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Re: Squirrels!

>Two solutions: 1. trap and move the squirrels to another location
>                2. sprinkle blood meal all around each pumpkin - it acts
>as a repellant.

I agree that the second suggestion is excellent, and has had proven effects
against rabbits. However, the ethologist in me protests that solution 1
isn't as likely to work, unless squirrels are *very* scarce in the
locality. My zoological education tells me that in the time immediately
after the squirrels who are eating the pumpkins are removed, their
territory will become 'public space' as far as their neighbours will go.
Until one establishes itself as the dominant animal of the area, all and
sundry will feel free to traverse its fruitful ground- and eat more
pumpkins!!

Besides, as pesky as the squirrels are, we can't really blame them for
thinking that a juicy and enourmous pumpkin in their territory is there for
their dinner. Disrupting them or blowing their heads off isn't really a
solution to the problem in the long term (unless you are sure of getting
the whole population). Remember that they are fairly intelligent animals,
and so teach them that pumpkin patches aren't friendly feeding grounds. Or
if you feel the need to shoot, do the old Peter Rabbit trick, and just
shoot one, and leave its corpse around the patch as a warning to the
others.

Cheers,

Vanessa.


 _-|\
/    \      Vanessa S. Marsden
\/--_/
    \*<-----Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
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