How to get rid of squirrel nests in trees?
September 21, 2013 7:26 AM Subscribe
My dog has become a tortured soul due to the delicious, oh-so-chaseable, and yet just out reach squirrels that have built nests in two trees in our backyard.
We have a large fenced backyard that is perfect for our dogs to play in. Until the Great Squirrel Infestation of 2013...
Normally, the dog chases squirrels around the yard until they climb the fence or a tree and escape into a neighbor's yard. I don't have a problem with this.
I DO have a problem with the incessant barking that now occurs every time the dog goes out (even for a quick potty break at midnight... or 6 am...). She runs straight to one of the two trees with nests and just hops around at the bottom of the tree barking like a crazed lunatic dog. She can not be distracted by anything - I guess she has what they call a "high prey drive."
So I need a solution for the squirrel's nest. I understand that eventually I could train the dog not to bark at squirrels (maybe?? I don't even know if that is possible), but I feel like she should be able to enjoy her own backyard without being tormented by baby squirrels.
I am generally a fan of humane treatment of all animals, but I am open to all suggestions... help us remove or otherwise get rid of two squirrels nest. Prevention in the future would be nice too.
(Wrapping the trees in aluminum flashing won't work because we live in a heavily treed neighborhood and our trees are all within squirrel-jumping distance of trees in all three surrounding backyards.)
We have a large fenced backyard that is perfect for our dogs to play in. Until the Great Squirrel Infestation of 2013...
Normally, the dog chases squirrels around the yard until they climb the fence or a tree and escape into a neighbor's yard. I don't have a problem with this.
I DO have a problem with the incessant barking that now occurs every time the dog goes out (even for a quick potty break at midnight... or 6 am...). She runs straight to one of the two trees with nests and just hops around at the bottom of the tree barking like a crazed lunatic dog. She can not be distracted by anything - I guess she has what they call a "high prey drive."
So I need a solution for the squirrel's nest. I understand that eventually I could train the dog not to bark at squirrels (maybe?? I don't even know if that is possible), but I feel like she should be able to enjoy her own backyard without being tormented by baby squirrels.
I am generally a fan of humane treatment of all animals, but I am open to all suggestions... help us remove or otherwise get rid of two squirrels nest. Prevention in the future would be nice too.
(Wrapping the trees in aluminum flashing won't work because we live in a heavily treed neighborhood and our trees are all within squirrel-jumping distance of trees in all three surrounding backyards.)
What breed (even a best guess or just a height/weight description -- even better, some pictures) is your dog? How much exercise is she getting daily?
posted by jms18 at 8:36 AM on September 21, 2013
posted by jms18 at 8:36 AM on September 21, 2013
You might first want to check the laws in your area, as it is illegal in many places to destroy the habitat of nesting wildlife. If it is legal, your local animal control office may be able to advise you on the safest way to kill or relocate the squirrels.
It is absolutely possible to train dogs with a high prey drive into ignoring a trigger (these dogs were often bred for hunting or pest control, but would be useless as working dogs if they didn't have an 'off' switch). You'll want to look into a positive reinforcement method for the "Leave It" command, which is one that all dogs should know for their own safety.
posted by northernish at 8:38 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
It is absolutely possible to train dogs with a high prey drive into ignoring a trigger (these dogs were often bred for hunting or pest control, but would be useless as working dogs if they didn't have an 'off' switch). You'll want to look into a positive reinforcement method for the "Leave It" command, which is one that all dogs should know for their own safety.
posted by northernish at 8:38 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: She is a pit mix... about 40 lbs. She gets exercise outside of the yard (a walk or run) most days, but the backyard used to be the venue for daily exercise (chasing the ball or racing/wrestling with her brother dog) but she is now one-track-mind in the backyard and will not chase a ball or play with our other dog because she Must Eat The Squirrels.
Today she went for an hour long run (partly on leash around the neighborhood, partly off leash on a trail) and came home and immediately went to the back door begging to be let out so she could go bark at the squirrel nest.
Huronbob, this has been going on for over two weeks. She normally chases squirrels on the ground until they run up a tree and then she gets over it, but the nests are taunting her - she will literally hop around the base of the tree for an hour straight, barking and barking, even though she knows there is no chance of her actually catching a squirrel.
Northernish, thanks for the "Leave It" suggestion... we will work on that.
Would still love other squirrel nest suggestions in the meantime.
posted by raspberrE at 8:59 AM on September 21, 2013
Today she went for an hour long run (partly on leash around the neighborhood, partly off leash on a trail) and came home and immediately went to the back door begging to be let out so she could go bark at the squirrel nest.
Huronbob, this has been going on for over two weeks. She normally chases squirrels on the ground until they run up a tree and then she gets over it, but the nests are taunting her - she will literally hop around the base of the tree for an hour straight, barking and barking, even though she knows there is no chance of her actually catching a squirrel.
Northernish, thanks for the "Leave It" suggestion... we will work on that.
Would still love other squirrel nest suggestions in the meantime.
posted by raspberrE at 8:59 AM on September 21, 2013
Live animal cage trap. Peanut butter. Water barrel.
In some neighborhoods you might have to conceal the trap to avoid outraging the neighbors.
posted by Bruce H. at 9:07 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
In some neighborhoods you might have to conceal the trap to avoid outraging the neighbors.
posted by Bruce H. at 9:07 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Live animal cage trap. Peanut butter. Water barrel.
Drowning animals is not euthanasia.
Animals experience extreme distress while drowning. Please don't do this. Should you trap them, please call animal control or the humane society or a pest control company. They're just squirrels, but if your solution takes into account the humane treatment of animals, please don't drown them.
My dogs despise the squirrels that live above their heads, and haven't learned to ignore them over the last 7 years of their lives. So I ignore the dogs. And I don't use the backyard as their primary venue for exercise because it seems to bore them. So we go for walks, which tires them, and makes them less likely to care about backyard wildlife.
posted by Seppaku at 9:34 AM on September 21, 2013 [7 favorites]
Drowning animals is not euthanasia.
Animals experience extreme distress while drowning. Please don't do this. Should you trap them, please call animal control or the humane society or a pest control company. They're just squirrels, but if your solution takes into account the humane treatment of animals, please don't drown them.
My dogs despise the squirrels that live above their heads, and haven't learned to ignore them over the last 7 years of their lives. So I ignore the dogs. And I don't use the backyard as their primary venue for exercise because it seems to bore them. So we go for walks, which tires them, and makes them less likely to care about backyard wildlife.
posted by Seppaku at 9:34 AM on September 21, 2013 [7 favorites]
Ignoring the dogs is not a responsible solution when the OP has neighbors.
posted by rhizome at 12:06 PM on September 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:06 PM on September 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Relocating those squirrels is one thing, but since you're living in a tree-filled area, more squirrels will no doubt arrive. Killing those squirrels would be morally wrong, and you'll have new squirrels in no time. Chopping down your tree would be a solution, but there are other trees all around. Chopping down all the trees would probably get you arrested. So, what's left? Oh yeah - changing your dog's behavior. Good luck.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:47 PM on September 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:47 PM on September 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
We have had a similar issue in our house. Our pit/lab/border collie mix hates the squirrels that live in her tree and if she had her way she would sit on the back deck and stare at them until the world ended.
For us, "Leave it" has been the only saving grace. And last winter, my husband took the pressure washer to the nests when they were empty. Instead of five like we had last spring, we only had one. Which was much easier on her.
We had a lot of luck with the leave it command and treats. We started inside with a toy she loved, then moved to mentioning squirrels to her on walks and then in the yard. The yard has been the hardest and she's still obsessive, but she can walk away from the tree and chill out in the yard most of the time now.
posted by teleri025 at 2:34 PM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
For us, "Leave it" has been the only saving grace. And last winter, my husband took the pressure washer to the nests when they were empty. Instead of five like we had last spring, we only had one. Which was much easier on her.
We had a lot of luck with the leave it command and treats. We started inside with a toy she loved, then moved to mentioning squirrels to her on walks and then in the yard. The yard has been the hardest and she's still obsessive, but she can walk away from the tree and chill out in the yard most of the time now.
posted by teleri025 at 2:34 PM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Once squirrels think of a place as home, they will not leave it alone until they die.
If they are just starting out building the nest for the upcoming winter, you might be able to disturb the nest enough that they give up. But if they have been around all summer, chances are that a little of pups was born there and they will view that place as home.
Training the dog is really the only long term solution.
posted by gjc at 4:22 PM on September 21, 2013
If they are just starting out building the nest for the upcoming winter, you might be able to disturb the nest enough that they give up. But if they have been around all summer, chances are that a little of pups was born there and they will view that place as home.
Training the dog is really the only long term solution.
posted by gjc at 4:22 PM on September 21, 2013
Aren't there scents like peppermint oil that squirrels don't like? Maybe spray their nests (or the crooks of big branches where they are likely to build) with some of that?
posted by blueberry at 10:46 PM on September 21, 2013
posted by blueberry at 10:46 PM on September 21, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Would it be possible to just put the dog in the backyard long enough that it can desensitize on it a bit? My pup goes into the back yard now and a squirrel can be on the ground next to a tree and she'll just ignore it, knowing the little bugger is going to be up the tree before she can get there... She also no longer attempts to catch every bird on the ground, she's learned they can fly...
posted by HuronBob at 8:06 AM on September 21, 2013