Squirrel vandals! Help!

[MFrost]

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!

 

[MFrost]

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.

Just for reference, it's actually our Home gas supply, i was just describing the hose as being "like a BBQ hose".

 

[MFrost]

Just buy some conduit and put it over the pipe

My thoughts. They're more likely to get bored of wearing their teeth down than chew through metal.

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! What a silly bit of evolution. I guess whatever wears their teeth down the best, they will chew on.