Preparing for Winter

ticking-over

Like Oystercatcher said about trying to find the gap in the roof where they're getting in and blocking it up - chicken wire and a sealent with cement like properties. There's not an awful lot in the way of 'friendly' methods of removal it would seem - possibly because the grey squirrel, cute as it may sometimes be, is a destructive little invader.

However I did find a couple of tips on a gardening site that are non lethal and are reputed to work... First you'll need a couple of foxes with full bladders... yes you did read that right... if you can persuade a fox or two to 'spend a penny' in your loft space the scent of the urine is apparently quite off putting to squirrels!!!

But if the local foxes are a little shy then there's a recipe for a spray that you can mix up and spray around the edges of the loft space which should be just as off putting to a squirrel with a sense of smell...
Cooking Up Something Special:
Break out a 2 quart sauce pan, fill it 3/4ths of the way full with water, and get it boiling. Add to the boiling water two chopped cooking onions, one chopped Jalapeno pepper, and one tablespoon of Cayenne Pepper, or Ground Red Pepper from your spice rack. Let the mixture boil for approximately 20 minutes, and let cool. Strain the chopped peppers and onion out of the pan, and add the left-over liquid to a spray bottle for easy application to the leaves, and ground around your bulbs. This recipe will provide up to five days of deterrent from squirrels after application.
For added Squirrel deterrence, sprinkle the bare soil around your bulbs with Paprika, and Ground Red Pepper. The smells of both of these spices irritate a squirrel’s nose, and send him elsewhere in his quest for a quick snack!
http://www.greengardenista.com/blog/?p=212#comments
Ok they were for keeping the squirrels off plants and bulbs but I figured it was worth a go.

suelizab

someone asked about flannelette sheets earlier, i bought mine at the linen cupboard on-line . thick, soft and warm . They will last for years .

valk_scot

young_at_heart wrote: »

Have had problems with squirrels in the loft in the past but thought they had gone forever. However, have heard worrying sounds the last few days and getting panicky as they can do a lot of damage but wouldnt do anything to hurt them. Does anyone have any ideas for holistic removal? Would really appreciate advice. Many thanks

Cat? If you can find a nice smelly tom cat or a good hunting cat to borrow for a day and lock it up the attic (with a litter tray and food of course) then it might just do the trick. My mother used to B&B one of the local cats (with owner's full permission) when she spotted any signs of mice in her house. Worked a treat.

downshifter

Woke early this morning to strange sounds in the bedroom and realised one of the cats had got in (Usually they're locked in kitchen overnight) Further realised that it was playing with a mouse. I really thought after years of living here and bit by bit blocking off all the entry holes, including sealing above and below skirting boards, gaps round pipes and so on, that I had at least kept them from coming into the bedrooms. Seems not. So does anyone know a recipe for keeping them away? It's all well and fine that the cats catch the odd one but where there's one there'll be millions, and now is the season for them to come into the warm from the fields. This house is partly built on boulders, so not easy to block off entries, though I've tried everything I can think of now. Very fed up.

DS

Reverbe

In addition to the winter bag I'm putting together with good books, chocolate, biscuits, hot drink mixes, long socks and candles, I found some cheap legwarmers and thick fingerless mitt thingies yesterday so will be adding those. Funny to queue up behind 2 women in skimpy summer dresses with them tho lol

fedupandskint

Reverbe wrote: »

In addition to the winter bag I'm putting together with good books, chocolate, biscuits, hot drink mixes, long socks and candles, I found some cheap legwarmers and thick fingerless mitt thingies yesterday so will be adding those. Funny to queue up behind 2 women in skimpy summer dresses with them tho lol

I thought this when I was in Primark the other day when it was mega warm and I waslooking at hats and gloves! Only the long queue put me off buying them! I felt a bit weird when everyone else was dressed for summer!

Kitchenbunny

I think I'm going to start something like this. Let's see...

Hot chocolate mixes (add hot water ones, not hot milk so can save energy)
Powdered milk for emergencies
I've already asked for socks for my birthday later this year, and think I'll add some nice gloves and a new hat, too.
Candles (and as an offshoot of that, matches)
Draught excluders
Pair of wellies
Must make some more "ready meals" for the freezer so we can have hot food in a flash! (Soups, stews, curries, etc)

I bought a new fleece (one of the thermal ones) as one of the camping stores in town had it for less than half price It's lovely and snuggly and soft

There's my little list. Hopefully everything is covered, as I've already got flasks for Hubs and I

KB x

oystercatcher

downshifter wrote: »

Woke early this morning to strange sounds in the bedroom and realised one of the cats had got in (Usually they're locked in kitchen overnight) Further realised that it was playing with a mouse. I really thought after years of living here and bit by bit blocking off all the entry holes, including sealing above and below skirting boards, gaps round pipes and so on, that I had at least kept them from coming into the bedrooms. Seems not. So does anyone know a recipe for keeping them away? It's all well and fine that the cats catch the odd one but where there's one there'll be millions, and now is the season for them to come into the warm from the fields. This house is partly built on boulders, so not easy to block off entries, though I've tried everything I can think of now. Very fed up.

DS

They can eat their way through wood and plaster and all sorts.
Our house is a sixties design with tiles on the upper half giving ample access to little beasties who can then climb in the cavity walls and access anywhere they want!
I got rid of them with a combination of spring traps and the 'blue poison' you can buy in places like Wilkinsons (they were considerably cheaper than Morrisons for identical product!). I hate using poison but hate the mice even more. I have actually left a tray of it in the loft to catch any new intruders!

Quasar

Today I reorganised my clothes, digging out winter stuff to have at the ready. I have two fleece jackets bought in Primark at least 4 years ago, for £4 each. They are thick and warm, and have kept me toasty every winter since. They don't look any worse for wear and will last me this winter too.

A few fleece blankets too - one blanket under the duvet, close to my skin, one under the sheet, add a lot of warmth during the night.

NualaBuala

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

http://www.kempswoolshop.com/

Kemps have a sale on chunky wools just ordered mine!

Thanks for this tip - I ordered my poncho wool at a great price. :TCan't wait for it to arrive!