Good suggestions so far, just be aware that airguns can still be loud enough for your neighbors to call the cops. I found that out when I was 14.

If you cannot get an airgun, have you tried dosing the outer edges of your property with capsaicin on the trees, roof edges and maybe in a spray bottle? Might make your house less worthwhile than the neighbor's without, hopefully, getting your terrier.

I caught 3 in live traps last week and dispatched 2 more with a air gun.

Neighbors…on one side, the are only here 2 months a year and on their yacht the remainder. On the other side, he comes to me when he needs ammo and also sold me a pistol a few years ago.

But, live traps work when I am not here. Bait them with peanuts.

I lost too many vegetables in the garden last year to squirrels and rabbits.

quote:

Originally posted by preten2b:
One more vote for 22 pellet rifle. I have/used Gamo Whisper Fusion. I'd suggest heavier pellets for accuracy and to keep at subsonic speeds (950fps), and it is quieter than the subsonic 22s I have tried. Plus, no powder smell. Accurate and =/- just 1" within 40+ yards.

I have this as well and it is nice and accurate. The pellets hitting the cardboard boxes I shoot at is the loudest part.

It likes RWS Super Points and Gamo Red Fire

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
I have one of these and it will definitely dispatch squirrels with prejudice.

https://www.amazon.com/Gamo-61...aps%2C78&sr=8-1&th=1

And this one is supposed to be quieter.

https://www.amazon.com/WildCat...01APG0T7W&th=1&psc=1

You are a man of my true nature…I effing hate squirrels (they have attacked my attic with much effort in the past and I have made it my to remove them from the life stream one .177 pellet at a time (my dogs get excited when they see me with the pellet rifle…they totally enjoy picking up the vermin…dead or not…and running around the yard…look what I did dad …my Karen neighbor (she feeds them) has called the police complaining of my eradication of “her squirrels”…but to no avail… just shoot quietly friends

Shoot shovel and shutup:-)

My brother and I built a house on a view lot for my mom. It had a multi-thousand dollar mega deck. We didn't foresee that my mom would feed "the pretty little birds" and that the squirrels thought that the noshfest was for them. We left that for my mom to deal with as she created the issue, and she kept complaining about the pee and shit on the deck but it fell on deaf ears.

The party came to an end when the rodents, who had grown from 1 or 2 into a gang, started hanging around and started chewing on the deckwood in their free time. Not in a small way either. A cheap old daisy pump BB gun air rifle and a terrier was all it took to get it back under control. Aim for the head for a quick end. If you miss, you usually get a second shot. Wham, rodent falls to the ground, let the dog out to end it quick if your shot only knocked it off the handrail.

BB guns are quiet, cheap, accurate at close range and less problematic if your missed shot ricochets off of some unseen object.

I'm using a piston powered 22 air rifle (Benjamin Prowler) with 14.5 grain pellets. Death for squirrels out to 35 yards. I clocked these pellets with my chronograph and they average 780 fps.

Trap and Rain Barrel Swimming Lessons - Especially a day before the Trash man.

Ditto the comments regarding potential legal issues in discharging a firearm in populated areas.

Many municipalities prohibit air rifles, and may go as far as outlawing slingshots.

Another possible issue would be game laws. Squirrels are usually considered game animals subject to licensing, seasons, bag limits, etc. (Here in Colorado, for example, rattlesnakes are protected, hunting season, small game license, daily bag and possession limits, blah, blah, blah).

As annoying as squirrels can be, a little research up front could be better than a summons, court appearances, legal fees, fines, all the usual.

I was just helping a lady with some rodent issues, near the top was chipmunks, around and inside the garage. They were also digging up things in her garden.

Her favorite method was a newer type of electric trap, it electrocutes the critter, dead. She has Victor, there are others.

I’m not sure how it would work with a larger squirrel. There would be reviews. It’s quiet, covert, works 24/7.

quote:

Originally posted by scratchy:
Another vote for airgun. I have a Crosman single shot th is pretty dang accurate and much quieter than any 22

Ditto on the .22 cal 1100 fps Benjamin air rifle. For .22 LR, the Aguila 60 gr. subsonic does for a fact do a number on squirrels. But you have a backstop problem. Forget pistol caliber shotshells. Squirrels are too tough. Understand they will move in and reproduce faster than you can take them out.

The root cause of the problem is the food source for the squirrels. My guess is someone probably has a bird feeder nearby. Those definitely attract rats and squirrels in addition to snakes that eat them. Educate your neighbors. A couple of weeks ago, my neighbor killed a young rattlesnake near their bird feeder. I have been educating them since they moved in from California.