I've considered hiring a trapper to move these critters from my back yard but then the squirrel population is growing by leaps and bounds. so since nature abhors a vacuum believe I am only making it easier for another family to move in. What's a bloke to do?

Squirrels are very closely related to rats. Some how rats got the raw end of the stick, but remember, a squirrel is just a semi-cute rat. You can get Salmonella from their droppings and Lyme disease from ticks they may carry. Both are no joke. Squirrels don't really like owls so maybe a fake owl could work.

First, I have seen squirrels eat baby birds from the birdnest, so they are not entirely vegans.

Secondly, try target practice with a paintball gun on the squirrels.

We had them in our last place. They climbed the cage to get to the food in the trees. They never damaged the cage in the 9 years we were there but provided amusement for our cat. Now when the cat climbs the cage, his weight on the screen was a problem. In short, they are just hungry.

I happen to agree with your description they are vermin

I had a problem with barn swallows up north. the state recommended an owl. I placed one near their nest and they walked all over that owl. The state then said well hammer spokes all along the rafters so they can't squat to make a nest. I did and discovered I'd provided studding for their nest making it stronger.

But I am desperate and will try the owl again

Of course all of us would have been spared these sort of problems if God had simply made us all vegans

I'm not bothered by the critters on the screen as there is no damage. But my dear wife wishes they would remove their combat boots before running across the roof over our bedroom at 6AM.

Pepper spray. Real cute until they are trapped

They will damage the cage eventually. And they also get on the roof and chew the caulking around the furnace vent and vent pipe seam causing that to leak.

I found a super soaker squirt gun caused them to move on. They don't really like getting wet.

Luckily the local squirrels are relatively small.

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Hi Barefoot: I am concerned that they will create damage to my home because that is what those critters end up doing. I am spending too much time and too much water washing the remnants of pine cones off of my birdcage roof. they killed two of my wife's flowering plants because of their incessant digging.

the pine trees are what has drawn them but the pines belong to the course. I doubt they would agree to cut them down but I am getting desperate enough to ask

I'm glad I'm not a wee little squirrel trying to survive.

Squirrels have eaten holes in my roof vents, which I covered with the recommended covers from Ace a few months ago. Now, they have eaten edges and holes in both my solar panel tubes as well as my drip lines for irrigation. (Guess they got upset when could not chew on roof vent pipes! ) Solar guy says only way to get rid of them is via ultrasonic rodent and squirrel deterrent box. It should arrive today! Cost $85 a visit for "non warranty" repair to solar, and "lots" of money for drip line water leaks! Sure hope it works!