "wild" animal after so much effort expended to help them, nothing I imagine could equal the emotional pain that both child and parent can experience in discord. My own parents gave me everything and devoted their latter lives to me. Did I know to appreciate it, when I could have. Probably not as well as I should have.

I do not have any answer, or quick fix. But my close friends have always been women and they have always noted my communicative skill and my willingness to discuss, explore, consider and share feelings... which is not so common in most guys of any age. Nothing can create a squirrel, who is a living breathing, sentient creature. Nothing can replace the life of a squirrel and his emotional value to the one who nurtured, worked and prayed for so many weeks and months for one reason - to help it live the life of a squirrel.

I would hope that you could use this opportunity to take some time and have a heartfelt conversation. Not about this specific animal, or that one. But about emotion. I understand a lot of love and emotion can go into making a house what it has become, in both the physical and metaphysical. But there will always be worms and dirt and dust and natural forces working to undermine our efforts. A pillow can be replaced. But a life cannot.

[farrelli]

Now is a bad time to trap and move as it's basically baby season for the foreseeable future. If he moves a nursing momma, the babies would suffer and die.

[stepnstone]

As you know relocation just creates a void that is soon filled,
it solves nothing! It just hurts the animal(s) involved, it's cruel,
and disrupts the natural balance of nature.
Learning to co-exist is the only practicable or worthwhile solution.
All life has value! Man is conceited!

[Rhapsody]

Most States have ordnances against shooting any weapon that projects
any type object within a residential area. Would not think Jersey would be
any different.
I'm sure what "dad" is proposing to do is illegal and maybe he needs to be
advised of the law.
I wish that was true every where. When my son called on his neighbor for shooting squirrels with a BB Gun the
police informed my son that squirrels where considered a nuisance in our city, therefore, the man could shoot the
squirrels in his own yard as long as he was not using a real gun. Sad so Sad. :(

[stepnstone]

I wish that was true every where. When my son called on his neighbor for shooting squirrels with a BB Gun the
police informed my son that squirrels where considered a nuisance in our city, therefore, the man could shoot the
squirrels in his own yard as long as he was not using a real gun. Sad so Sad. :(
Unfortunately that kind of ignorance does exist in many States because the majority of
mankind sets itself above co-existing with other species. Behind that ignorance is the
hidden truth that they themselves create a "nuisance" by destroying all the natural
habitats.
And we blame the species...
They are damned for having to live in "our" world and use our materials for their
means of survival.

Wildlife would do a lot better without mankind then we will do without them,
a large majority is just too damn ignorant to see it and too conceited to be
educated.

[MJS]

Unfortunately that kind of ignorance does exist in many States because the majority of
mankind sets itself above co-existing with other species. Behind that ignorance is the
hidden truth that they themselves create a "nuisance" by destroying all the natural
habitats.
And we blame the species...
They are damned for having to live in "our" world and use our materials for their
means of survival.

Wildlife would do a lot better without mankind then we will do without them,
a large majority is just too damn ignorant to see it and too conceited to be
educated.

SADLY, WE ARE RAISED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO RESPECT FOR THE LIVES OF ANIMALS...:shakehead WE (MOST OF US ANYWAY) HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED...BUT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE.

[squirel]

Hi , I'm sorry to hear that all this is happening to you !!!
I would absolutely not release the squirrels you raised in your dad's garden . Someone said a few posts back that TSB can find someone who can release them for you .
You never know what damages they can do .... they could even decide to live in the attic ....
As for the juvenile you're feeding and all the other wilds maybe it would be safer for them to live in another garden .
I hate to say this but I would not feed them anymore and not give them reasons to stay in your garden .
And if things go worse and you really think they will be harmed or killed you could put some fox urine in the garden ( you can find it on amazon ) to make them go away .
I never tried it but they say it works very good to scare them away for a long time .
It must be difficult for you and I hope you'll find a good solution:grouphug .
Let us know how it goes .

[grampyngramy]

indiana says we can shot whatever is causing damage, deers, coyotes, and so on. Well here in Harrison county. As far trash cans being chewed look towards the possums and raccoons , they will tear trash cans up. Everyone blames the critters. Who invaded whose space? Animals have to scrounge for food and shelter, they have no paycheck to buy such things.

[jbtartell]

I could not read this whole thread but got the picture.. if you have a tractor supply there ( they have a website)or something similar they sell a repellant to kep the squirrels off and away from stuff or even out of yard.. it is safe and works.. I have sprayed it on my outside cushions and canopy before.. they will not come near it.. something about the smell..lol but u do need to reaply so often.. better that injuring or killing them..