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nafex - Re: [nafex] Relocating squirrels

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  • From: sherwin <sherwindu@att.net>
  • To: nafex mailing list at ibiblio <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [nafex] Relocating squirrels
  • Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:24:55 -0500

On 8/15/2012 6:50 PM, Louis Pittman wrote:
Squirrels are not an endangered species. Please don't 'relocate' problem
wildlife:

1. It's ineffective - another squirrel(and another, and another) will take
the relocated animal's place
2. It's often inhumane - either for the relocated animal or the existing
population you release them into
3. It's biologically - consider the potential for introduction of
disease/parasites into the population you release into.
4. You may just be dumping your problem on another person.

Shoot or trap and terminate.

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 5:31 PM, Spidra Webster <spidra@gmail.com> wrote:

I disagree about relocation being ineffective. I have been removing squirrels for many
years using HaveAHeart traps. At the beginning of the season, I trap close to a dozen.
Then, they stop appearing. Although squirrels are territorial, it takes time for them to
move back into my neighborhood. Since I started trapping, I see less and less numbers
at the beginning of the season. I think trapping is an effiective way to control squirrels,
at least in my suburban neighborhood.

As for disposal, several people I know drown these critters by immersing the cages in a
barrel of water. I personally cannot get myself to do this, although I don't have compunctions
about setting a mouse trap. I remove the squirrels to nearby forest preserves. Some of these
are only a mile or two away, but they need to pass through several neighborhoods to return
to my yard. Because my traps start to go empty after a while, I feel they are not returning.
For trapping, I got a permit from my County Office. Disposal is another matter, as most
Forest Preserves have signs disallowing that. I try to do it as quietly as possible.

I feel it is more humane to give the squirrel another chance in a new location than killing
them on the spot. Now as concerns the two pit bulls next door to me, that is another story.

Sherwin D.




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