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Huge squirrel population chomps crops, driving farmers nuts [New England]
Associated Press ^ | Sep. 15, 2018 10:48 AM EDT | David Sharp

Posted on 09/16/2018 10:36:21 AM PDT by Olog-hai

There’s a bumper crop of squirrels in New England, and the frenetic critters are frustrating farmers by chomping their way through apple orchards, pumpkin patches and corn fields.

The varmints are fattening themselves for winter while destroying the crops with bite marks.

Robert Randall, who has a 60-acre orchard in Standish, Maine, said he’s never seen anything like it.

“They’re eating the pumpkins. They’re eating the apples. They’re raising some hell this year. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Evidence of the squirrel population explosion is plain to see along New England’s highways, where the critters are becoming roadkill.

Last year, there was a bumper crop of acorns and other food that contributed to a larger-than-normal squirrel population this summer across the region, said Rob Calvert, wildlife biologist from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

This summer, there’s not as much food, so the squirrels are looking for nutrition wherever they can find it, including farms, Calvert said. …

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food; Local News; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: agriculture; anniegetyourgun; apples; cropdamage; farmers; maine; newengland; orchards; pests; populationexplosion; pumpkins; squirrels; standish; wildlife
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To: mabarker1; 21twelve

Lots of rodent control ideas at https://mousetrapmonday.com/


61 posted on 09/17/2018 3:30:35 AM PDT by pa_dweller (They never thought she would lose. BWAAAAHAAAHAAHAAaa!)
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To: pa_dweller

Cool, Thank You.


62 posted on 09/17/2018 3:41:53 AM PDT by mabarker1 (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!!)
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To: Steven Scharf

Same here in CT. Mentioned to the wife that there seems to be a whole lot more dead squirrels on the road.
I know they can’t hear it but I will yell “don’t do it” because just like you I won’t brake either.


63 posted on 09/17/2018 8:14:30 AM PDT by penguinhunter
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To: fso301

I have the Gamo Whisper Cat.

With a .177 round, it will explode a squirrels’ head and easily kill another squirrel standing behind it.

It is not quiet. That part was false advertising.


64 posted on 09/17/2018 8:58:15 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (I posit that there IS something left worth fighting for.)
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To: GreyHoundSailor

Your welcome! And his name was poops before he took the car ride.


65 posted on 09/24/2018 8:55:26 PM PDT by Oil Object Insp
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To: Olog-hai

Dangerous to put the words “squirrel” and “nuts” in the same title...


66 posted on 09/24/2018 9:00:37 PM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
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To: Magnum44
Only the Dissociated Press is brave enough. </sarcasm>
67 posted on 09/24/2018 10:10:55 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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