Squirrels...

[papercorn2000]

Battle has been joined!

On Monday I bought a "humane" squirrel trap. Twice they manged to get the bait without springing the trap.

I have just recieved a text saying that there is a squirrel in the trap and it is going mental!

Does anyone have any squirrel recipes?

 

[domd1979]

Why do you want to trap squirrels?

 

[papercorn2000]

The feckers wreck my bird feeders and they raid birds nests and they have nasty little beady eyes.

 

[Ranger]

I would suggest jointing it and then a long stewing process with wine/bay leaves or possibly juniper berries. As with all wild meats squirrel, in my experience, can be very tough unless it is cooked for a long time.

You will probably need one per person, but it freezes ok as a carcass

 

[papercorn2000]

I was thinking some shallots and thyme but the juniper berries do sound tasty...

 

[Arch]

I'm impressed, how are you intending to dispatch it?

BTW, I'm not sure of the legality, but it's good form not to leave the thing trapped for longer than necessary.

 

[papercorn2000]

Breaking its neck.

I've got my wife to put it in the greenhouse with a bag over it. I'm hoping that that will calm it down for the remainder of it's furry-tailed, cute-little-paws life.

 

[rich p]

I'd like to get rid of the bleeders from my garden but I couldn't kill one. I'd also add digging up newly planted bulbs as one of their misdemeanours. I had one who dug up every bulb, took a nibble out of every one and discarded them.

 

[dan_bo]

Leaded Squirrel:

One squirrel
One loaded airgun
Fold the airgun pellet into the squirrel's cranium, ensuring minimum pain and anxiety.
Leave squirrel under the hedge at the back of the garden for the magpies.

 

[rich p]

Leaded Squirrel:

One squirrel
One loaded airgun
Fold the airgun pellet into the squirrel's cranium, ensuring minimum pain and anxiety.
Leave squirrel under the hedge at the back of the garden for the magpies.

Actually, shoot the bleedin' magpies while you're at it

 

[Ranger]

Breaking its neck.

I've got my wife to put it in the greenhouse with a bag over it. I'm hoping that that will calm it down for the remainder of it's furry-tailed, cute-little-paws life.

Papercorn, I'd advise against this method, it's not as easy as a rabbit. The little bastards are hard to get hold of, have really sharp claws and can give you a nasty bite (all understandable really)as well as being difficult to get out of the trap when they are alive.

I would suggest Dan-Bo's method. Find someone with a high powered air rifle, preferably with an autoloader, and shoot it in the back of the head whilst in the trap. The autoloader is so when you do not make a completely clean kill you haven't got to break the rifle and reload, you can fire again immediately. (Does it sound like I have done this a few times)

I know it sounds like a lot of preparation, but whilst I have no problem with killing for food, it does need to be done as cleanly as popssible

 

[Arch]

I'd like to get rid of the bleeders from my garden but I couldn't kill one. I'd also add digging up newly planted bulbs as one of their misdemeanours. I had one who dug up every bulb, took a nibble out of every one and discarded them.

Well then, you should get tastier bulbs, they were obviously not up to scratch...

 

[Ranger]

ohh, also forgot to mention when you put the trap down leave it baited and open, but not set. you need to lull them into a false sense of security

They cannot resist apples either

 

[papercorn2000]

I was going to wear big thick rigger gloves as I didn't want to get too close to those teeth!
Failing that, a big stick.

 

[papercorn2000]

ohh, also forgot to mention when you put the trap down leave it baited and open, but not set. you need to lull them into a false sense of security

Hmmm, cunning!