I purchased a Hav-A-Hart trap 3 years ago, not because I’m interested in humanely and non-violently removing peaceful, harmless squirrels from my area of influence but because it was the only trap available locally that seemed capable of dealing with squirrels. It has always been a problem. Squirrels aren’t the problem they were when I declared Holy Jihad on them 3 years ago because the food pantry is no longer in the powershed, which is by no means squirrel-proof. But lately they have chosen to take the fight back to me, and are literally (yes, I mean literally) beating a path to the chicken feeder. I have so much documented proof through the game camera I can’t even show it all to you.
Two nights running I’ve set the live trap, continuing to use the modification suggested by readers several years ago. And every morning the trap is sprung but contains no actual squirrel.
I’m getting pissed off.
Suggest careful examination of the entire “trip” linkage. Those aren’t exactly the most precise arrangements at best, and can hang up or “drag” enough to require a pretty good nudge to actuate.
You’ve probably already done this though.
I have a similar problem, but with mice. You have one major advantage over me, my wife refuses to let me end the fuzzy little… so I use the humane traps. Sure enough they keep coming back and it’s starting to drive me a little crazy. Good luck, I’m pulling for you.
To be honest, no squirrel has yet survived a sojourn in my humane live trap. Somehow they keep having fatal firearms accidents.
It’s just that there are so very many squirrels. 3 years ago, during the Great Squirrel Jihad, I trapped five plus a few non-trap kills before they finally started to get the idea that the pantry was a bad place to be.
If you’re gonna have ’em, you might as well at least get some entertainment out of ’em:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2x8QA6CJFE
May I suggest a .22 or pellet gun and a frying pan to help rid you of those tree rats and to provide you with some nice fresh protein. 🙂
Aw, hell, Anon. That ain’t nothing.
Bird feeder aficionados in tree squirrel country have been having fun punishing squirrels since the dawn of western civ. Sometime when you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, search Youtube for “squirrel catapult.”
Wouldn’t work with desert ground squirrels, which are much more used to being prey and very wary. But suburban tree squirrels have no healthy fear.
Well just in case you ever have an insect problem, here’s an old guy playing with his weenie and dressing it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6k_px1Hu0
}:-]
I read your previous post you referenced. If you’re finding a trap emptied of bait, mebbe lightweight mices or somesuch are doing the deed. I suspect you already considered this and my comment is evidence of pre-caffeine brain.
Conibear. They are the best for rodents and other fur bearing critters you want to harvest or get rid of. The 110s are just the thing for rabbits and squirrels. https://www.amazon.com/Unknown-0400-ONEIDA-VICTOR-CONIBEAR/dp/B002DRIHO4. The Victor’s are good…the Duke’s are better. The price reflects this. They can be had for less from other vendors.