Squirrel vandals! Help!

MFrost

MFrost

MFrost

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Joined
20 Feb 2007
Posts
131
So...we have 3 resident squirrels in our garden and have done for several years. They have recently decided to bite on the pipes from our Gas Cylendars We have 2 gas cylendars obviously connected by 2 gas pipes (rubber ones) like you would get connecting a BBQ gas bottle to the BBQ.

Only 3 days ago they chewed through the first pipe and caused a big leak in the pipe, completely irrepairable (needs a new pipe). Despite our best efforts of protecting the only remaining pipe as best we could covering it with ductape and encasing it in empty fizzy drink bottles to deter them - I come home to the hissing sound and it turns out they enjoyed vandalising the first one so much that they now and punctured the only remaining pipe we have.

So no gas for us at the moment, which is a problem and i'm really hungry and cant cook my dinner!

If there are any gas experts, a few quick question.

Q1: Are there "squirrel proof" gas pipes available?

Q2: If there aren't squirrel proof gas pipes, can you suggest anything else.

For those non-gas experts, some more questionss:

Q3: I'm currently googling BB guns to kill the *&^$£%$ things. However the family like the squirrels and enjoy watching them.

Q4: I'm also considering pest control, for the family's sake (although i'm guessing if the catch them they kill them anyway?")

Q5: Is it legal to kill squirrels?

And finally:

Q6: Any other opinions on what to do?


Cheers all!
 
It sounds like there is something in the rubber of the pipe they like.

I suspect the only real way to protect the hoses will be to put the BBQ away in a shed or garage when it's not actively in use.
 
MFrost said:
So...we have 3 resident squirrels in our garden and have done for several years. They have recently decided to bite on the pipes from our Gas Cylendars We have 2 gas cylendars obviously connected by 2 gas pipes (rubber ones) like you would get connecting a BBQ gas bottle to the BBQ.

Only 3 days ago they chewed through the first pipe and caused a big leak in the pipe, completely irrepairable (needs a new pipe). Despite our best efforts of protecting the only remaining pipe as best we could covering it with ductape and encasing it in empty fizzy drink bottles to deter them - I come home to the hissing sound and it turns out they enjoyed vandalising the first one so much that they now and punctured the only remaining pipe we have.

So no gas for us at the moment, which is a problem and i'm really hungry and cant cook my dinner!

If there are any gas experts, a few quick question.

Q1: Are there "squirrel proof" gas pipes available?

Q2: If there aren't squirrel proof gas pipes, can you suggest anything else.

For those non-gas experts, some more questionss:

Q3: I'm currently googling BB guns to kill the *&^$£%$ things. However the family like the squirrels and enjoy watching them.

Q4: I'm also considering pest control, for the family's sake (although i'm guessing if the catch them they kill them anyway?")

Q5: Is it legal to kill squirrels?

And finally:

Q6: Any other opinions on what to do?


Cheers all!
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Just buy some conduit and put it over the pipe:confused:
 
They are legal quarry and it seems that as they are doing damage you would be within your rights to have them killed by a pest controller or get a friend with an air rifle to come round and sort them out for you!
 
If they're grey then you can kill them...as long as its done humanely.

Which I guess means doing it quick and not causing the animal to suffer.

My cat used to kill them, in the cat manner.
 
TheOtherOption said:
They are legal quarry and it seems that as they are doing damage you would be within your rights to have them killed by a pest controller or get a friend with an air rifle to come round and sort them out for you!
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Don't be like this pensioner:

"Bill Worthington, 75, caught and shot animal five times with an air rifle at home in Bredbury, Cheshire
Described animals as 'vermin', 'garden rats' and 'those damn things' during interview with RSPCA
It is legal to catch and kill grey squirrels but it must be done humanely
Worthington pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Stockport Magistrates Court yesterday
'I cannot believe I've been taken to court - we're talking about one squirrel here,' he said afterwards"
 
You can legally kill squirrels, but using an airgun in your back garden is a bit of a grey area where the police could ultimately deem it dangerous due to the proximity of houses. It should technically be legal as long as the pellets don't leave your boundaries, but still you may find yourself in a load of bother, particularly if you live in Scotland. Try and get neighbours on side first if you go this route to hopefully avoid the police being involved. ALso make sure you get a suitably powered gun (not a cheap chinese £60 thing) and practice with it first so that you can be sure of killing them quickly.

Your best bet would be to find some way of covering the pipes with something animals cant chew through (metal). You'll probably find that if you opt for pest control, more animals will be along to take the place of the dead ones in a matter of days/weeks, meaning you will have to be shooting squirrels every few weeks. If this is something you want to get into then id suggest joining BASC. They do an airgun membership and will be a great help to you if things go wrong!
 
A1 - No idea.

A2 - I'd probably for with a thick wire mesh to protect the pipes too as a temporary measure. Ensure it's small enough mesh to prevent them crawling in and nibbling away.

A3 - Of course they do... just keep reminding them that they're pests. *assuming they're grey squirrels*

A4 - Do it. Traps, are a possibility. Land mines may be taking it too far.

A5 - Red squirrels and black squirrels are a no no for killing. Grey... Go right ahead. If they're healthy, then they're edible too.
 
Malevolence said:
If they're grey, then squirrel catapult. If they're red, then just protect the pipes somehow.
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You can get braided steel versions, i suspect they would have more trouble getting through one of those. Alternatively you could put a braided steel hose of iD slightly larger than the OD of a rubber hose.
 
Werewolf said:
It sounds like there is something in the rubber of the pipe they like.

I suspect the only real way to protect the hoses will be to put the BBQ away in a shed or garage when it's not actively in use.
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Just for reference, it's actually our Home gas supply, i was just describing the hose as being "like a BBQ hose".
 
MFrost said:
Just for reference, it's actually our Home gas supply, i was just describing the hose as being "like a BBQ hose".
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Right, first treatment, move to civilisation. Second one, use a far more substantial covering than a bit of tape. Something they'll be unable to get their jaws around.
Failing that go for a different type of hose or enclose the whole lot.
 
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Tefal said:
Just buy some conduit and put it over the pipe:confused:
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Ryan-3 said:
My thoughts. They're more likely to get bored of wearing their teeth down than chew through metal.
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From my limited research it seems that squirrels chew through all sorts of pipes...Copper, PVC, Rubber, and even known to manage to chew through steel.

They chew on things to purposely wear down their teeth as they constantly grow. If they grow too long they cant eat, and starve to death! :confused: What a silly bit of evolution. I guess whatever wears their teeth down the best, they will chew on.
 
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