Trapping squirrels.

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Trapping squirrels.
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misty07

Joined: 22 Jan 2010
Posts: 2223
Location: swindon wiltshire

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 10 8:21 pm Post subject:
i will kill anything not native to this country animal wise of course but i dont own no traps so im out of luck i may get a mates air gun to do a few squirels soon though

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 10:36 am Post subject:

Hello All,

I've just joined the site, prompted, in the main, by the 'accidental' discovery of this Thread from last year about grey squirrels, whilst searching for something else.

As an accomplished airgun shooter and owner of several high-powered rifles in various calibres, I would nevertheless always advocate the use of a trap as the first means of control - especially in urban areas. The Canadian manufactured 'Kania' trap works on the mouse-trap principle and is the most effective and humane trap currently available, in my opinion. It was designed specifically for Grey Squirrels and causes death by a broken neck, in 99.9% of cases.

In the last 2 years, I have successfully used a Kania to trap almost 200 Greys from my mother's small back garden, the bottom of which are the remnants of an ancient oak woodland. Over the years, most of the trees have suffered extensive bark-stripping by Grey Squirrels and are now in a very sorry state as a result - most look to have only a few years of life left, such is the extent of the damage.

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 10:49 am Post subject:

Continued...

This, in one small 'pocket' of what is largely an urban area. The annual 'ransacking' of songbird nests, (Magpies aren't the only culprits) was also a factor which made me realise that something had to be done. The 'bait' used during all of this time has been crunchy peanut butter - grey squirrels find it hard to resist - and in all cases, the dead squirrels have been disposed of in the wood below the garden boundary. Foxes have lived there for many years and usually, within 24 hours, they claim the carcass.

Whilst trapping Grey Squirrels in this manner has made me unpopular with certain members of my family, I feel no remorse given the benefit to this small, remaining ancient woodland 'ecosystem', in which Red Squirrels were last seen by myself in about 1971.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 12:01 pm Post subject:
Can you recommend a UK supplier?

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 1:44 pm Post subject:

Yes, Brownbear, I can.

These traps are only imported into the UK by two companies, one in Plymouth, I believe and the other in West Yorkshire, fairly close to where I live. That company is 'Kill Germ' in Osset (near Wakefield) Their website is www.killgerm.com

Demand was so strong two years ago, that I had to wait nearly 9 months to get one! Cost then was about £45 and I collected mine in person. I have just checked their website and they are listed as 'Kania 2000 Spring Trap'.

If you do decide to get one and would like any advice on its most effective use, please don't hesitate to ask.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 2:19 pm Post subject:
I might give one a try. I usually use either cage traps or Fenn no. 6s in a little tunnel, backed up with shooting them if there are loads. Shooting is not the most effective way, but if it's a nice morning and there's nothing else on, head-shooting squirrels at 100m is a great way to keep one's marksmanship sharp.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45472
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 3:46 pm Post subject:

grey squizzers are tasty

good baits include peanut butter as above ,air dried ham ,mushrooms ,sesame biscuits /oil etc etc ,they will show interest in fresh meat/blood

shooting is time consuming but a challenge

they can be bamboozeled into a fall if chased from tree to tree (on the floor, unless you are very agile )

tunnel/box traps protect birds ,live catch allows collateral to be set free but a chunky fenn will do the job

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45472
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 3:59 pm Post subject:
if one baits for squizzers one may well get rats but that is a bonus if less appealing on a plate

Colin & Jan

Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 203
Location: Dover, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 7:54 pm Post subject:
One of the best baits and method I have found is to superglue some maize kernels to the plate of a fenn trap. Cyrils just can't seem to resist them. Colin

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 8:31 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

if one baits for squizzers one may well get rats but that is a bonus if less appealing on a plate

Yes, indeed....I've had a few myself, even though the Kania trap is set up to hang vertically from a tree trunk, about 6 feet from the ground. Prior to this, I'd never realised that rats were such good climbers!

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 8:41 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

I might give one a try. I usually use either cage traps or Fenn no. 6s in a little tunnel, backed up with shooting them if there are loads. Shooting is not the most effective way, but if it's a nice morning and there's nothing else on, head-shooting squirrels at 100m is a great way to keep one's marksmanship sharp.

Yes, I imagine it certainly would. Presumably that's by means o a .22 rimfire? I'm anticipating a bit of shooting myself soon, in some woodland which my brother owns. The resident greys there are quite shy but as I'm 'air power' only, FAC air rifle out to around 40 yards will be the order of the day.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 11 8:43 pm Post subject:

Vincenzo wrote:

Presumably that's by means o a .22 rimfire?

.17HMR. Lovely bit of kit.

Vincenzo

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Posts: 6

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 11 11:43 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

Vincenzo wrote:

Presumably that's by means o a .22 rimfire?

.17HMR. Lovely bit of kit.

Ah yes, of course. I guess that tiny bullet will only just be 'warming up' at 100m!

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 11 1:32 pm Post subject:
On safety grounds, I'd rather take a shot at a squirrel in a tree with a powerful air rifle rather than with a rifle.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 11 2:21 pm Post subject:

Bodger wrote:

On safety grounds, I'd rather take a shot at a squirrel in a tree with a powerful air rifle rather than with a rifle.

I'd use a shotgun if they were in trees. The rifle is for when they are on the ground.

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