NJ Man Arrested For Shooting Backyard Squirrels
milehighgirl
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (39)
denninmi
11 years agohowelbama
11 years agoRelated Discussions
What to do about the bees in my backyard
Comments (24)Please make note that I am just telling of past experience an NOT suggesting anyone try this. I am a native of Michigan now living in Arkansas. Growing up we had a small orchard of apples, pears and plums. In the late summer/early autumn as the fruit was ripe ready for harvest, at times the ground would be covered with fallen fruit, drawing oodles of honey bees. Being the ignorant kids that we were (stupid may better describe us), we could and would often catch the bees with our bare hands cupped together. We found that as long as we didn't crush or pinch the bees they would buzz around in our hands looking for a way of escape. Granted we got stung a time or two but were always ready, willing and able to try it again. Saying all that to reinforce that "honey bees" are not aggressive out in the field. Now, if you tamper with their dwelling place that's a different story. A lot of us here would LOVE to have a colony near us for pollination purposes. Seeing a honey bee is a rarity in my neck of the woods. You are blessed. Do what you feel you need to do to be comfortable and feel safe in your own back yard! Good luck!...See More****ing squirrels- gun advice needed
Comments (150)Wow, the flame wars are still going on. But, it sure makes for an interesting read. Been too busy at work to follow them for a while. I still pose my previous question from a few days ago -- Where is all of this moral outrage when the animal being killed isn't cute, fuzzy, and something that showed up in a Disney movie? Other than one poster, no one seems to care about moles, voles, squash borers, slugs, etc., but they are all 'God's creatures' are they not? Perhaps it's symptomatic of the society we live in -- would the media follow the daily ups and downs of Britney, Paris, Tom-Kat, or BrAngelina if they weren't the 'beautiful people?' I think the animal rights bleeding hearts are only concerned about the cute, fuzzy little critters. Despite the fact that one poster seems to think I'm some kind of psychopathic serial killer because I put out poison bait blocks for the voles, it seems to me that I and the vast majority of the rest of the posters on here recognize the need to control vermin species when they get out of hand. If we don't keep things like mice, voles, rats, etc., under control, we'll all end up living in filth and disease as happened during the Middle Ages. And, in the real world, the only practical way to do this is often to kill them. It doesn't mean it's 'fun,' but sometimes, 'a man's gotta do ....' And, it isn't based on some deep, dark psychological 'need' to harm animals, its based on a simple, pragmatic desire to protect all of our hard work and our financial investment. Trust me, been there, done that, I really did have a blue heron eat $500 worth of koi in an afternoon. No, I didn't kill it or shoot it, I strung fishline all across the pond, which was a pain in the butt, but it worked to deter the herons. Had that not worked, in that case, I would have been screwed, because herons are protected under the Migratory Bird Act of 1919, no exceptions that I know of allow them to be killed. I did lose many of hundreds of dollars worth of plants to voles in the past few years. Some of them were figs and other woody plants I was overwintering in a deep trench under mulch. When I dug them out in the spring, I LITERALLY had sawdust, nothing else was left. So, I now put out, carefully, in nooks and crannies where pets and desirable wild animals can't get them, LOTS of poison bait blocks. It's expensive, and frankly I wish I didn't have to, but it's better than the alternative of being overrun with voles. The poison bait keeps them to a low level, but doesn't totally eliminate them. I had a filthy mouse invade my house a few years back. I won't be a hypocrit myself and deny that I didn't get some little sense of satisfaction in hearing the mousetrap go 'snap' when I finally got the mouse that moved into my kitchen cupboards, but I hardly think that makes me a depraved Jeffrey Dahmer type serial killer. There's a big difference between people who are killing 'vermin' species for a legitimate economic or health reason, and between those mentally disturbed or sociopathic individuals who do torture animals, usually domestic animals, for some sick reason. I think the vast majority of us know the difference between a vole or squirrel and the neighbor's cat. And, I don't see how taking a little satisfaction in eliminating a serious pest problem which has been plaguing you makes someone a bad person. Now, when you take it to the level of George W. going after Saddam Hussein on contrived charges, just to show up or show off to his daddy, well, that's a whole 'nother ball of wax, starting a war, killing thousands of people, and sinking this country into a political and economic quagmire. When it rises to that level, then, I think you can legitimately ask questions about someone's psychological makeup and mental stability. But, those of us shooting a squirrel or two to save our fruit trees don't exactly rise to the George W. level. I apologize to any Neocons and Bush supporters out there, dont' want to turn this into a purely political debate,just had to vent a bit and make that analogy. By the way, for the squirrel huggers out there, are you aware of the fact that some communities BAN or LIMIT the feeding of squirrels and other wild animals and birds BECAUSE feeding them is a public health and safety issue? Roseville, Michigan is one such community, and there are others. And, while rare, squirrels CAN transmit rabies, among other diseases. Finally, a couple of other thoughts. Lobster -- yum! And, as someone named Dave pointed out above, I don't know WHY I'm wasting my time arguing this with someone who very well might be some 14 year old idealist who has never lived in the real world. Ah, the joys of the 'net. Allenwrench -- you might really enjoy this forum. Check it out, seems to be right up your alley, based upon all of your recent posts: http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/ Dennis SE Michigan Dennis SE Michigan Here is a link that might be useful: I Dig My Garden Forums...See MoreWitnessed Squirrel Falling from Tree....Broke My Heart
Comments (20)I’m very late to this as the initial comment was made in 2007. But it literally just occurred couple hours ago and I need somewhere to vent. We were walking up my driveway when I heard a thud from our large oak tree. It sounded like a branch crashing. We were sickened to see a squirrel laying there. His eyes were moving, so my gf and I who are big animal lovers called the nearest vet who takes wildlife and they said for us to try and capture it. Suddenly while on the phone to our shock & delight the squirrel jumped up and ran up the tree only to fall a second time. I can’t describe to you how sick I felt watching This now for a second time. The poor thing My heart sunk and still does as I write this. And we blame ourselves for maybe startling it back up, although who’s to know what he would have done. It got up once again, tho this time not as agile and ran behind a play house we had built for our kids wgen they were little. It must have fell 20 plus feet. We tried gently coaxing it into a box and than a cat carrier with an hour gone by to no avail As it limped in fear away from us. We decided at this point we were perhaps doing more harm than good & finally left the box with a blanket, hoping maybe it would rest inside for it’s final moments. I checked just now & it has passed. My prayer is that it went quickly without any further harm. This was such a horrible thing to witness as an animal lover for both of us. You feel helpless and at the same time our efforts were in vain. I wish there was some type of wildlife rescue in my area for such things. But we’re lucky that there’s even a vet who’s willing to see them, providing you can catch them. I don’t share this to dishearten anyone, but wanted to share so anyone who may read this will know there not alone in such things. And the only thing you can do is your best to try and save it. In the end it’s in God’s hands. Peace and love...See MoreHave neighbor shooting gun at squirrels!!!
Comments (33)I saw this tread and thought "Oh my God! My father has come back from the dead!" When we lived in St Louis, my parents lived in an old (c1914) three story house. My father had his "gun room" on the 3rd floor - reloaded all his own shells. He also had multiple bird feeders on our terrace and in our small, narrow backyard. Daddy took it VERY personally when a squirrel would get the food out of the bird feeders. He spent a fortune on "squirrel-proof" bird feeders; they were not. So he would stand at the window on the 3rd floor and use an air rifle (the kind children use to receive for Christmas) and shoot the squirrels at his bird feeders. My mother and I were horrified; I'm sure some of the neighbors were as well, but no one ever called the police. The squirrels always won. They just sent in reinforcements and my father could not be on guard 24/7. No, it was NOT dementia. It was just a man who was born in a small rural town in 1901 who was given his first rifle at age 6 and allowed to go out shooting with a buddy. Amazingly, no one was ever hurt. If they shot a song bird, his mother had plenty to say about it. To him, this was normal. You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy....See Morealan haigh
11 years agoUser
11 years agofranktank232
11 years agocalliope
11 years agojohnthecook
11 years agohowelbama
11 years agocalliope
11 years agoKevin Reilly
11 years agoalan haigh
11 years agoolpea
11 years agoUser
11 years agodenninmi
11 years agocalliope
11 years agohoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
11 years agofranktank232
11 years agomarc5
11 years agoUser
11 years agodenninmi
11 years agoolpea
11 years agocapoman
11 years agospartan-apple
11 years agocanadianplant
11 years agoernie85017, zn 9, phx
11 years agoernie85017, zn 9, phx
11 years agoDan.NY
11 years agoalan haigh
11 years agodenninmi
11 years agobudbackeast
11 years agomilehighgirl
11 years agomyk1
11 years agoernie85017, zn 9, phx
11 years agosonny44
11 years agoNoogy
11 years agocousinfloyd
11 years agoScott F Smith
11 years agospartan-apple
11 years ago
Related Stories
LIFEHow to Outsmart Backyard Critters
Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact
Full StoryMOST POPULAR11 Nominees for the ‘She Shed’ Hall of Fame
These special sanctuaries let busy women get away from it all without leaving the backyard
Full StoryPATIOSPatio Details: Simple Materials Make for a Sophisticated Space
Low water bills and minimal maintenance are just part of the beauty of this handcrafted backyard deck and patio
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSA Formerly Weedy Lot Now Brims With Edibles and Honeybees
Photographers transform their barren backyard into an oasis filled with fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs and more
Full StoryPETS50 Dog Photos Worth a Wag
Design hounds: Share in the pet love with Houzzers' snapshots of their beloved dogs at home, in the workshop and at play
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESCelebrate Eastern Oaks for Wildlife, Longevity and Seasonal Interest
There might not be a more important tree to have in your eastern U.S. landscape — if you can fit one in
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNThe Unparalleled Power of Trees
Discover the beauty and magic of trees, and why a landscape without them just isn't the same
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESLet Lilac Love Flower This Spring
Whatever you bestow or receive for Mother's Day, lilacs can be an unmatched gift in the garden in May
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BIRDSWild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life
How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHouzz Call: Show Us Your Great Patio, Deck or Rooftop!
Give your patio a chance at the spotlight as we head outdoors for a new summer ideabook series
Full Story
sonny44