Danged &%$#@+(^$ Critters!

[slugworth]

I have those bug zapper fly swatters my brain is telling me I should use the guts from those to make something for vermin.
Bonus part is, they run off battery so I can go solar.

[karstopography]

It’s very confusing for the rodents. It’s like the humans set out this great fresh buffet and then get irritated that the little creatures naturally come on in and enjoy the bounty.

What I have learned is that if I want to attract rabbits, plant peanuts. The nets keep the rabbits out of the 4’ X 8’ bed, but any peanut plant close enough to the net that can be pulled through is fair game. I have a neatly clipped peanut hedge on the edges of the bed.

A leader among the squirrels has risen up to defy the rain of lead. “White tip” I have coined him by that moniker as his tail has a prominent white tip. He has one eye on the door and one on the garden. I open the door, he’s off like a rocket to the safety of the neighbor’s tract. I’m going to have to slip around through another doir by some other vector to catch him unaware.

[Setec Astronomy]

He has one eye on the door and one on the garden. I open the door, he’s off like a rocket to the safety of the neighbor’s tract. I’m going to have to slip around through another doir by some other vector to catch him unaware.

Window? Upstairs?

[GoDawgs]

The trap hasn't caught a thing. It's been placed inside the enclosure and outside.

What did you bait it with?

A small fresh ear of corn. Anything else gets covered ASAP with fire ants, including peanut butter.

[GoDawgs]

My 1st corn is all chopped up by the squirrel or squirrels, but I made a note NOT to pick the chewed up ones off. And they are continuing to get re-chewed a bit, so it should be saving at least some good ones.

Pickles removed most of the damaged ears and trashed husks, leaving the small ears on the stalks, the ones that will never fully make. But it looks like the squirrels were making good use of what went into the bucket!

[karstopography]

@Setec Astronomy single story mid-century. Windows wrong angle and too far. Garden is out past the garage so windows really don’t face that direction anyway. Only windows that open are jalousie (louver) that interfere with getting a good aim. I’d have to make a 45 meter shot through awkward windows with open sights and with primer only 20 grain .22lr. Ammunition. I’m a pretty good shot, but not that good.

[Setec Astronomy]

@Setec Astronomy single story mid-century. Windows wrong angle and too far. Garden is out past the garage so windows really don’t face that direction anyway. Only windows that open are jalousie (louver) that interfere with getting a good aim. I’d have to make a 45 meter shot through awkward windows with open sights and with primer only 20 grain .22lr. Ammunition. I’m a pretty good shot, but not that good.

What language are you speaking?? I'm from New Jersey. I'm kidding. I was just trying to help.

[JRinPA]

OK I picked my garlic the other day. I was thinking of grinding up those few baddish ones and mixing with the leave ground up and hanging it on garden fencing around the blocks. It would be pain to do, and I rather doubt it would work since they are already in there. But...anyone think garlic stink would keep squirrels out?

[bower]

Rabbit got into one of the grain beds last night and cleared the back corner. Down to the ground and everything eaten, no debris. Full moon classic.
It's this baby rabbit that thinks it feels safe inside of a pen.
Just watching it this summer, I can't help thinking this is how animals got domesticated. Some dumb baby critter thinks your protected veggie patch is a hutch it should live in....
This is the first real damage they've done. I spent my chore hours improving on the enclosures to the grain beds.. I really don't want that eaten. But I also don't want to repeat the rabbit wars. When they get aggressive, you can't keep them out by any means. If this is the beginning of an arms race, I will not be happy.....

[JRinPA]

@karstopography When the raiders are given names names...it's getting bad.

[slugworth]

I tell people it is such a relaxing hobby.

[karstopography]

I had a nightmare last night that the squirrels pulled off every tomato.

There were four squirrels out there yesterday closing in on the tomato patch, but I intercepted them before they could work their way in. Mostly now they quickly get up a tall tree and lay flat out of view until I go back inside. If my son is at home, one of us will work around the other side of the tree and sometimes that flushes out the squirrel. If they run for it, that’s when I have a better shot at a permanent solution. I haven’t lost very many tomatoes lately to the squirrels. More to army worms. Maybe I’m getting 1 out of 2 or 2 out of 3 tomatoes, the critters, worms or whatever, are getting the rest. Any early ripening tomato is an instant candidate for a thorough worm inspection. Fire Ants coming out of the tomato is a very bad indication of something amiss. A deep crack in the fruit that went septic or a worm hole that went into the gel. Still, I’m managing to get some good fruit inside, enough we can’t eat it all ourselves.

[slugworth]

I lost 2 more cherokee carbon to mice bites.
I may never know what they taste like.

[worth1]

Squirrel likes watermelon.
Just about got it to eat out of my hand.
Its at the school I'm working at and I'm only 5 feet away from it.

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[karstopography]

@worth1 looks like a Fox squirrel, those get pretty big. More open woods types. I always heard those were less desirable table fare than the gray squirrels, but that might not be true.

[worth1]

@worth1 looks like a Fox squirrel, those get pretty big. More open woods types. I always heard those were less desirable table fare than the gray squirrels, but that might not be true.

It's this years offspring.
I've literally watched it grow up.
When I was in the Marines one guy had a pet squirrel.
Its little head would stick out of the front pocket of his field jacket during inspections.
He would stand at attention as the Colonel would walk by.
Squirrel looking out.

[Setec Astronomy]

When I was in the Marines one guy had a pet squirrel.
Its little head would stick out of the front pocket of his field jacket during inspections.

I'm sure you had to endure worse in the Marines, but the idea of a pocketful of squirrel turds doesn't appeal to me.

[worth1]

When I was in the Marines one guy had a pet squirrel.
Its little head would stick out of the front pocket of his field jacket during inspections.

I'm sure you had to endure worse in the Marines, but the idea of a pocketful of squirrel turds doesn't appeal to me.

Well it wasn't my squirrel so I didn't have to put up with it.
All of our Squad Bays were infested with rats and mice to boot.
Not likely you could get rid of them because all the windows were opened because we didn't have air-conditioning.
No screens either.

[Tormahto]

The first of my corn should be ripe about July 25th, which means the raccoons will likely arrive on the 24th.

[Amateurinawe]

@slugworth I can tell you, mice don't taste nice, unless you are a cat.