Thursday, June 25, 2015

SRP

Sometimes you just have to give in and do what is the least of two evils.  Relocation versus death.  Which would you choose? 

We chose SRP.

Entertainment for a Border Collie

The Border Collie is part of the program.  It is his job to keep an eye on them after they are caught. Squirrels are nuisance critters.  The Squirrel Relocation Program is going well.  Five have been relocated to a place where there are trees and water…what more does a squirrel need…except for sunflower seeds.  I still think we should spray paint a spot on their back before we release them so we will know if they make it back to our yard.

It was either live trapping and releasing or a quick trip to squirrel heaven…I could have used the target practice…but my kind and gentle husband said “Let’s relocate some.” That is fine with me if I shot them I would probably feel guilty enough that I would have to skin, gut them and cook them up. ( Yes I have eaten squirrel and it was pretty good.)

The squirrels were leaping from the trees getting to the squirrel proof feeders, they hang by their feet upside down and gorge them selves with seeds.  It the meantime they break off my flowers.  We counted ten in our yard the other day.

The last one we released shot out of the cage like a bullet…I told Far Guy “If he runs that fast he will beat us home.”

Storm Clouds JUne 24

Storm Clouds over the Hay and Pea Field in the distance on June 23 2015.

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29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that first picture! I sure hope the same squirrels don't come back! The squirrels drove us CRAZY at Nalley Valley. They are so destructive. Larry's daughter has a tiny little cage and she even relocates mice!!
That last photo is very pretty. Have a squirrel-less day!

Country Gal said...

Yup Miggs here keeps them all in line to but some get relocated here to by live trap we have had possum, rabbits and even the pesky racoons relocated . Lovely photos ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day.

linda m said...

Squirrels around my house are plentiful. Unfortunately I live in the city so I can't use them for target practice. I think trying to relocate them would be a never ending job so I have all but given up on bird feeders - only put up Finch feeders now. Love the picture of Chance keeping an eye on the squirrel.

Gail said...

I would be curious...the sprayed spot sounds like a good idea.

DJan said...

Same here. They are a nuisance and I stopped feeding the birds partly because of them. I had as many as six on my porch at once, and I tried everything to keep them away. Good for you on using SRP. And they are breeding all over the place right now! They really are only well-dressed rats. :-)

Tired Teacher said...

Chance is certainly keeping an eye on Chippy!

The History Anorak said...

I used to throw snails over my back garden fence (onto waste ground!) until I found out they can 'home' from up to a mile away. Well I 'm not going to drive them across town, am I? I hope you don't get returning squirrels - but a quick squirt of something brightly coloured but non-poisonous would make an interesting study!

I was told squirrel tasted nasty. Must be the way they cooked it. ;)

Shirley said...

Looks like Chance is taking his job seriously :o)
N squirrels at our place, but the yearly brood of ravens makes up for it. This year there are 4 fledglings, all hanging out squawking noisily for the parents to feed them. Hope they learn to hunt soon!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're relocating them! Love the drama of that last shot.

L. D. said...

It sounds like a good program. I do the same with snakes by dropping them off in farm fields and ditches. We do have a vehicle removal program in town and they do reduce them throughout the town. Squirrels seem to never figure out that they can't just cross the road when they want to and many times they stop in the middle of the road to see what is happening. My son traps in his backyard in Chicago. The city will come and release them unless it is a skunk. Then you empty out your billfold to have a company to take them away.

Mac n' Janet said...

You can't win with squirrels, we just try and live with them. But opossums we trap and release.

Anonymous said...

It seems there is no such thing as a squirrel-proof feeder.

Shirley H.

Gwen said...

Yes, definitely do the spray painting. Might have to be a little less magnanimous for return visitors. ;)

Henny Penny said...

I like the SRP best.. That's what we do with possums and raccoons. My sister hauled off many many squirrels and swore it was the same ones coming back. Chance is good at his job. :)

Intense Guy said...

I bet Chance was giving that Tree Rat a heart attack!

Be interesting to paint a spot on them - I would think something water soluble and non-toxic would work... If you make them "stand out" a little - maybe the hawks and such will see 'em better and catch 'em? :)

MTWaggin said...

Love that last shot! We are suffering gophers at our house - target practice though - as well as the pasture across the way that is FULL of them. Luckily my flowers and feeders are safe from those.

Terry and Linda said...

It would be interesting to tag them some how. It could be you have the same squirrels over and over again!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Chance is such a pretty dog and is doing a good job guarding! I wish I could relocate some deer. There are just too many of them in our area and they love to eat anything we try to raise in the garden.

Patsy said...

We have had same problem ,Bennie loved in the past to go on Squirrel hunts deep in the woods.
No more, he traps and release these trees rats in our yard.
Thanks for the encouraging comment on Bible blog.

Cynthia said...

Chance looks like he takes his job very seriously! I laughed hard at your comment about the released squirrel beating you home. I could co-exist with the squirrels if they would just eat up the bird food but they chew up my feeders and pull them down to get at the seed inside.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I see lots of cute squirrel pics on the blogs I visit and they are sweet and cute, but I know them as you know them..nuisance, sneaky pesky creatures. I laughed out loud when you said that about it beating you home..you might want to stretch the distance to ten or more miles..squirrels are very loathe to give up backyard buffets!

Red said...

You had better take these suckers a long way from your place . they will come back. I will never let a female stay at my place again. they are nasty.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Ha! We had a similar squirrel relocation program some years ago. Drove them to a park a little over three miles away because we read that was the "magic distance." Never knew whether we got the same ones back, but it did seem that we had fewer, at least for a while.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering about what you would do to know if the same squirrels came back. Love the spray paint idea! My husband used to feed them, so we had lots coming to the yard. He left peanuts on the patio fence. When he wasn't looking, I would take the peanuts aay. :-/.

Linda W. said...

That's very humane of you to trap and release the squirrels somewhere else. Let's hope they don't find their way back to your yard,

Rita said...

I'm glad you did relocation!! So glad!! :):)

Linda Reeder said...

I commend you on your effort and I hope it works. Like you, I would want to know if the same ones return.

thecrazysheeplady said...

I kinda think I'd be marking a couple...just for curiosity ;-).

Sam I Am...... said...

You made me laugh big time and I love to laugh! Beautiful cloud picture....I love weather and clouds especially.