How can I get squirrels to my yard?

[johnp]

I have a quarter acre of land, and I have no squirrels in my backyard! How do I get the squirrels to my yard? they seem to be all over my street running all over the place and 10 or so dead ones on the street. 

I'm putting out peanuts, black oil sunflower seeds, dried corn (on the cob and loose) I also have blueberries in my yard. And nothing! I do have a dog but she doesn't Chase Birds squirrels or anything. She's just a lazy lab that just watches everything walk by her so I know it's not her chasing them away. How can I get them on my land?

 

[Yote]

Try spreading peanut butter all over along with the food

 

[intenseaty22]

LOL, that's how I got into airgunning in the first place. I had way too many squirrels in my yard tearing up everything and eating my plants. Have not shot one in a while now, good riddens. I will plink until they show up, they love my Pecan tree something fierce. 

 

[markT]

Is your feeding "station" elevated? They want to feel safe when feeding.. put. A feeder up 6'or 8' off the ground in a tree if you can.. Hawks, Foxes, coyotes dogs, and humans are all predators. 

 

[Guest]

+1 on the peanut butter and sunflower seeds.

Maybe you are just lucky not to be infested with them. I wish I was so lucky!

Mitch

 

[LTU-013]

Spend months of preparing soil and planting some vegetables or fruits... and in no time they will be all over your place trashing your garden

But don't worry, they'll eat all of your fruits or vegetables exactly on that one weekend when you are not home... 

At least how it works for me

That's exactly how I bought my first airgun, now I just ordered 7th...

 

[CaptainPellet]

peanut butter does help, squirrels can smell that from far away. My guess is the dog that spook them, I have lazy old dog, every time he is sitting on the porch no squirrels, but when he is inside, the squirrels are dancing and jumping in backyard.

 

[RidinLou]

Are there any squirrels anywhere close by?

 

[Monkyshine]

Build a feeder like squirrel hunter channel, load with corn and be patient. You will have squirrels, crows, rats, and coons. I have them mounted in various places with game cameras on them. Lots of wildlife will be there to see.

 

[Spray1Mark]

I throw a party for my squirrels every now and then, boy do those guys like a beer!

 

[Kcpem]

The biggest issue I have with getting squirrels in my fenced backyard is the fact that I don’t have any trees in the yard. As you probably know, they almost exclusively like to feed in very close proximity to trees (as mentioned earlier because of their need for safety). 

I’d find the closest tree and try to build a little walking bridge/balance beam to a feeder within range. 

 

[Guest]

In Massachusetts Great squirrel season is

Zone 1. Sept 10 -Jan2.

Zone 10 -14 Oct 13 -Jan2.

You have plenty of time to get them there legally. Or SSS

 

[kidcurrie]

What is SSS?

I have a birdfeeder hanging off my shed with a mix of sunflower and small seeds. I think half gets scattered onto the ground and the squirrels have no problem feeding on the ground. Well i guess they have one problem but I mean they aren't fearful of eating on the ground.

 

[crittahitta]

Most people here will shoot the squirrels in their yard if they are a nuisance/pest causing damage to house or garden. (Or if it is officially squirrel season.) Hopefully you have a hunting license because you do need one anyway to hunt. If you need to lure them into your suburban 1/4 acre plot then they are not a nuisance. Just wait til hunting season.

 

[outdoorman]

Hopefully you have a hunting license because you do need one anyway to hunt.

Always check your local regulations as there are exceptions to a hunting license requirement. Here in Maryland, it's not required when hunting on your own property.

 

[crittahitta]

Your right outdoorman. But the original poster doesnt live in Maryland. He lives in suburban Massachusets, baiting in squirrels, not a nuiscance, not during hunting season and killing them with an airgun. There may be several problems with his scenario. Im not going to look up each states laws when Im only trying to give someone something to think about. He has to make his own decisions. Besides i really dont think baiting in squirrels into a 1/4 acre property is hunting. It is pest removal at best. I dont have a problem with pest removal I do it myself. 

 

[outdoorman]

Well, he might have lived there when he joined this forum over two years ago, who knows where he might live now. Killing animals as a form of pest control is a form of hunting called varmint hunting. There's an online magazine dedicated to it at Varminter Magazine I don't have a problem with pest removal either. I no longer have a squirrel problem on my property. If squirrel's are damaging your property, baiting them to a certain area so you can safely take them out is certainly a viable idea.

 

[crittahitta]

Your right and I dont want to fight with you. My only point was about what he wrote. He never said they were a nuisance. Never said they were killing his flowers or garden or even damaging his house. So as a reasonable man i would NOT consider it a pest. What he is asking in reality is. Can someone tell me how to lure squirrels into my yard so i can kill them. He sounds like a young man/kid to me. In the state of Massachussets grey squirrels are considered a game species and have a season for hunting them. So if he is not protecting his home and flowerbed he should not be baiting them in when they dont go there normally so he can kill them and then call them a pest. At least wait for the hunting season. And I dont think varminter magazine is dedicated to luring/baiting squirrels into your 1/4 acre plot to kill them out of season. Im sorry but that one doesnt float so well. The reason I say anything is because people who hate guns and hunting read these posts and it can make us look bad as a community. Im sorry if I offended anyone with my opinion.

 

[sqweeler]

Well said critta.The only thing I would shoot in the yard is a rat.I have a million squirrel's,racoon's,deer,woodchuck's(underneath the cat!!!) etc.I enjoy sitting in the yard shooting paper and enjoy the wildlife.

 

[crittahitta]

Man sqweeler that is a nice yard. Must be nice to see all those critters around. Those bucks have nice racks! Thanks for the post.