bam_bam_dip said:
Really officer, I was only helping the sheep through the fence.
Enough of the deliverance/brokeback mtn. stuff. Back to the task at hand. I now have in my possession, 1 med. sized live trap. Setup begins at dusk. Should I use face paint for this? Or should I give them the Carl the greenskeeper version of the Jedi mind trick? "nuttin' going on here, move along."
OK, first off, squirrels are not nocternal--they go into their nests at dusk just like most humans--so night-time trapping won't catch them (rats, skunks, raccoons, and other rodents, yes!).
Second, if you're going to use a live trap, you really need somebody to be around to deal with the trap shortly after you catch one--a squirrel will rub it's head until it's bloody trying to get out of the trap. I have done squirrel relocation a few times, and I usually set the trap early in the morning so I could drop the critter off several miles away on my way to work. If you can't move them right away, put a blanket or cardboard box over the entire trap so it's dark inside--this will simulate nighttime and will calm down the critter.
Third, if you're going to relocate them somewhere (check local laws regarding this), make sure it's at least 3 or 4 miles away so they don't return.
Fourth, for bait, use peanut butter on one side of a cracker or piece of bread, and place this
peanut-butter-side-down right on the trip plate--squirrels are pretty smart and this method of baiting the trap has worked well for the professionals.
Fifth, don't be surprised if you catch a few birds.
Sixth, if it's legal in your area to kill the rodents, the easiest way is to place the entire live trap into a garbage can filled with water, for at least 5 minutes--use a bungee cord on the trap doors to keep them closed. I hate killing critters, but I had to do this a number of times when I caught a rat in the trap (by leaving it set at night)--no way am I going to let a dirty rat live--they keep digging underneath my foundation and getting into my house, the @@#$$%^^&*() critters!
Oh, and seventh, don't be surprised if you need to use the large-sized trap that has the trip plate way at the end opposite of the door some 18" or 24" away--many of the super-smart squirrels that I was dealing with were large enough that they used their tail to hold the door open so when they tripped the trap, they could back out of the trap at super-sonic speed (seriously, in less than 1/2 second) and be completely out before the door locked shut. I finally gave up on my medium-sized trap with the trip plate in the middle and doors on each end, and borrowed the large one (described above) from my neighbor, to catch the really smart ones.
OK, we return you now to your previously unscheduled bad jokes . . .