Gonna Build a Little Pond

[Amarok]

I'm ramping up the tree rat eradication efforts. My neighbors have been dealing with attic infestations and I ain't having that shit. It would be so easy and rewarding to shoot them but it just isn't an option in town.

I got one in the Rube Goldberg-y ramp-to-the-rolling-log-to-the watery-death device, but then they figured it out and were getting the bait without getting got.
I re-jigged the device this morning. The new design should be more effective.

I picked up a couple rat traps of an improved design I hadn't seen before. I built a box for one this morning and have already got one squirrel. I have another box-set out as well, but so far they haven't gone to the marshmallow bait. Peanut butter is still king.

The box I built for the 110# conibear was too big and not baited properly. I built a new box this morning after doing some learnin' and figurin'. I don't really have a good place for it right now, with the other three already deployed on my little lot. Still fun to design and build though.

 

[Doublej]

Look at this product I found on google.com https://share.google/cbXDuq2MPq4L74Awg

 

[Amarok]

Look at this product I found on google.com https://share.google/cbXDuq2MPq4L74Awg

I already have three of those. I just can't use 'em in town.

 

[Doublej]

I already have three of those. I just can't use 'em in town.

This will do it....

 

[Amarok]

^ I never could throw for shit.

I had one of those crosman classic air pistols that needs to be pumped 100x. Accurate but obnoxious to use. The seal died on that a while back.
I picked up a fairly cheap CO2 bb pistol but bb's suck for accuracy and power and the seal died on that just recently.

I've long considered spending some $ on a decent quality pellet pistol for squirrels and magpies but never got around to it. I'd prefer to stay as low-key as possible.
If I can get rid of the tree rats with traps, I'll probably just live with the magpies for now.

 

[Amarok]

I've seen different versions of the pail trap and always thought it seemed dumb and gimmicky but so far it has been more effective than the snap traps and conibears. Not only has it caught squirrel and mouse, but this morning I rescued a little frog that had hopped up the ramp and fallen into the bucket.

Between removing some of the branches they were using to get around and trapping a few, tree rat traffic on the property is down to nothing.


Note: for people in dry climates, the bucket trap is extra effective. Bait isn't even needed as critters come for the water.

EDIT UPDATE: one more rat in the snap and another one in the conibear today. The 110 conibear is a little bit too large for squirrel. The one today was caught right in the middle of the body rather than on the neck. Not as clean a kill as I'd prefer. I just want them gone, I have no desire to cause more suffering than necessary. I think I'll grab a few more snap traps now that there are ones that work out of the box and don't need to be modified for tree rats.

 

[Amarok]

Hung out with Momma and sulky teen crow for a while this morning. They bitched and argued and snapped at each other on the platform though there were no actual strikes landed. Anyone who watched their teen sister fight with their mom has seen it.

The juvenile came back by itself for a snack and hangout session a little later. I took a few pics but they were shadowy and grainy so I just junked them.

It's so nice to have more free time for a lot of reasons, but getting the chance to get to know the new crew of corvids is near the top of the list.

 

[rkymtnman]

I've long considered spending some $ on a decent quality pellet pistol for squirrels

I highly recommend the Gamo Whisper Cat. cheap too. has a built in silencer. I have one of those ramps to the trap door bucket in my greenhouse. killed both of the mice that ate all my pepper seedlings.

 

[Amarok]

I highly recommend the Gamo Whisper Cat. cheap too. has a built in silencer. I have one of those ramps to the trap door bucket in my greenhouse. killed both of the mice that ate all my pepper seedlings.

Thanks for the recommendation.



After a quick search, I don't think it is sold in Canada. Suppressors/silencers for firearms are highly illegal here. Any airgun with a velocity over 1000 fps is considered a firearm, and the Whisper shoots 1200 fps. I didn't see it listed on any CAD sites either(just did a very quick browse, so I may be wrong).

I have a >1000 fps air rifle but with the break the speed of sound "crack" I'd probably be better using subsonic .22 lr rounds. Both would still be shooting a firearm in town though, so I'll stick with traps for now.

 

[rkymtnman]

Thanks for the recommendation.



After a quick search, I don't think it is sold in Canada. Suppressors/silencers for firearms are highly illegal here. Any airgun with a velocity over 1000 fps is considered a firearm, and the Whisper shoots 1200 fps. I didn't see it listed on any CAD sites either(just did a very quick browse, so I may be wrong).

I have a >1000 fps air rifle but with the break the speed of sound "crack" I'd probably be better using subsonic .22 lr rounds. Both would still be shooting a firearm in town though, so I'll stick with traps for now.

that stinks you can't get it up there. I use the heaviest pellets possible to slow it down just a bit. the only thing you hear is the piston. we aren't "supposed" to shoot in our HOA but nobody can hear it.

good luck! what we call ground squirrels (think chipmunk-esque) have eaten spark plug wires, hood liners, air filters, etc. no mercy on them!

 

[Amarok]

I mentioned before that Momma was rough looking. Here's a couple pics from earlier today.
Still not good pics, but you can see she isn't the usual sleek beauty

Not only does she look familiar, she casually came under the overhang of the deck and she was comfortable turning her back to me, something which requires trust. I'm almost certain she is a returner.