What kind of squirrels live in Berkeley, CA? A genius one in my yard, for sure!

[Muse]

bwahahaha. That squirrel is totally out-thinking you at every step.

We'll see. I haven't given up.

Latest: I left a long stick inside the long trap, about 16" long, a piece of redwood lath. I figured it was too heavy for the SQ to remove. I put a dab of PNB every two inches leading to the trip plate, which had an extra large dab on it. Sure to work, right? For a day and a half, nothing, then this morning the stick was gone. Looking around I found it 5 feet up in the same tree I took the photos in.

OK, this is war. Next chapter begins now (chapter 6?). I put a stick in the trap that can't be removed. It's wired to the bottom of the trap. :twisted: I'm going to bait it the same way and figure this time the SQ will follow the trail to its entrapment and earn a free escort to the giant park in the hills. If that doesn't work I have to think the creature has actually figured out that there's a trip mechanism at the back of the trap. It did once trip the gate and somehow got out, so who knows.... Different animals have different levels and types of intelligence. Wikipedia says squirrels stash things for the winter but generally forget where. They find some, don't find others. Chimpanzees can glance at a TV screen with 20 pieces of information for a second or two and later get rewarded with bananas for remembering them. Humans can't remember more than 3-4. This does seem to be an exceptionally intelligent squirrel, though. However, I'm persistent.

 

[zinfamous]

We'll see. I haven't given up.

Latest: I left a long stick inside the long trap, about 16" long, a piece of redwood lath. I figured it was too heavy for the SQ to remove. I put a dab of PNB every two inches leading to the trip plate, which had an extra large dab on it. Sure to work, right? For a day and a half, nothing, then this morning the stick was gone. Looking around I found it 5 feet up in the same tree I took the photos in.

OK, this is war. Next chapter begins now (chapter 6?). I put a stick in the trap that can't be removed. It's wired to the bottom of the trap. :twisted: I'm going to bait it the same way and figure this time the SQ will follow the trail to its entrapment and earn a free escort to the giant park in the hills. If that doesn't work I have to think the creature has actually figured out that there's a trip mechanism at the back of the trap. It did once trip the gate and somehow got out, so who knows.... Different animals have different levels and types of intelligence. Wikipedia says squirrels stash things for the winter but generally forget where. They find some, don't find others. Chimpanzees can glance at a TV screen with 20 pieces of information for a second or two and later get rewarded with bananas for remembering them. Humans can't remember more than 3-4. This does seem to be an exceptionally intelligent squirrel, though. However, I'm persistent.

don't be too cocky. Squirrels are crafty bastards. Like velociraptors, "They remember..."

http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obstacle-course.html

it's not for nothing that rodents were the first mammals, surviving the Jurassic extinction and giving rise to all others.

 

[Muse]

Latest: The SQ does indeed seem to realize it's not smart to go too far into the trap. It ate the trail of bait but stopped before getting to the trip plate. Astounding! It knows!

 

[lxskllr]

You know, somehow it's gonna be YOU that gets stuck in the trap, and it'll be the squirrel's doing :^D

 

[Muse]

You know, somehow it's gonna be YOU that gets stuck in the trap, and it'll be the squirrel's doing :^D

Nope. But I may not get it trapped, I'm not too sure now.

 

[alkemyst]

The squirrels at my community college teamed together to open the snack machine and loot it. Three squirrels or more would work on holding the door open for the first team to go in, then control the flaps so the snacks could get to the bottom.

Another team of squirrels would move the loot to spots in the trees.

Once the college staff started taking their tree loot, they started burying it. That was also a very coordinated effort. One squirrel would hide with the package. A few others would dig a hole. Then the bag holder would drop it in and they'd all bury it.

It was never fully buried though . You had little bag mounds all inside the little garden area between the buildings.

It was an interesting study as a Zoology major at the time. My physics teacher used to feed them in his office until one attacked him and bit his lip. It was a mess for the squirrels, but totally his fault for putting treats in his mouth for them to take. The squirrel probably head assploded and didn't know to fight, eat or run.

 

[lxskllr]

Nope. But I may not get it trapped, I'm not too sure now.

Oh, you're confident now, but I'll be patiently waiting for your post asking how to remove a cage trap your head :^D

 

[Muse]

Oh, you're confident now, but I'll be patiently waiting for your post asking how to remove a cage trap your head :^D

You'll be waiting a long time.

 

[Muse]

don't be too cocky. Squirrels are crafty bastards. Like velociraptors, "They remember..."

http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obstacle-course.html

it's not for nothing that rodents were the first mammals, surviving the Jurassic extinction and giving rise to all others.

I thought they were idiots because they kept hitting my rat traps, again and again and again. Bang on the head, and they'd just keep hitting them. This is a totally different story.

That's quite a video. I can't get it maximized, unfortunately.

 

[sandorski]

Commie liberal pinko hippie squirrels. Shoot on sight.

this

 

[Vonkhan]

dude, u're making us humans look bad

 

[Muse]

dude, u're making us humans look bad

Why? What did I do that was so bad? Did I torture 1000 people to death? D:

Sorry, wish I could do better. I'm open to suggestions.

I will say this: My crop this year is the biggest ever by far. I have perfected growing methods, use a ton of compost (a "ton" is an exaggeration, of course), have developed a method to prevent birds and slugs from eating the seedlings, plant over 150 seeds! I grew over 20 lb. out of a galvanized tub less than 3' across (double the tub crop from last year). The tub's on casters, so I could drag it over the concrete courtyard to the sunnier side during the day until the plants got big enough where this was no longer possible. The SQ got the biggest Japanese pumpkin out of that tub, almost 3 lb. It didn't touch the one orange pumpkin grown this year (a solo orange, ~4 lb., a volunteer, also grown out of that tub).

Then there's the 6x10' plot, which has grown over 80 lb., maybe over 100 lb. of Japanese (kabocha) pumpkins, >60 lb. of which are inaccessible to the SQ, being suspended well above the ground. The critter isn't able to climb the bamboo trellises I've constructed. So, I still have the biggest crop ever for me, SQ notwithstanding. In fact, I'm having some problems finding space in my house for the pumpkins, and I figure over half the crop's still hanging out there! They need a cool, dry, well ventilated place. I actually cooked the last of last year's crop just a week ago! I had the last two sitting in the fridge. I have delicious Japanese pumpkins (Kabochas, they taste like acorn squash, are orange/red and sweet) year round from my garden.

 

[Muse]

don't be too cocky. Squirrels are crafty bastards. Like velociraptors, "They remember..."

http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obstacle-course.html

it's not for nothing that rodents were the first mammals, surviving the Jurassic extinction and giving rise to all others.

I can't get that to show full screen, but I found the same video at Youtube, which does work full screen for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6bnLQaQwxA

 

[Muse]

Commie liberal pinko hippie squirrels. Shoot on sight.

Well, I finally got this squirrel today. I saw him near the top of one of my big old plum trees and he was chirping like a bastard, don't know why. I don't have any kind of gun or way to attack the bastard. He (I'm assuming a male here, but I have no evidence at all), ate about 15% of my squash crop this year (similar to last year). When he started downing and chomping them in earnest around a week ago I started harvesting every squash I thought he could get at and as each day passed to the next I discovered that this squirrel was very determined. He managed to get at squash I thought were immune. I brought the rest down, although it would really have been better to leave them on the vines to mature more fully. He ate or destroyed around 15 lb. of my squash.

Well, today he got caught in my squirrel trap (see photo of trap in post #53 above, along with photos I took of this mammal last year, in post #47). I had the impression he knew how to get out, but this time he couldn't, the magnetic latches were locked tight and he was frantic trying to get out. I wrapped the cage in a blanket to quiet him and put it in my car. I made some preparations and then drove him up into the hills into a park and let him out there. You wouldn't believe how fast a squirrel can run if it thinks its life depends on it. That fucker scampered about 20 feet in one second and was gone.

 

[lxskllr]

Congratulations! I wonder if squirrels have homing technology. He might be back in a few weeks :^D

 

[DCal430]

Inject some of the squash with a toxin, make sure you mark which ones have been poisoned. The squirrels will never eat your squash again.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Nice to bring this topic back . Earlier this summer I was sitting on deck steps with oldest grandchild and a large gray was running around . The child said why won't he come to me . I looked at him and said its trust . So I went in house got some peanuts . I put one on the barrel were I gather their walnuts in the fall . I layed 1 peanut on the lid. and proceeded to place 1 every 2 feet back to the steps . Me and the child sat there talking and a while latter the gray went to the barrel and took the peanot than he opened the lid as he does every fall . but it was bare inside . He spotted the next peanut and soon he gather them all . At that time i held 1 in my hand and told the child to be still and quiet . soon enough the gray came over and took the peanot from my palm . The child was amazed . Than he asked if he could pet it . I said no . I said even tho he wouldn't bite that hard it could be sick so not to touch them . But he does enjoy going out when he sees the gray and sitting on steps with peanut in palm feeding the gray . We had a discussion about trust but thats for another time . He has never tried to pet the gray the child listens well.

 

[pyonir]

Not bad...only took you a year. :awe:

 

[The Boston Dangler]

he'll be back

 

[Red Squirrel]

Squirrels are fun. I remember taming them when I used to camp a lot more. They'd come eat from my hand or sit on my shoulder and stuff, was pretty cool. This one squirrel did not know what peanuts were, I had to open it then he finally ate it. Or maybe he was just lazy and wanted me to open it for him lol.

I got to see one this year in my yard, but only that one time and that's it. I'd have to setup a feeder. There a chipmunk too, I see him around my deck every now and then. I just hope his home is not under there because I have to tear that deck out soon.

 

[alkemyst]

Well, I finally got this squirrel today. I saw him near the top of one of my big old plum trees and he was chirping like a bastard, don't know why. I don't have any kind of gun or way to attack the bastard. He (I'm assuming a male here, but I have no evidence at all), ate about 15% of my squash crop this year (similar to last year). When he started downing and chomping them in earnest around a week ago I started harvesting every squash I thought he could get at and as each day passed to the next I discovered that this squirrel was very determined. He managed to get at squash I thought were immune. I brought the rest down, although it would really have been better to leave them on the vines to mature more fully. He ate or destroyed around 15 lb. of my squash.

Well, today he got caught in my squirrel trap (see photo of trap in post #53 above, along with photos I took of this mammal last year, in post #47). I had the impression he knew how to get out, but this time he couldn't, the magnetic latches were locked tight and he was frantic trying to get out. I wrapped the cage in a blanket to quiet him and put it in my car. I made some preparations and then drove him up into the hills into a park and let him out there. You wouldn't believe how fast a squirrel can run if it thinks its life depends on it. That fucker scampered about 20 feet in one second and was gone.

Nice you didn't take the AT approach and torture/kill the little bastard.

Profit for being the bigger man/squirrel

 

[Muse]

Congratulations! I wonder if squirrels have homing technology. He might be back in a few weeks :^D

Well, I did research that around a year ago and some people said to take it at least 10 miles away. I wasn't feeling inclined to be that conservative yesterday. I had planned to go up into the Berkeley hills to Tilden Park, and that's as far as I took the critter, probably over 5 miles as the crow flies from my house.

Now, I'm thinking that 10 miles might be the idea if the area between is wooded or natural, but in this case over 1/2 of it is just plain city and I think the odds that this squirrel can traverse it without getting run over aren't really high. It might return and in truth I have no way of knowing if a squirrel I'll encounter in my yard next year chomping my kabochas is the same one I just banished to the park. However, I kind of doubt it will find its way back here. That park is probably not a bad habitat for a squirrel. I've seen squirrels in that park, and where I put it was close to a picnic area and I have to think the creature will not feel that food is far away. If I find myself trapping another squirrel next year, I will remove it double digit miles away and where the prevailing winds blow in my direction.

 

[Modelworks]

My cats had something pink in the yard the other day. I looked and they had a squirrel, had removed the head and it was mostly skinned except the tail. Squirrels don't last long around them !

 

[Muse]

Inject some of the squash with a toxin, make sure you mark which ones have been poisoned. The squirrels will never eat your squash again.

I did much contemplate this approach. Thing is, I didn't know what to use. I don't want to torture an animal. I wouldn't have minded killing this one if I was pretty sure it wouldn't suffer. I heard about squirrel bonbons, which are I believe a 50-50 combination of peanut butter and plaster of paris. I would have done that if I thought it wouldn't cause the animal a lot of pain. Maybe it wouldn't, but I suspect it would.

 

[Modelworks]

It was an interesting study as a Zoology major at the time.

I watched out my back door as a squirrel was on top of a telephone pole running back and forth long the power line. A mocking bird was attacking him and so he ran halfway down the pole and the bird attacked again and he ran back up the pole. This went on for about 10 minutes until the squirrel ran down the pole and into the woods. The bird then took his spot and sat on the top of the pole. About 5 minutes later 4 squirrels came out of the woods and ran up the pole and attacked the bird, taking his spot. The bird tried to fend them off then gave up. Greatest example of capture the flag I ever saw !