Squirrels burying peanuts in the yard...

We have the same problem - and my allergist says it's no problem. BUT - big qualifier here - he is extremely lax about the allergy, so much so that I switched allergists recently. He says A-OK on the peanut oil even saying I should give it to my PA daughter and has always advised that I take a wait and see attitude before giving the epi-pen. His staff was also trying to get me to just 'go ahead and let' my daughter start school even though they hadn't gotten around to filling out the forms she needed to have her epi pen on site. Stuff like that, very ignorant, in my opinion. I for one am not comfortable about the peanut shells in our yard - after all - couldn't some peanuts be left in the shells - bits and pieces - even if the shell is safe? I would be curious to know what everyone else thinks/has heard.

I don't want to alarm you any more than you already are - I know how overwhelming and scary this allergy can be, especially when you're first getting used to it. But, I do know a little boy who had an anaphylactic reaction after touching a peanut shell that he dug up in his back yard. His mom posted about it here; I'm sure you can find it if you do a search. (It was probably about 2 - 3 years ago.)

I have to admit, though, that with the comfort zone I have now I probably wouldn't freak out too much.

Take care, Miriam

Okay, I've been meaning to raise this question for some time.
My neighbor, right next door to us feeds the squirrels every morning and every evening. I have asked her several times not to do this a [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img] and expained why but, she insists in doing it. She ia a very educated women and a highschool teacher to boot.
Every 2 weeks I go out there and rake the refuse up and have at least 4 bags of shells to haul to the curb.It is not just the pa thing squrrles are destructive and we have had to replace bulbs, flower, eaves and shingles!! This summer we are getting a pool and last summer we had several squirrel deaths in out wading pool! Gross!
So when I was spaeking to her yesterday I mentioned the squirrel deaths and she said it was b/c they were thrirsty! Duh!
She said she'd put a bowl out for them and it should help! No, stop throwing that crap!
Also what do I do when these shells are dropped into the pool? Am I to hope they are not stepped on there for puncturing the lining? Am replacing the roof now only to do it again in 2 years?
They are destuctive little beasts and no matter which way I have put it to her( like she could kill my son doing this)she does not seem to care.
This makes me very angry.I like her she is good neighbor and a nice person. Sounds weird I know. Except for this little problem.
My yard is a wreak b/c of this and no garden going in this year!!
I have tried to feed them first but never succeded! I am hoping to relocate a few this spring. It is not against any law for her to feed them and I'd rather not take it that far as I do have to live with her the rest of my life.
I am fuming! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img]~Jenna

domesticgoddess - I'm in the exact same boat you are - my nieghbour is 90+ and sometimes just keep forgetting about her wee PA neighbours (little boy with PA to the south of her, us with Syd to the north of her). My planter boxes, yard, porch, soil, etc., is always full of peanut shells - Syd gardens with me, but at all times wears her little gardening gloves and gives me a holler when she finds a peanut shell so I can dispose of it. Short of moving to the country, we're stuck dealing with peanuts in their shell... as the squirrels live in the trees by us, but are also bringing peanuts from neighbouring yards back to their nests in the trees near our property & burying them in our yard.

Do you think if you buy a big bag of sunflower seeds and asking neighbour to use them instead of the peanuts, she would?

If that doesn't work, and you are really frightened of the ramifications, rent a trap for a weekend or two and lug those squirrels to the nearest forest.

Cheers, Syd's mom (squirrel trapper at large) [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

I have the same problem. I have found peanut shells in my yard on more than one occasion. My son is 7, and I've shown them to him so he recognizes them and told him never to touch them, but to come get me and I will pick them up and get rid of them. I haven't warned my neighbors because it seems to be an occasional thing and I don't want to make enemies since they put up with my barking dogs without complaint. So I clean it up when I see it.

BUt, I want to add, it's just a few shells. If I had to fill bags of them everyday, I would be fuming. Call the town. Send them a certified letter that you are requesting they cease the activity because of the health risks to your son. If they refuse, you have it on record that you've asked them to quit. Next step, threaten to sue them if they continue to threaten your son's life. Any idiot that puts the feeding of a squirrel over a child deserves a lawsuit. Then, consult a lawyer to see if you can actually sue them.

I wanted to add again-

When you send the certified letter, send one to the neighbor and one to the town both asking for the activity to cease.

Take photographs of the peanuts before you clean them up and date them. Don't discard the bags in the trash, discard them on your neighbor's lawn with more letters. Have witnesses if possible. Begin building a case. If people can sue for slipping on a sidewalk, I see no reason why this shouold be any different.

Home should be the one safe place you can offer to your child. A neighbor has no right to violate that. Anyone who puts the stomach of a squirrel over the health of a child deserves what they get.

I don't have any suggestions to offer, but this exact topic was the plot of an episode of "Yes, Dear" on CBS. Their child has a peanut allergy. The mother found a squirrel and several peanuts buried in her yard. The husband took the squirrel "for a ride" in the car, but the squirrel got out. The rest of the show was about the squirrel in the car.

Anyway, one day we discovered a ton of dirt under the basement foundation where it meets the wood at the ground level (don't know the term for that). There had to be hundreds of peanut shells in there plus some whole peanuts! I took my pa daughter out for the day while my husband cleaned it. It's scary to think how many shells have been buried in our yard. We had a neighbor who fed them years ago (before children), but we had so many squirrels they were destroying everything so he stopped.

Is it legal to kill squirrels? I mean, can you outright kill them on your property (are they a pest or wildlife?) Maybe say to her that when you catch them on your property, especially if they are carrying nuts over, you will *KILL* them to save your child (if it is legal.) Maybe suggest that if she does not want that to happen, she should stop attracting them her yard and giving them the substance that they carry over which could harm/kill your child. *If it's legal*, you could be blunt: It's this nasty rodent or my child - guess which one I'm choosing?
(this from a former vegetarian and still an animal lover. But - you know - squirrel or my child. No contest!!)

.

[This message has been edited by deegann (edited February 09, 2005).]

I too have had this annoying problem for the past 3 years or so. I am so glad for this website where I find others who completely understand!

In my case, I spread the word around my neighborhood about my severe peanut allergy. Things got better for a while and then got bad again. I started having outright panic attacks over the peanut shells everywhere - and the occasional peanut itself. The stinking squirrels would sit in a tree right outside my window and shell the peanuts.

So, I tried trapping them and taking them away (in the trunk of course wrapped in a garbage bag open at the end for air). Well, that just doesn't work - more squirrels always come. I just didn't have the time, money or energy to keep running them 10 miles away. Finally, even though I hate to harm any of God's creatures, I bought a bb gun (rifle style). I don't kill them, I just scare the crap out of them (there are different pump settings to the gun and basically I just sting them). I have had them get in my house before and I really felt it was an issue of my life. Yeah, they are cute but not when they threaten my life. Now, the squirrels run when they see me! If I ever accidentally kill one, I'll just put on disposable gloves (or maybe several pairs!) and wrap them up for the trash. Then pray for forgiveness. I believe that people should only kill for food but I will NEVER eat a squirrel! Would that be a cross-contamination issue?!

Even though I scare them off as often as possible, they are still around and my yard is all dug up by them. I would LOVE to find a way to rid my yard of them. I have seen sonic-repellent devices in catalogs I get but I do not know if they work. If anyone has tried one, please let us know if it works. I would invest in one if I was sure it worked.

Thanks for listening! I don't usually post such long notes but this is a very sore issue with me.

Terri

My daughter considers squirrels her friends because they eat nuts so other people don't have to. LOL She's six and very imaginative.

We had a walnut tree in our yard (I hated to see it chopped down it was so pretty)and the squirrels would come and gather nuts from our yard and take them elsewhere.

okay, the real problem with her feeding them is that run straight to my yard with them! If they stayed in her yard okay, great but thy don't. I have already mentioned the property damaged caused by them.
She feeds everything in the neighborhood and we have huge stray issue as well. I had a cat who pounced on my head from the carseat behind my seat at midnight! This is funny now but, certainly not the night it happened.
We have dogs in our garbage all the time even though my garbage is kept in sealed cans they get in. They are attracted b/c she literally has a house for the animals that has blankets and food!At about 10 every evening you see the cats come trapsing up her laneway and we now jokingly say "oh,it's happy hour at the kitty bar!" She is resoponsible in this aspect b/c her goals are to catch these strays and turn them over after she has had them fixed and gotten them ready herself to find a home.She pays for this with her money and when possible she finds the home herself, if not they are fixed and set free again. Fine.
When it comes to these squirrels though....
she is irresponsible when she feeds them knowing it can cause serious problems for my child and serious cost to us as we must fix the roof and eaves eveytime these critters wreak it!
From my understanding, I can trap them but, can only move them klm from here! Ridiculous!
Not that anyone would know if I've moved them further!! It is illegal to kill them and huge fines would be doled out!!! She is within her rights to feed them and I am not within my rights to protect my child from them and her feeding them!!
We have seriously thought of getting a b.b gun but they would fall in her yard and she would definetly report us!
I really as a person like this women and have to live next to her for all my life and would rather not have to serve her with papers telling her to refrain from something.
It feels wrong somehow. I know she would feel like I do if I did get a refraining order on her!
I don't understand how an educated person can not get this. She knows what this allergy will do and has done to my child she's seen it! But, still does as she pleases just blows me away!
I try not to bring this subject up with her b/c I am not the most diplomatic person and would end up saying and or doing something everyone would regret.
If I were to through corn out in hopes to fend some of this off what kind would I buy?
Like unpopped popping corn kernals? This sounds like something to put together with a trap and hope she notices the numbers dewindling. I do tink she'd say something and then I could just tell her what I was doing and why.Again.
~Jenna

Is getting a dog out of the question?

Wow! I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in this issue. I also don't undertsand why people insist on feeding squirrels. We're already providing the darn things shelter (in our attic). I object to feediing them too!!!

domesticgoddess- I'm dumbstruck by your neighbor's behavior. How can she be so clueless and selfish- especially if she's seen your child have a reaction?? Is feeding squirrels peanuts really that important to her. If you're afraid of losing your temper while speaking with her, perhaps you could write her a letter letting her know your feelings. You're not being unreasonable. You're just trying to keep your child safe. Or- rather than singling her out, you could write a general letter to all your neighbors and hope that "peer pressure" keeps her on the straight and narrow.

Anyway- I think I have an idea whose feeding them in my neighborhood. I'll let you know how it goes on this end.

[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]

e-mom,
Exactly what I was thinking.

We have loads of squirrels in our neighbourhood, just not in our backyard...Thanks to our dog Molson!

No, a dog is not possible. Ds has servere allergy to those.I have been offered a dog to borrow though.
Not sure what I'll do.I'll be pretty upset if pool gets wrecked.Already figured I'd need to clean it often.Doc says chemicals will kill any contamins,from nuts and shells.
I do have the time and energy to "relocate" these beasts and if I work quickly I might just get enough she'll notice!!!

Ok, what about moving to a newly developed subdivision? NO TREES [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]

Would it be possible to take this house with me? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]I really like this house and put alot of blood,sweat and tears in it!
I was asked yesterday by a real estate agent who is selling a home down the street if I was interested in putting mine up.For a profitable price [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]Maybe I'll move!
~Jenna

Goodness, this seems to be a popular topic! I posted essentially the same question a few years ago. We have an elderly neighbor who insists on feeding peanuts to the squirrels. My DH talked to her, explained the situation and asked if she could please switch to some other kind of food. It worked for a couple of months, then she was back to peanuts. I find them everywhere--in our yard, on our porch, buried in the sandbox and windowboxes, shells on the sidewalk, etc. It's not just shells, but whole peanuts when we find the buried ones.

We considered calling animal control or the county health department to report her. Squirrels aren't a problem usually, but generally animal control and health departments frown on feeding wildlife except birds in the winter. Wildlife that starts to rely on people for food are both a problem in residential areas (never mind the allergy issue, but damage to homes, infested attics, etc. are a real problem) and a health hazard (for instance, if the food left for the squirrels was attracting other vermin). So you could try that route and see if it helps.

In our case, we've decided just to put up with it. Now that our DD is five, she's able to understand her allergy. We've taught her Peanut Identification 101, and whenever anyone sees a peanut in the area, we treat it like hazardous waste and make a big deal of removing it. But we don't have problems with the damn squirrels damaging our house (although we did have to do some work to keep them out of the attic), and we usually only see maybe one or two peanuts a day in our yard.

We also had a lovely hurricane come through last fall--it knocked down the huge old oak tree in the front yard and several trees in our neighbor's back yard as well. We're hoping the squirrels leave and find a yard with better housing as a result. If that works, it'll be worth the huge holes in our roof and our broken windows and damaged siding!

Sarah

Sarahfran, you mentioned something that I was thinking of as well: the health issue (ie, rabies) as well as attraction of vermin. In our old house, we also had a problem with a neighbor feeding the squirrels peanuts. This attracted not only the squirrels but also rats, so our condo association asked homeowners not to put out food for squirrels and even birds). Thankfully this ocurred before our daughter was born, so the allergy was not an issue.

Domesticgoddess, you could appeal to your neighbor by mentioning that many feral cats and dogs (as well as squirrels) are potential rabies carriers and that the animals could be sick before showing symptoms. This puts not only her at risk but all the other cats & dogs she cares so much about (it would only take
one sick cat to infect the others). If this doesn't work with her, you could let the local health authorities know about this.

Another avenue are zoning laws. I imagine that your neighborhood is not zoned for an animal shelter, and she is providing a de facto shelter.

I took the new development with no trees route without even thinking that it would be a godsend with regard to peanut allergy.

Just my thoughts.
Colleen

Nutty-mom--

If you have squirrels in your attic, get them out! They burned my aunt's house down by chewing on the wiring in her attic and causing a short.

Yeah, she's within her rights to feed them I've called and this is how I know I can't move these critter's more than a kilometer from where I capture them.
She is also within her rights to catch strays and feed them. Our animal control is pitiful and wouldn't do anything anyway. They would ignore me ans sileently let her her do this so that they can continue to harrass others who are not causing a problem, like my neighbor who had 3 small lap dogs and was forced to get rid of one since it is against the law to have more than 2 dogs per house.
I wish I had the luxury of ignoring the situation but, I can't it is not just 2-3 peanuts it is 3-4 garbage bags a month in my yard.The siding,eaves,and roof are another issue.
I would like to just enjoy my pool this summer and have already told my dh that if(more like when) I do find a dead rodent in my pool I am pitching it over the fence into her yard. I could care less what she thinks as I have warned the other day that I had that problem last year.
GRRRRRR!!!
I will solve this problem!! It's has just mounted over at least 50 years of her feeding them.I wish I could send you all a pick of my pickings!! You'd be amazed.
I'd love to dump these bags on her lawn but then I'd get the criminal charge:Oyeah me.
oh,well it might be worth it.
I'll figure it out and will remain open to suggestions!
~Jenna

.

[This message has been edited by deegann (edited March 15, 2004).]

I have had the exact same problem. Luckily our neighbor, though snitty about it (she slammed the door in my face and dumped my offering of a gift bag of sunflower seeds back on my driveway) she *did* quit feeding the squirrels peanuts. It did take talking to her bluntly twice, mentioning the potential for fatality for my daughter, the second time by my husband.

But, I had resolved that the only course for me would be to poison the squirrels should it continue. I love animals but I love my daughters more. I hate to say it but in your situation I think your hand is forced. Poison the little suckers and lie and deny about it to the very end.

Kay

Sounds like it's time for some letters to local elected officials--town/county council is probably the best place to start. Explain that animal control has been no help in this matter, but that this is clearly a health and safety risk, not just for peanut allergies, but also just for the amount of garbage generated (if it were McDonald's wrappers being strewn on your lawn to the tune of three or four trash bags a month, someone would do something!), and the damage the squirrels do to your house. Tell them you think the law about attracting and feeding wildlife needs to change.

Also check to see if there are any community mediators in your area. I knew a guy who was being trained to do this, and this is exactly the sort of dispute he'd get involved in and help the two parties reconcile the problem. I just don't see how ANY intelligent adult could condone your neighbor's activity when it produces that much garbage and causes that much damage to your house!

Good luck!

Sarah

This thread is intriguing. I have a similiar problem. We live on a corner. We have 17 lovely trees (9 of them blue spruce each about 12 feet tall) on the perimeter of our property. We have mulched them in and manicured our lawn. There is a small rock garden on one corner. Dog owners somehow feel entitled to allow their animals to crap and urinate on our trees and lawn as they pass.

For one thing, you can't pick up dog pi$$. For another, I'm not impressed by people who bag the crap either. Some is still left in the lawn, little green areas pop up. Even if the crap is picked up, it and the urine is still a "calling card" for the rest of dogs to scent our lawn. If they love their pets so much, [i]should use their own lawn[/i]. Period. Get a fence turn the animal loose in their [i]own[/i] backyard.

We like playing in our grass. I've started confronting these persons and instructed them to let their animals defecate and urinate and [i]whatever[/i] else on their [i]own property.[/i] Period.

What is it with people and animals.

I mean, can you imagine if I let my children take a crouch on neighbor's lawns when we went out for an evening stroll? But hey, I could always [b]bag it[/b]. Would that make it ok? [i](sarcasm definitely intended)[/i] Just reading some of the posts here.

Disclaimer: I am not offering advice in any manner or form. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by MommaBear (edited March 03, 2004).]

(Nutty mom) Kim,

I just noticed that you are in Somerville. My inlaws live in Cambridge in a large old home as well. So I know exactly what you are referring to as far as the closeness of homes, trees, etc. They actually have had the squirrels chew [i]through[/i] the wood of the home to get into the soffitt area! I also notice that near those areas (the extremely tall peaks of the home) the neighbors have put up some sort of wire to keep the squirrels from chewing through again.

They also have wire spikes up there as well to keep the darn critters out!

UGH!! You DO have my sympathies!

MB, you crack me up. I agree. Along the same lines, I get really irritated by large, vicious-breed dogs who are not on leashes at parks where young children regularly play. Any mention of putting said dogs on leashes is met with shock and dismay at the thought of robbing them of their natural-born freedom to crap, lunge and roam as they please. *sigh*

MB I am laughing histarically at your idea to have the kids "crouch"!! I too have thought about it many times!!
I thankfully do not have a large front yard.
If my front yard were my backyard I'd have an issue with that too,I'm sure.
I do not like to admit that I have thought about putting posoin down for these squirrels but, I have.
Our city counsil will not even respond to the letter's I have sent and when I do get some on the phone they tell me to call animal control.I do tell them that I have and they basically shrug as it is not against our laws?
As for the 2 dogs per house I do agree with this only if the dogs are large like sheperds or rotwielers.They consider it a pack when it is 3 dogs. As for the lap dogs come on!
I will take my neighbor a bag of sunflower seeds or whatever and ask her again.Maybe my "hinting"wasn't enough!
~Jenna

Man, that dog thing bugs me too! I dont have a dog, therefore my kids should be able to play outside without stepping in dog sh**!!! It makes me sooooo mad when I have to clean it up. Like you said mommabear, do it on your own lawn!

And leash law?? We have neighbors who have a dog that hates kids, in a neighborhood full of kids. Is it EVER on a leash? NO. He actually chases after them. Thankfully its just a small dog, but he chased after my ds once and he now hates dogs. Idiots.

There is a case going on where I live right now where a pit bull was not on a leash and went up the street and attacked and killed a neighbors pomeranian. The dog was ordered to be put down. All the idiots had to do is put it on a leash. They say it wasnt a bad dog but guess what they named it....Cannibal!

Quote:Originally posted by StaceyK:
[b] Any mention of putting said dogs on leashes is met with shock and dismay at the thought of robbing them of their natural-born freedom to crap, lunge and roam as they please. *sigh*[/b]

you forgot copulate. Another reason I always had a fence when I owned an animal. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img] Serves me right for never having my female pooches "fixed". They were such little things, you'd never know. Except for the incessant licking. Oh, [i]yuck[/i].Even I am cringing. Or those forlorn eyes. Maybe even the fact she kept "mothering" stinky dish towels. Or worse......... (possibly some of the females on the board know what I am referring to: hint, bathroom garbage cans.)

...........MommaBear now remembering some of the reasons [i]we no longer have a dog or other "pets"[/i] --- still eyeballing the Hermit Crabs at the local shopping mall, however. Saw one yesterday with a "ladybug" shell. That's one tough looking "ladybug". Close runner up is the "cow shell" or "smiley man".

Quote:Originally posted by momma2boys:
[b]There is a case going on where I live right now where a pit bull was not on a leash and went up the street and attacked and killed a neighbors pomeranian. The dog was ordered to be put down. All the idiots had to do is put it on a leash. They say it wasnt a bad dog but guess what they named it....Cannibal![/b]

My cousin lived on a farm growing up. He had a pet cow. Smallish for a cow, but still several hundred pounds or so. "Baby". That was the name. She had to be euthanized after a neighbor's dog decided to eat her. Or at least half of her. I guess the dog wasn't allowed to eat "his" cows. Either way, made me suspect control of the animal was a possibility, but only when enforced. And I guess that would take some effort.

Quote:Originally posted by domesticgodess:
[b]MB I am laughing histarically at your idea to have the kids "crouch"!! [/b]

people can't figure out why i'm staring at their lawn and laughing my fool head off.

[i]logic can be that way[/i]

ps. i'm putting the entire family on a high fiber diet starting today.

Quote:Originally posted by MommaBear:
[b] you forgot copulate. Another reason I always had a fence when I owned an animal. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img] Serves me right for never having my female pooches "fixed". They were such little things, you'd never know. Except for the incessant licking. Oh, [i]yuck[/i].Even I am cringing. Or those forlorn eyes. Maybe even the fact she kept "mothering" stinky dish towels. Or worse......... (possibly some of the females on the board know what I am referring to: hint, bathroom garbage cans.)
[/b]

Do we [i]even[/i] discuss (yet again) that people [b][i]let[/i][/b] dogs lick their faces!! Eeeeewwwww!! [i]Aawww c'mon here Rover, come give Momma kisses! smooch smooch smooch[/i] YUK!!!!! LOL

my neighbors dog and I have an aggreement....
She does not "kiss" me and I will pet her!!!
When I propposed this she strangley enough knew what I was getting at and except on the rare occasion never "kisses" me!!!
~Jenna

My son and I were in the backyard and my neighbor came out with her bag of peanuts for the squirrels. All of a sudden she yells (she's very dramatic), "Oh my GOD!!! What am I doing? He's allergic to peanuts!" She profusely and at great length apologized and said she wouldn't do it any more. She'd been doing it for quite a while. It wasn't really a lot of peanuts, but I was happy she stopped. She's a real sweetheart. I guess now I can't really complain about her damn backyard pond that attracts all the pigeons to sunbathe and crap all over my roof all summer.

I'd put out poison, just like for rats.

Hello All:

One of my more "entertaining" coworkers has 4 solutions for getting rid of squirrels. The only one that will not land you in jail or the psychiatric ward is to lay down double sided tape on the top of your fence. Then spread pepper all over the tape. As the squirrels run along the fence they get pepper on their paws, which irrates them. Another coworker tried this and apparently is worked. As for the other three solutions, one is to spread hair clippings all over your lawn, two is to spread blood over your lawn and finally the third is to kill a squirrel and hand it upside down in the middle of your lawn. I do not support any of those methods, although it gave the office a good laugh imagining the reactions of the neighbours when doing this [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

regards,

Claudia

We have a squirrel issue-but it is IN our house!! We have an unfinished walk up attic (with a door through the hallway) and my hubby and I heard some "scurrying" up there last fall. We went upstairs one night and discovered that squirrels had gotten into our attic through the dormer vents and left empty nut shells on the attic floor! Those damn squirrels are in my attic and they are bringing in something that can kill our 5 year old little girl!!!!

We then went to buy squirrel traps and the gentleman that works at the animal/feed store told us to use PEANUT BUTTER in the trap to catch them! Yes...PEANUT BUTTER!! How ironic is it that our daughter almost died from that food and now I am supposed to buy it and use it to catch rodents in my attic! I DON'T think so!

My hubby now has to hire a professional because I refuse to use "contraban" to catch those rascals.

Hmmmmm. Hate those squirrels. (I feel like Rosie O'donnel-anyone remember when she discussed her squirrel issue on her show years ago?).

Hate the squirrels.

There is some type of liquid treatment you put around the edge of your yard that is supposed to repell all animals. We were thinking about getting it last year. We had a nest of baby bunnies and my dd is an animal lover. She would look at the babies and check on them all the time. We went out to look and they were gone. The mom must have forgot one it took of running when we went to get in our van and a cat came and killed it right in front of my dd. It was horrible. The cat lived right across the street and would sit under our tree where there was a nest of baby birds just waiting to kill one. I hate that cat. So we looked into that stuff but we have a dog and I didn't want it to bother him. Unfortunately I don't remember what it was called but found several brands. It said it worked for squirels too.

Just wanted to let you all know that I spoke with my neighbor who had been putting out peanuts for the squirrels. She was really nice about it all, saying "Hey if it's between a child and the squirrels, there's no contest." I brought her a bag of sunflowers seeds to say thanks. So, hopefully all's well that ends well. I'm very relieved and glad that she was so kind/understanding about it all. Now I just have to get the shells out of my yard.....

I'm so glad you were able to resolve this, and so easily after all that worry!!

One more thing occurred to me, after reading the post about blood or hair clippings or dead squirrels. You can keep away small animals apparently by having a carnivore urinate around your property (marking the territory, you know!). So feed your husband a big steak dinner with a lot of beer, then send him outside to pee around the property after it's dark! Supposedly works on deer, too. ;-)

Sarah

Here's a web site for the ultrasonic critter repeller. It may not work for you if you have pets. I'm thinking of getting one for for our yard.

[url="http://www.outsidepride.com/yardgard.asp"]http://www.outsidepride.com/yardgard.asp[/url]

Simply re-raising

I was fascinated by this thread. It has so many classic conflicts - border disputes, man v. animal, old folks v. young folks. And the solutions are so interesting I can't wait to try some on my own squirrel control problem. But I do want to point out that although I'm not a fan of squirrels, I do love dogs and feel very strongly that the dogs aren't the real villains in situations described here, the dog-owners who allow their dogs to endanger or annoy others are the real problem. Such people should have the words "Not a responsible dog-owner, please do not sell me a dog" tattoed somewhere visible on their person. All right, I admit that idea is right along the lines of hanging a dead squirrel in my yard.

raising