Yup, your 22 rifle. They will get into our buildings and chew things up. Trap them by putting sunflower seeds around your trap which you have set inside a wire cage so that the birds will not come for the seeds. I use chicken wire and make a rounded cage but leave an opening so the squirrels can enter.

Hello Justin, Sorry to hear about your loss but glad they are renesting. We all learn from our mistakes and hopefully nothing happens to your blues this time. Snakes, Raccoons, Squirrels, and large birds are all dangerous to baby birds. I would like to invite you to share your story and join the bluebird nut cafe and we will provide you with all you need to know about these birds. It is way more active and you will get fast answers to your questions. Hope to see you there. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/

I think you're experiencing the same thing I am - Fox squirrels. Take a look at the Wikipedia page I linked and you'll see what I mean. I wasn't aware of the different variations/colorations/species. I always thought Fox squirrels were the very red, tufted-ear or black large squirrels that were not in our area. Now I'm seeing what looks like rusty grey squirrels and after a little research it looks like they are actually Fox squirrels. Really not supposed to be in our area, but the animals have never paid attention to 'our' boundaries for them. :) Hope this helps, Ging Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia fox squirrel

They eat them here in San Jose. I don't know any effective way of getting rid of them. Even if you trap/kill others will move into their space. Ideal would be have fruit contained in some kind of chicken wire where you have to open a door to go in and get fruit. EDIT: I should say these are grey squirrels