Too Many Wild Babies

[RockyPops]

Nor sure where to post this!

I, In my glorious wisdom, have created a problem I can't seem to get out of.

I love these wild babies (and Coco of course) so much and enjoy spending time with them and watching their antics and in the process feeding them to draw them in nearer to me.

Well, it works! Too well maybe.

I think I have encouraged them to move into or near my yard and HAVE BABIES!!! Lots of babies. I am feeding about 25 squirrels now. I have cut back on feeding them but now they come looking for me. And they're very bold.

I'm trying to wean them with limited success.

Bad news is that my neighbor to my South started mildly complaining last fall-ish about them tearing up electrical lighting around his new-ish gazebo. We get along very well and he's understanding to a point. And he has a point.

My neighbor to my north (who is responsible for me getting Coco) says he hears them on his roof and he's scared they're gonna get into the attic of his 6 year old house and do damage. He also has a point.

So he decided to purchase a very small rodent trap, capture them one at a time and re-locate them to a Christian College he attends that happens to have a nice wooded area next to it that should accommodate a few squirrels. At least there was no talk of killing them.

He already re-located a couple before he told me his plan. Today I heard a noise at his house (he was at work) and went to investigate. It was a trapped squirrel. Fearing it was Coco I opened the trap and a fuzzer darted out and up a tree. Not Coco! Whew.

I texted with him when he got home and we had a talk about the situation. I sorta explained to him that they probably need some support, including food water and shelter until they get used to the new surroundings.

He said if I found one in the trap to handle it any way I wanted and if he found one he'd contact me prior to re-locating the squirrel.

I need recommendations on how to remedy this problem. PLEASE, I'll listen to any advice!

I really do need to thin the herd, for their own sake and peace in the valley.

Can adult wilds be re-located?

Do they need to have a soft release type situation?

I felt awful seeing that baby in that small trap, in the sun scared to death with no water!

Time for some tough love I suppose!

Thanks in advance! I'm ready for the slings and arrows!

[Chirps]

Aaaaaaagh, I feel your pain! And your fear for your friends.

I wish I had useful info, but other than adding more nest boxes to give squirrels an alternative to attic real estate, I can't think of anything.

I'm guessing a hard release is a bit easier on an adult squirrel because it at least has some idea on how and where to forage. I would guess early a.m. would be best (if it comes to that) so the squirrel has all day to get familiar with the area?

The natural course of things seems that if there's an increase in squirrels, you should get an increase in predators to thin the herd. :eek :sadness

Is there a way for Gazebo Neighbor to protect his wiring from squirrels? Maybe offer to help him do it if something effective can be thought of?

[RockyPops]

Hey Chirps!

So far gazebo neighbor s electrical problems seem to be the store bought strings of lights (about $25.00). I had some just like them and they chewed them up also.

Really wish someone with experience re-locating adult squirrels would chime in. Seems I read somewhere that they re-located some squirrels a few miles from home and they eventually returned.

I'm just afraid it would be a slow, painful, starvation and no shelter kind of torture! Getting beat up by the locals, food sources, shelter, water hole and predators.

I think they were drifting away and thinning out on their own but they seem to have babies faster than they leave the area.

Quit feeding them altogether I guess!

Hope you are well Chirps and your babies are doing good!