I hate squirrels

[nageov3t]

so, I think I've got a squirrel problem.

between christmas and new year's, the garbage outside my apartment grew a bit, since I missed a couple pick-up days... we had to resort to using the one can that we have that doesn't have a lid on it, and I think the smell over the week caught the attention of the local squirrels.

now, even though the can is back to sitting there empty and unused, they won't leave our fricken garbage alone. every morning when I go out the back door on my way to work, I see 2-3 squirrels go running away.

I didn't know what they were doing at first, since the 2 garbage cans in use have sealed lids on them (we've got the cans where you push the handles up and it locks the lids down, so they don't get blown away), but when I went out there this morning, I saw that they chewed a hole through the garbage lid :Q wtf! I covered the hole with some duct tape, but it was torn to shreds by the time I came home for my lunch break.

anyone have any suggestions? I guess I've got to go out tomorrow and hope that home depot sells metal garbage cans, but what can I do to keep them away forever?

 

[Farang]

Squirrels are tasty.

Actually they're not and I don't recommend eating them.. chipmunk chilidogs are only tasty because the flavor is mostly masked.

 

[Iron Woode]

at least they weren't running around inside of your house, like what happened to me.

 

[pyonir]

My dad has a running feud with the squirrels in my neighborhood. He feeds the birds sunflower seeds and the like...and squirrels have managed to outsmart him most times (as of now, he is winning though). I tell him the squirrels around the house look like small cats...well fed.

Anyway, the only thing that will work for you is metal garbage cans AFAIK.

 

[Pocatello]

It's illegal to kill them in the burb, but they are annoying little critters.

 

[OdiN]

ANd the yfucking hate yout too!

 

[Cabages]

I was actually going to catch one and let it live in my house (that is, once i have a house). Just let it grow used to me, hopefully keep it as a pet.

I like em

 

[altonb1]

Slingshot/BB Gun FTW?

 

[nageov3t]

of course, does anyone even sell metal garbage cans anymore?

I can't seem to find any on homedepot or google at large except stainless steel indoor/kitchen garbage cans.

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: Farang
Squirrels are tasty.

Actually they're not and I don't recommend eating them.. chipmunk chilidogs are only tasty because the flavor is mostly masked.

A recipe for the OP
Squirrel melts

 

[jagec]

Man OP, every time I see your sig I SWEAR I posted something just like that in a thread way back when. Now I'm all paranoid that I may have been inadvertently plagarizing.

Do this.

 

[Brainonska511]

You could spray the garbage pails with something like ammonia or hot red pepper. The scents should drive them away.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: jagec
Man OP, every time I see your sig I SWEAR I posted something just like that in a thread way back when. Now I'm all paranoid that I may have been inadvertently plagarizing.

Do this.

I stole it from a world of warcraft forum post.

where that power got it from, I don't know.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Cabages
I was actually going to catch one and let it live in my house (that is, once i have a house). Just let it grow used to me, hopefully keep it as a pet.

I like em

one time i parked in the street near one of my favorite restaurants. i looked across the yard to the house i parked in front of. inside the window was sitting a squirrel. i thought it was just a statue but then it moved and left. about 20 seconds later a cat came by and perched in the window.

not really sure what was going on, normally squirrels don't go into the living areas.

 

[marvdmartian]

Yes, they still sell metal cans, though not sure if you'll find them at HD or Lowes. Might have to hit up one of your local "mom & pop" hardware stores to find 'em.
We have an Atwoods store (based out of Oklahoma, mostly there and here in Texas, if I remember right) that sells them.

 

[DrPizza]

You suspect it was squirrels that chewed through the lid to get to the garbage? More likely: rats.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: Cabages
I was actually going to catch one and let it live in my house (that is, once i have a house). Just let it grow used to me, hopefully keep it as a pet.

I like em

You're insane. You can't even let a ferret run lose/unattended in a house or you'll be trying to to get it out of your sub woofer or wonder if it's in the couch or ceiling this time. Ferrets don't chew hoes well, squires do. At the very least you will have to cage it 95% of the time.

Then there is the fact it's a wild animal, you will have to raise one from a pup for it to be comfortable in a house. Even then it's still a wild animal.

Then there are the diseases and parasites they carry that you will have to deal with if you "acquire" a wild squirrels.


@OP

If you don't mind killing them, get a pellet gun and shoot them all, shouldn't be any left that know your garbage once contained tasty food. If you can't use a pellet gun then try and get the old toxic anti freeze. This stuff tastes sweet and does not evaporate, so you put a small container of the stuff out (out of reach of cats and dogs) and problem solved. The new anti freeze in my area is all non toxic, so i don't know if you can get it.

Metal container otherwise, they will easily chew through any wood or plastic, and i doubt the effectiveness of repellents.

Personally, i shoot them if they come within 30 ft of the house, other wise i'd hear the scurrying around in the rafters.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: altonb1
Slingshot/BB Gun FTW?

:thumbsup:

Or a blowgun with sleeping darts?

 

[Jhill]

Keep this video handy for when you do catch him.

 

[TheShiz]

they are among the few that have survived the explosion of mankind. give them a break.

 

[judasmachine]

get a dog. i recommend a carolina swamp dog.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: pyonir
My dad has a running feud with the squirrels in my neighborhood. He feeds the birds sunflower seeds and the like...and squirrels have managed to outsmart him most times (as of now, he is winning though). I tell him the squirrels around the house look like small cats...well fed.

Anyway, the only thing that will work for you is metal garbage cans AFAIK.

Tell your dad that the reason he has a squirrel problem is because he is an idiot. The bird feed attracts the squirrels. At our old house, the neighbor insisted on keeping bird feed outside, and becuase of it we had squirrels in our attic every year. Each time we closed the hole they make, the next year they just get in through somewhere else. Once the squirrels make a "home" somewhere, they will keep coming back every year. Annoying little fuckers.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: pyonir
My dad has a running feud with the squirrels in my neighborhood. He feeds the birds sunflower seeds and the like...and squirrels have managed to outsmart him most times (as of now, he is winning though). I tell him the squirrels around the house look like small cats...well fed.

Anyway, the only thing that will work for you is metal garbage cans AFAIK.

Easy fix. Get a steel pipe, probably 15 feet in length. You need to embed it into the ground, and then put a baffle on it halfway up. Create an L shape at the top to hang the feeder from, and put another baffle over the top, as a precaution. The squirrels climbing from below can't get around that baffle, and they can't jump from above either because of the upper baffle. Just keep tree branches nearby trimmed back, otherwise they can shortcut. Want a picture?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: pyonir
My dad has a running feud with the squirrels in my neighborhood. He feeds the birds sunflower seeds and the like...and squirrels have managed to outsmart him most times (as of now, he is winning though). I tell him the squirrels around the house look like small cats...well fed.

Anyway, the only thing that will work for you is metal garbage cans AFAIK.

Easy fix. Get a steel pipe, probably 15 feet in length. You need to embed it into the ground, and then put a baffle on it halfway up. Create an L shape at the top to hang the feeder from, and put another baffle over the top, as a precaution. The squirrels climbing from below can't get around that baffle, and they can't jump from above either because of the upper baffle. Just keep tree branches nearby trimmed back, otherwise they can shortcut. Want a picture?

I heard red pepper was a good solution for squirrels in bird houses.

birds can't taste it, but it'll burn the squirrels.

 

[compman25]

Go to an Ace Hardware for metal garbage cans. And it could be racoons that chewed through that lid.