Because the last time Uncle Luke came to visit he built them one with some scraps of lumber and they did, in fact, catch a squirrel. Apparently all you need is a good dose of peanut butter on a stick and they're putty in your hands.
The kids set out the trap along the fence in the back yard and within hours the door had snapped shut and there was one very angry squirrel rattling around inside. The kids, of course, were thrilled with their forest friend and wanted to keep him but their mother (the killjoy of the family) insisted that the squirrel be free range which meant taking him down to the woods at the end of the cul de sac and letting him go.
Problem is, apparently our squirrel had developed Stockholm Syndrome or something because when the kids opened the door to let Elsa go, there it was, stuck inside the box, unwilling to come out. They prodded, they coaxed, they offered it peanut butter and finally they resorted to shaking the holy Hannah out of the poor thing but it wouldn't budge. It was embedded with its little claws holding firmly in the box and couldn't be moved.
So the kids gave up and left it in the back yard and the stupid thing started gnawing. Going out of the open door wasn't good enough, it wanted to send us a message so it gnawed a hole in the box big enough to slip through and ran away, effectively ruining the squirrel trap and making the neighborhood safe, once again, for squirrels everywhere. What a hero.
So anyway, Uncle Luke came for another visit and the kids wanted to make another squirrel trap to replaced the mutilated one and Luke, always eager to oblige in juvenile activities, got right to work. Isn't it a beauty?
It's no wonder he's their favorite uncle. Happy birthday Luke. From the squirrels of the world.
11 comments:
The squirrel was probably thinking "The last time I came through that open door, I got into trouble. I am not going through it again." Sounds like a smart guy to me!
Poor squirrels.
My oldest son wants instructions so he can build his own trap. I can see how most of the trap works, but what makes the door drop down? Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a squirrel in our neighborhood, but maybe we could catch a rabbit.
That is so funny about that squirrel! People around these parts have been talking about going squirrel hunting recently, but so far, I haven't heard of any of our acquaintances actually getting one. Maybe I'll tell them that peanut butter and a homemade trap works better than a gun. :)
I need one for chipmunks!
Your squirrel reminds me of a recent "Shark Week" show that we watched where some most-intelligent people were testing the theory that sharks can't swim backwards. So they built a narrow cage, lured the shark, and sure enough, he couldn't back out. Crazy diver got in the cage with him and turned him around! Maybe that was your squirrel's problem as well: no reverse-just plow forward. Kelly
Cool uncle! Crazy squirrel!
The door is kept from falling by the cross beam on the top which is anchored by a trigger.
The trigger is a long strait stick with a notch. There is a hole drilled in the roof of the trap near the back. The trigger feeds through the hole and the notch on the trigger keeps the door from pulling the trigger up through the hole. THe trigger should rest slightly above the interior floor of the trap and should be far enough from the back to allow room for bait. Smear the trigger in peanut butter or place food behind the trigger. When the squirrel goes for the food and bumps the trigger the door falls down.
I works good on anything that can fit in a box and likes food. Including rabbis chipmunks, cats, vermin, raccoons etc.
Care-full, a squirrel took off a piece of my grandpas finger once and another jumped on my throat. They are feisty.
THanks for answering her question LUke--what is it with you and rabid rodents?
A squirrel with Stockholm Syndrome! Only in Alaska my friend. Although that does look like a lot of fun to build [but only if it comes in kit form]
We have red squirrels who like to: #1 knaw a hole in the house; #2 find a nut and carry it into said hole; #3 role said nut around in the house particularly at night. Then I think they dance with the mice. sigh
Thank you Luke!
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