Subject: I hate squirrels
I live in Indianapolis not too far from downtown. I was spending a lot of money and time landscaping my yard only to have many plants eaten down to nothing by these hairy rats. In one day, they ate $62 worth of newly planted flowers. I called animal control and they referred me to the county, who referred me to the state, who referred me to the U.S. government! Said it was up to me to trap and relocate them at my expense.
My neighbors down the block feed and encourage them and they were breeding like rats and already had got into my neighbors attic and caused all sorts of damage. I would have as many as three or four at a time invading my property, eating everything in site, digging up my yard, crawling all over the roof, and even eating bird eggs and killing young birds in their nests.
This year I “fixed” the problem. I caught and trapped three who were put out of their miserable lives, and eliminated another five with a newly purchased pellet rifle that is legal in the city limits. Now I have a beautiful yard that birds and butterflies visit, with flowers blooming and no rats running loose.
I seldom see them as often now, because they’re dead! But when I do, I make a sincere effort to go after them and they know they’re not welcome here. FYI: these rats have thick skin so if you opt for the final solution, get a pellet rifle with at least 800 fps. 1000 fps is better and use hunting tips. My yard has a 6-foot wood fence and I am of course very careful. They are also fun to shoot in the basement and easy to use. I’ve never had a bad experience with mine. I sited mine in at about 40 feet and have made some pretty shots right out of the trees! Cost you about $100 and well worth it. Good Hunting!
Kill ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out!
— Victor in Indianapolis
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WAY TO GO, VICTOR!
Im with you. You can get these great pellets with nylon, sharp, long red tips that puncture first, then the lead expands as they penetrate that are devestating. My Sheridan 20 Caliber pellet gun wasnt giving me enough penetration at 800 fps until I bought those rounds. They are lighter, fly faster, and work great, found them online at some pellet gun site. They come in 17 cal, 20 cal and 22 caliber. I finally figured out how to keep them from eating the birdfood by hanging the feeder 20′ down from the branch, at least 15 feet from the tree, and 15 feet off the ground. I just lower the feeder with the extra wire thrown up over a high branch, then hooked to a nail in the tree. As for bulbs and plants, you have to use 2″ wire mesh on them when you plant so bulb will grow through, and it stops the rodents. Good hunting.