Urban squirrels

[DFBrews]

Come zombie time how willing are you to eat backyard tree rat? I currently have 5 of the bastards on the back porch they chewed through my chicken food bin today and are having a feast

[DenverGP]

if it was zombie time, I could get a lot of squirrel and rabbit with my 22 in my front and back yard, at least enough to eat for a week or two. Never cleaned or butchered any game, so I'd obviously need to look up some you tube videos first...

[ray1970]

I?ve eaten my fair share of squirrels. Not sure what the urban ones would taste like because I?m guessing their diets are probably different than their backwoods cousins.

[DFBrews]

I?ve eaten my fair share of squirrels. Not sure what the urban ones would taste like because I?m guessing their diets are probably different than their backwoods cousins.
I have as well along with bunnies.

evergreen forest squirrels don’t taste nearly as good as a nice eastern hardwood forest squirrel. That and watching them carry off a chicken wing from the trash can

[ray1970]

I think the squirrels in my neighborhood eat a steady diet of dog food.

[rbeau30]

I'd eat them, however I don't often see them in my neighborhood In Eastern Aurora. Saw them a lot in my old neighborhood off of Mississippi and Tower. Everyone had squirrel-sized holes in their trashcans. I guess it is a form of recycling right?

[wctriumph]

I think the squirrels in my neighborhood eat a steady diet of dog food.

Dog makes a fine meal, ate some once in AZ on a Quail hunt near the Mexican border. It was highly seasoned and covered in BBQ sauce.

We have lots of squirrels and little bunnies all over where I live. I have had pot luck stew that I am told had squirrels, rabbits, crow, snake and pigeon in it with native root vegetables. It tasted like salty dirty water.

[ray1970]

Squirrel gumbo is the best. I think I'd rather have squirrel or rabbit in my gumbo than chicken and sausage or shrimp.

[Irving]

I have four that I keep an eye on and have been baiting to get into the right position. Turns out a squirrel will easily "jump the string" when using a blow gun, so I'm going to have to just get a pellet rifle.

Anyway, I'm not waiting for the end times. I've got my squirrel/rabbit hot wings recipe all lined up. Just need to dedicate a day to actually have a successful hunt so I can get them all at the same time.

[ChickNorris]

Um... is anyone here saying they have a use?

BTW Its the right season for harvesting tails for fishing flies.

[ChickNorris]

Just today I made the acquaintance of two...

Its a fairly regular thing so if interested let me....SQUIRREL!

[Irving]

Yes. I'll take at least four. Do you field dress or no?

[Great-Kazoo]

Yes. I'll take at least four. Do you field dress or no?

If they don't get field dressed, you need stuff them in dry ice, to kill those fleas and lice they carry.

[Irving]

With the freezing temps I'm not worried about fleas, mites, ticks, just spoiled meat. Probably not as big of a deal on squirrels though.

[electronman1729]

My roommate in college who was a older than the rest of us, told me that he shot a goose at city park in Denver and said it wasn't very good. Would imagine squirrels would not be much better

[ChickNorris]

Irving, It's rare I have 4 in one day (anymore), though not unheard of. Might have to spread it over a couple days if I'm the sole contributor.

[ChickNorris]

Also, I've 4 live traps if you'd like to borrow them in the interim of your pellet rifle purchase. Baited properly you'll have no trouble catching 4 in a day.

[Irving]

Between the neighbors and I, we have plenty of live traps; but because of the dog, they're tu never go onto the yard and get into them.

[ChickNorris]

Have you considered putting them along the fence line & up top. Easy peasy if they use it as a path.

[Irving]

Too much work when I can just stage their feeding position and get them. Are you a Fed?

[ChickNorris]

Too much work when I can just stage their feeding position and get them. Are you a Fed?

I see what you did there.

[ChickNorris]

Y no, no soy una Fed pero yo odio las ardillas. Buena suerte y entonces hazlo si es tan facil.

[ChickNorris]

Also thinking your indian name will be... 'Vegetarian'

Giggle snort

[thedave1164]

Also thinking your indian name will be... 'Vegetarian'

Giggle snort

Lol

[StagLefty]

They were part of our diet when I grew up in Maine. Mostly stew but I always thought they were pretty good.

[asystejs]

A Live Trap using peanut butter for bait is essentially a squirrel vacuum.
If you have an infestation, it is a quick and easy solution .

[ChickNorris]

Rofl, yes exactly.

Lovelovelove the phrasing.

[ChickNorris]

Last night my husband called me 'The Stacker of Squirrels'

; ) funny

[feal]

Anyone try the 5gallon bucket of water with peanuts and peanuts on a ramp?

[ChickNorris]

Apologies, I may have hijacked the thread... no I have not tried to eat one. I suspect my dislike will transfer, regardless of how skilled the preparation.

[BladesNBarrels]

Have some friends from Louisiana that shoot squirrels during the season (Yes Virginia, there is a season in LA). They freeze them and make Squirrel Gumbo during the winter months.
They seem to think it is a real treat.


There is nothing like some squirrel gumbo to spice up your day.
Sometimes you just need to spice up your life with a gumbo. Try making a squirrel gumbo, and bring the South into your kitchen.
Feed the whole neighborhood with this recipe. You can now have an annual squirrel stew party! Everyone will look forward to your gumbo of the trees.

Ingredients:

3-4 squirrels; cleaned
1 chicken
2 cups bell pepper; chopped
2 cups celery; chopped
1 qt stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
2 cups canned okra
3 tablespoons Creole gumbo fil?; or to taste
3/4 cups dark roux (oil and flour)

Pressure cook and debone squirrels and chicken. Save the broth. To make the boiling broth, add bell pepper, celery, onion, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Make roux (using oil and flour in equal parts, in a heavy skillet brown roux) and add to the above mixture, stirring until well blended. Cook until vegetables are tender. Add meat and okra. Season to taste. You may also want to add hot sauce to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes. Just before serving or when serving, add fil?? to taste. Serve over rice. Serves 15 to 20.

Welcome to New Orleans, game style!

https://i.imgur.com/fqzqfuA.jpg

[ChickNorris]

Irving.... I'm stacking squirrels today.

Im on my way out for a bit so its going in the freezer as is.

[BladesNBarrels]

Irving.... I'm stacking squirrels today.

Im on my way out for a bit so its going in the freezer as is.

Um, I think they are supposed to be cleaned before stacking in the freezer?

https://i.imgur.com/F5T6WlX.jpg

[ChickNorris]

Busy.

Funny.

[ChickNorris]

Speak up or by tuesday it's bye bye.

[Irving]

Oh me? Thank you but I'll pass. I need field dress asap and I'm not going to expect anyone else to do it for me.

[DavieD55]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiiQSSszyS0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drvcEpq_yTM

[ChickNorris]

Squirrel sock made me giggle

[ray1970]

Squirrel sock made me giggle

My squirrel sock makes all the ladies giggle.

Just saying.

[ChickNorris]

My squirrel sock makes all the ladies giggle.

Just saying.

Like Magic Mike XXL?

[ray1970]

Similar but different.

[Justin]

I regret clicking on this thread.

[ChickNorris]

I regret clicking on this thread.

Rereading... what I just thought too.

[Big E3]

I guess I missed this thread when it was started. I just came here now to read all the great stories about the people moving into downtown Denver, what a disappointment!

[ray1970]

On a somewhat related note, my urban bunnies have gone into hiding. I?m thinking even they don?t want to be outside in the heat.

[ChickNorris]

Update:

I found a taker & I'm glad they've been put to culinary use.

Delivered a cooler full a while back & set to do another here soon.

[whitewalrus]

Update:

I found a taker & I'm glad they've been put to culinary use.

Delivered a cooler full a while back & set to do another here soon.

I hope he isnt planning on bringing them on the hunting trip :)

[ChickNorris]

Hadn't been keeping up with my chores & have at least a dozen coming on my property now, daily & doing considerably damage. Thought Id ask if anyone is going to want them before I get started. Lmk cheers.

[asystejs]

We had lived in this house for 20 years and only saw squirrels occasionally.
That changed in 2015 when a tidal wave of squirrels hit.
They were in the attic, in the chimney, on the roof and in the garage.
They chewed holes in heavy 50 gallon trash cans.
They were tearing the screens trying to get into the house.

After five years and 136 squirrels trapped, we were back to only seeing
them occasionally and now I am keeping it that way.

Fall 2018 brought an infestation of raccoons, we trapped 9 and have not seen one on trail cam since.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

2007 we had issues with them gnawing our facia boards. Had a pro put some traps on our roof and with in two hours, we had four trapped. I asked what he did with them. He said he lived out on the plains and he would just release them. Talk about a squirrel nightmare- just running and running and no trees?. Oh well, don?t chew my facia.

We had trouble again in about 2016-17. I bought a trap and baited it with peanut butter. Takes about 90 min to catch one. Fill a recycle can with water and deep six them. Got about 3-4 again and the trouble stopped.

I do think the coyote and fox populations took a hit around 2010ish and the squirrels and especially the rabbits took advantage. Our neighbors cat like to hang out at a choke point on the squirrel run, so hopefully at the very least their mobility is reduced. The cat trips my cameras most nights, but I?ve seen a fox a few times in the last month. We might be missing a cat soon?

I did have a hawk swoop into my backyard a few weeks ago. My 35lb labradoodle was spread eagle in the back yard. Not sure if the hawk was coming in to see what is up, or realized I was sitting at a table under an umbrella. But he beat it out of there hastily. That dog loves to sleep on his back in the sun. His viewpoint seems to be ?Screw with me and you?ll have to screw with that thing over there that seems to bbq anything made of meat.?

Eating, eh. The squirrels I?ve gotten have some pretty nice coats on them though.

[Irving]

Like North Face or Patagonia?

[ray1970]

Like North Face or Patagonia?

They?re urban squirrels. Not yuppies. Probably more likely Adidas or maybe Nike.

[Irving]

Squirrels in starter jackets.

[Scanker19]

I think some urban squirrels once stole my truck.

[Irving]

The police found it and all the wires were stripped I bet.

[Scanker19]

Yeah from the ignition.

[hollohas]

I've lived in the same house for 12 years and never had a squirrel until this year. There WERE a bunch all of the sudden this year. Keyword there...got to protect the garden.

Turns out a bolt action airsoft rifle does wonders to reduce the squirrel population in an extremely safe, and very quiet, manner.

That's true for the bunnies too, fyi.

Plentiful and cheap ammo. Quiet and safe. Airsoft urban hunting FTW.

[DFBrews]

I've lived in the same house for 12 years and never had a squirrel until this year. There WERE a bunch all of the sudden this year. Keyword there...got to protect the garden.

Turns out a bolt action airsoft rifle does wonders to reduce the squirrel population in an extremely safe, and very quiet, manner.

That's true for the bunnies too, fyi.

Plentiful and cheap ammo. Quiet and safe. Airsoft urban hunting FTW.


I have a crop of deer meese in the garage this year.

Got my first victim on the run today with a crossman bolt action co2 pistol loaded 1/3 of the way with mustard seeds muzzleloader style

[hollohas]

I have a crop of deer meese in the garage this year.

Got my first victim on the run today with a crossman bolt action co2 pistol loaded 1/3 of the way with mustard seeds muzzleloader style

Cool! Never would have thought of that.

[JethroBodine]

One of my neighbors put out a live trap to catch the cotton tails and relocate them to a near by field. All he caught was a skunk. He called every one he could think of but no one wanted anything to do with it. Finally called a place that came with a large trash can and a blanket. They filled the trash can with water and threw the blanket on the caged skunk then picked up the cage and put it in the trash can. He immediately gave up on live traps.

[Sawin]

One of my neighbors put out a live trap to catch the cotton tails and relocate them to a near by field. All he caught was a skunk. He called every one he could think of but no one wanted anything to do with it. Finally called a place that came with a large trash can and a blanket. They filled the trash can with water and threw the blanket on the caged skunk then picked up the cage and put it in the trash can. He immediately gave up on live traps.

This is priceless and deserves a bump so others can laugh at it too