Open Season has been declared...

[homesteader]

I'm not bothered by chipmunks or squirrels, may because of the cats and guinea hens. They seem to make things stay away. I've had them on the homestead now for several years they even get mice. But I would get it under control, if not they know the food source and just settle in and produce more problems.

 

[Stacykins]

Chipmunks are very bothersome when they start burrowing along your foundation. They can definitely cause damage. Squirrels work to destroy walls, wiring, and insulation, while chipmunks destroy the integrity of your foundation if left unchecked for waaaay too long.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I know that at least one of the weasels on our property is the kind that hunts & eats mice, moles, voles, chipmunks... they could kill a chicken, but they would have to be incredibly brazen to try and take 1 of our flock of 62... since they all stick together and hunt together. My parents saw a larger one... but it hasn't been back since. Our major worry for our flock of chickens are Fisher cats, raccoon, fox, bear, and coyote. But thankfully we are getting our predator rifle & ammo soon. Next large purchase will be a bear gun. * bear meat is VERY tasty btw*

 

[goodhors]

Well the domesticated animals are taking care of the excess wildlife. Barn cats are hauling back
chipmunks, voles to have while dining in the barn. Finding a number of chipmunk tails, yuck! But
good that they are reducing the population. I try to help by keeping things cleaned up, no places
to hide under the cats can't reach. Cats also will do mice when sitting in the barn on rainy days. In
the summer they will catch rabbits too, which we have a LOT of this year. Guess that is how the cycle
works.

Dogs are working on the squirrels in the yard. We have cut a number of trees that were bad, so
squirrels have less exits when they run across the grass. Big dog is a crafty hunter, will sit still
not moving AT ALL for long times, to blend into the woodwork. Squirrels don't see movement and
get careless checking for garden seeds or nuts from the trees. She is slowly whittling them down.
Gets about one a week, sometimes more. I take them away if I see them, but sometimes she
eats them. Both dogs will work the fenced area of the bird feeders in winter. So squirrel gets very
confused and panics to escape after meeting dog on every side and finally "goes for it out" where they
often get snapped up by the big dog. Birdfeed is getting pretty expensive, so I would rather not feed
the squirrels. Husband laughs that dogs have to work to catch Country Squirrels who are athletic.
My mom has City Squirrels and dog usually manages to get a couple that day when we visit. She also
doesn't feed them, they are a nusiance in the garage and eating her flowers.

I do have to pay for Tapeworm pills, which is the side problem with eating wild varmints. Have to keep
all the pets wormed regular, as well as vaccinated to keep them healthy. All of them get Rabies shots for
protection of the animal and FAMILY. We handle the cats, don't want to be infected by Rabid cats. Cats
are pets, even living in the barn. State law requires all dogs be Rabies vaccinated and licensed. I only
put out enough cat food that they will clean up in a certain amount of time, to prevent attracting
coons and possums, RATS, with a ready food source. And the cats do eat things, not just killing for the
busy-ness of it like house cats will. Dogs are fed in the house, to not attract rats with leftover or spilled food
source outside. Biggest rat nest I ever saw was UNDER a occupied dog house beside the food bowl!! Dog and rats
just "shared". Not MY dog!

So far I haven't had to resort to traps, the pets are doing fine work. Usually need the traps for bigger varmints,
the coons and possums. We kill them. Moving them just spreads disease, upsets the local animals you release
your unwanted ones into. Rabies is getting to be a big factor in wild animals, so you don't want to get it spread
about. Coons and skunks are common carriers. And with the bigger varmints, they will usually return, maybe beat you home! My
friend was doing that, taking them about 5-8 miles and releasing. Never seemed to reduce the numbers! I said
put some paint on the tail, see if animal is returning. Sure enough, they were back in 24 hours. She shoots them
now too. Just was causing havoc in her bird coops with all the varmints trying to get in.

You just can't be nice, or you will be over-run. Lots of OUTSIDE places for wild animals, the barns and sheds are
off limits here, they WILL be removed whatever it takes to do that. I see PLENTY of fruit and nuts to eat this
year, so animals should do well scrounging. I think the funny rains, lots of water, helped produce good forage for
the wild things this year. Big litters of babies that survived. Have to see what kind of winter we have, cold and
rainy, or COLD and frozen, to know what lives till Spring. I feel sorriest for the predator birds in the cold, hard to
find enough to eat under deeper snow. Owls will be flying on the coldest nights to hunt, talking to each other. They move
down south by us if it gets extremely cold, then back further north when it warms back up again. Fun to hear them!