pest control usa

How to Control Your Grey Squirrel Problem

Grey squirrels were introduced into the UK from the USA during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. As its name implies this species of squirrel is grey in colour, and weighs approximately 450-650g.

Squirrels have three of four litters per year, with each litter producing an average three infants. They reach maturity in approximately 10 months and their average life span is 2 years.

Grey squirrels are part granivore and part omnivore. Common vegetation eaten by the grey squirrel includes acorns, flowers, tree shoots, nuts etc. aswell as fruits, roots and cereals. They also cause damage to trees by stripping off the bark and feeds off the sappy tissue beneath. Occasionally grey squirrels will feed on insects and bird eggs and they eat approximately 50 grams a day.

Control

The grey squirrel is a serious pest problem and control is necessary. They cause damage to trees by stripping the bark off them. They damage parks and gardens (by eating away at flower beds etc), and in urban areas they are often found damaging roof timbers, electrical wiring and plumbing after gaining access to the loft spaces.

Control methods include shooting, trapping by using cages and spring traps or the use of poisons. The use of poisons is strictly by professional use only and licenses are required under the Grey Squirrel (Warfarin) Order 1973.

Squirrel cage traps and squirrel traps designed to kill on impact are somewhat easy to set. Single or multi catch cage traps are readily available for grey squirrels. When using the single cage traps outdoors, one unit should be effective for up to one hectare, and spaced around 100 metres apart from another. If using a multi-catch cage trap, one unit is suitable for three hectares and should be spaced 200 metres apart.

The best position for cage traps is under trees which are known to be used by the pest or in hedges. Ideally the ground should be clear of vegetation,

Pre-baiting of the cage traps is essential to the successfulness of the programme. Maize is a good attractant and it should be placed inside the trap for five continuous days. The trap needs to be visited twice a day and users should expect immediate success after a couple of days of pre-baiting. Cages can also be used in roof spaces etc in the same manner.

Once grey squirrels are caught in cages, they should be immediately humanely destroyed. One method is by running the squirrel into a sack and striking it with a sharp blow to the head.

Help with a feral cat colony?

Location, Va. USA.
I have a neighbor that feeds a colony of feral cats. The “herd” ranges in size from 30 to 15 cats. They cause a multitude of problems for me, and the colony carries feline leukemia. What can I do to rid myself of these pests? The local animal control will do nothing, they call them roaming animals. I will not do anything illegal, maybe immoral or unethical, but not illegal.
The people that feed them told two other neighbors about the feline leukemia. I do understand that it is not transmitted to humans. I have spoke to them, they claim the cats are not theirs, that they just eat there cats’ food.(w/e) I am allergic to cats, to the point that on some mornings it causes me to vomit, going to my vehicle. They defecate in my yard. I can not leave the top off my jeep unattended, because they will urinate in it and shred cloth items. They drive my dogs nuts, barking. So far my dogs have killed 8.

Your plight is one that never ceases to amaze me. I dont understand these so called”animal lovers” who believe by feeding these wild creatures that they are somehow doing a great deed, esp when you declare that they are disease ridden. Unfort i dont think there is an awful lot that you can do, as once these animals get any whiff of food they are likely to stay around for a while to come. Have you spoken to said neighbour and explained that their action is not sensible and steer her/him on maybe getting animals caught and delivered to the animal control centre to be humanely put down. It could possibly give the neighbour a new purpose, and diminish numbers, giving you a bit more respectable life.
good luck

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