I've been pretty lucky so far with squirrels and other chewing critters as far as my cars and boats go. The f'n squirrels have chewed holes in the tops of my town-required, rodent-proof garbage cans (the ones the garbage trucks pick up with the robot arm to dump). The pull the bags open, pull crap out through the holes, leave the can accessible to flies and subsequently their disgusting off-spring.

I hate 'em. I aim for them on the road. I'm thinking now is the time for my 10yo to get a Red Ryder BB gun so I can hide in the pup tent in the backyard and pop them off as they do their dirty work.

Anyone else have visions of Caddyshack running through their heads?

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

My neighborhood is known as "The Oaks" and with good reason. All the oak trees mean a bazillion acorns. Acorns mean squirrels, lots of squirrels. Most of my neighbors have dogs, cats, etc. Since we have no pets my property has become an "island of refuge" for the little bastards. It got to the point where I counted over 100 of them in just a minute or two. There were 12 on the deck right next to me just while I was counting. The house, deck, gutters, etc. all bear scratch marks from their claws and they are very very loud in mating season. They chew up anything outside that isn't spiked with mothballs.

So what to do.... Can't shoot them even with an air rifle. I have houses on all sides. Pretty sure the cops would be visiting pretty quick. The solution has been two Hav-a-hart traps. Bait with peanut butter and they just can't resist. Once I have an inmate the trap is bungee'd closed and tossed in a 55 gallon trash can full of water. After 30seconds-1minute the trap stops rattling and the "squirrel scuba" lesson is complete. Toss carcass, re-bait trap and repeat. My record is 15 in ONE hour. I dispatch 50-75 a year and this keeps the population under control. If I get going in the spring it seems to keep the numbers down all year.

The little buggers are very smart. After a week or so of trapping all of a sudden the traps start getting tripped and the bait is gone but no animal. I figure they have learned a way to keep the trapdoor open while they steal the bait. I just stop trapping for 3-4weeks and then resume. They are smart but have poor long-term memory as they start getting caught again.

I'll probably get flamed for this but these things are vermin. Nothing but a arboreal rat with a bushy tail.

RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Don't forget they're edible!!

Sounds like some of you guys need to "harvest" a few. (They are actually very tasty.) With pecan trees and oak trees in my yard, there is an abundance of them, even living in the city. And yes......a BB gun works in town if you are very patient and careful of what an overshoot might hit.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

You should try using a paintball gun. In short range, the paintballs would kill the little bastards, without the risk of putting a pellet in your old neighbor's rear end... If you miss your target, you will only have to clean washable paint

__________________
1982 W123 300D NA Euro, 300K Miles, 4-speed manual, 3.46 rear diff, early W126 front brakes, Penta rims with 205/60R15 FH900's, custom fitted (by me) audio system, more to come into the money pit... Soon to be installed: Bilstein HD, R107 front discs and 4-piston calipers, HD Suspension springs, wagon front swaybar.

I have 8 walnut trees lining my drive. Bad idea. There is nothing like walnut bits struck in your air intake.

__________________
1980 300SD (Mr. Sparkles), 1976 450SEL, 1982 300D turbo, 1989 VW Cabriolet morphing into a td cabriolet , 1997 TDI Passat, 1996 piece of Jeep,1993 F150, 1990 F250 7.3L...i think that's it, for now.

My uncle added interesting texture features to his wood siding by using shot shells in his .357 going after the squirrels getting into his attic. And didn't think twice about reloading and doing it the next day. And apparently that's not that odd in central Maine.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

LOL...only in San Fran

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine