Hello Jim

[glatt]

Do you actually have the squirrel in the cage at this point?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Take it to New Jersey.

[lookout123]

ok, fine - just run the hose from the jeep up to the attic and let 'er go. the squirrel will probably be dead when you start feeling lightheaded downstairs.

[lumberjim]

the jeep is a Hemi. I can't afford that much gas.


i don't know why we ruled out poisoning....

no, glatt, the cage is in the attic propped opened allowing the squirrel to get used to it. i want to be home when i catch it, so that will have to wait until friday night at the earliest. I don't want it in there freaking out for half a day until i can get home to deal with it.

[Scriveyn]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

i may decapitate it and put it's little head on a little pike outside the hole in my gable.

As long as you don't block those entry points, it's no use killing/deporting your guest. Others are just queueing to move in.

[jinx]

i don't know why we ruled out poisoning....

Uh huh.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

the jeep is a Hemi. I can't afford that much gas.

You drive the Jeep to work?

I don't want it in there freaking out for half a day until i can get home to deal with it.

Why not? You're overthinking this, it's a bushy tailed rat. It's not going to start banging it's tin cup on the bars, it'll probably take a nap until you show up.

[DanaC]

Hmm. Hadn't thought of the spreading disease aspect. Or the territorial nature of the other squirrels.

Now, if it were me, I'd drive it down to the nearest vet or animal rescue centre and just dump it on them to deal with :P Say it turned up in my garden/house and seemed injured: barely reacted when i tried to catch it etc etc. And then walk away.

[xoxoxoBruce]

They wouldn't take it.

[DanaC]

That'd depend on the place I'd have thought. I'm pretty sure if I showed up at the local RSPA and said 'here' and dumped the squirrel in its cage on their counter, and then refused to take it away with me, they'd deal with it. Wtf do I know about injured squirrels? They're the animal experts not me. 'T'aint my squirrel. Just found an injured wild thing and took it to someone who might know what to do.

[lookout123]

I like squirrels. I did a whole photo series on them years ago. That being said, bruce is right - set the cage, catch the bugger, and put him out in the least messy manner. Hose from the tail pipe is quick and easy and relatively humane.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

You drive the Jeep to work?

NEVER


it's jinx's baby

[DanaC]

*nods* that does sound a better way to go than poisoned food or drowning.

I remember when we had rats years ago, the pest control guy came and put poison down. I was a little hesitant about the idea. Don;t like the thought of anything going through a slow and painful death. Bastard lied to me and said, it's a pretty quick way for them to go. I being stupid and a little too willing to believe, let him put the stuff down.

There was a juvenile rat in the yard a few days later; clearly in a bad way. Just sitting there and occassionally moving a little, stretching itself out and then curling back into itself. The it started crawling off towards the edge of the yard, slow and painful looking movements. Seemed to be really having to drag itself. Then it was just lying on its side. Still moving a little. twitching every so often. I had to go out, and when I came back it was still there. Still moving a little. Not dead yet.

I killed it in the end with a fuck-off big rock. *slight shudder*

[lumberjim]

Why not? You're overthinking this, it's a bushy tailed rat. It's not going to start banging it's tin cup on the bars, it'll probably take a nap until you show up.

because if there are more than one, i want to minimize the time the squirrel spends trapped alerting others to the danger of the cage.

[glatt]

Poisoning it has the down side of stinking up the joint for weeks or even months if it dies someplace inaccessible like a wall or something. If the squirrel somehow can get the bait without setting off the trap, you might find yourself in a smelly situation.