How close to your house before you consider it a pest?

[L.Leon]

At my place my Jack Russell keeps the squirrels at least 15-20 yards from the house. They don’t come anywhere close when he’s out patrolling. The old chicken barn, where I store my tractor, chainsaw, bicycles, etc. Is funky and I need to update it. The front of the structure is 40 yards, the rear 50 yards away from my deck. Some reds have decided it’s their place, and I haven’t had the heart to permanently evict them, yet. Particularly when they leave me, on occasion a black walnut on the steering wheel of my Kubota. Or on my chainsaws, etc. The woodchuck that’s been popping out behind the barn? It’s on the hit list, very next opportunity? I’m sending…

 

[wimpanzee]

when they move into my space. sounds like they are in your space. they are gonna eat the wires on your tractor one day

I had to prune some bunnies that were coming in my yard, pooping, and then my dog would eat the rabbit poop and get an allergic reaction. They hadn't been munching the garden, just the plentiful clover, but when they were interfering with the health of me and mine, it was time to take action.

That said, we have a family of fox squirrels that love running the perimeter of the yard, with the oaks and walnuts behind us, but then stashing their crop in the stand alone set of elms by the street, they get chased into those trees almost daily by my dog...but they get a pass because they don't come close to the house...if they did i don't think they'd make the trees in time...lil aussie mix is fast...

 

[Emu]

Once the cables of your tractor get chewed by any of those charming creatures, all charming will fly away and pest season will start immediately !!!

 

[Joedirt199]

Leon practices quite abit with his atomic at 100 yards so I would say anything within your 100 yard range is fair game.

 

[Jasonmc]

Nope... Get them out. Soon the black walnut gift on your tractor will end up a rewiring job and possibly weak hydro lines where they chewed on them... This coming from experience... I blocked off their way in..that worked for a day or two... Hung a plastic owl...that worked for quite some time. But in the end it had to happen. 18gr pellet was the cure.

 

[Florida_Man]

Mice and rats anywhere I can safely take a shot. If I take squirrels out at my back fence they don’t try getting on my house.

She does a good job also. She is a mole assassin.

 

[L.Leon]

Once the cables of your tractor get chewed by any of those charming creatures, all charming will fly away and pest season will start immediately !!!

The tractor and squirrels have been in the space for years… but I get the point and will react proportionally.

 

[swNCsw]

I used to give them a pass at 50 yards years ago but it was only a hop skip and a jump lol. The squirrels got my electronic fuel shut off on a 2013 massey ferguson 4wheel drive compact tractor and some other wires that ended up for a total sum of 675.00 . That pushed the limit to 100 yards lol. I love watching the birds and smaaler critters but from a distance now haha . moved the feeders back as well (to 60 yards and opposite side from the barn ) and I use binoculars/remote cameras lol.

 

[Ranchibi]

Luis, I only shoot rats at my home but if the reds did any damage they would be injected with JSB sleeping pills. Once you revamp your barn (a lot of work) you would not want them inside or outside chewing on it.....

 

[KatoKevin454]

when I first got here, they kept to the trees, but now they started running on the roof, last thing I need is squirrels in my attic, so they are on the hit list now.

 

[Painterman]

Other than taking a bite out of a few tomatoes, the reds in my neighborhood tend to behave so I leave them be. Besides, my neighbors like them and I like to play with my Avenger.
Woodchucks on the other hand are fair game...

 

[Farmplinker2]

Wait until the raccoons decide you're a target.....

 

[delooper]

If it's in our yard it's a pest. Outside, it's not a pest.

 

[rcarlisle]

When I first moved here, we were in a sea of pests. Mice, chipmunks and rats mostly, which were (and still are) on the "terminate on sight" list. Squirrels are under observation for evidence of vandalism, etc, and they get one to the noggin for any nefarious acts like chewing on structures. We have rabbits, but the foxes keep them under control. I let that little bit nature's mystery have its place on my property. Occasionally I've had to whack a rabbit for simply being too plentiful (foxes had a bad year with rabies), but I appreciate them handling their populations without my intervention. And it's interesting to watch, as opposed to anything on TV.
I'd like to think I maintain a certain balance in my yard. Most things are just passing through and they are lovely to watch. I wouldn't want to lose that so I try not to disturb it. On the other hand, I also have to live my life in this house and yard. Anything getting in the way of my use of my property will be addressed as needed. Unfortunately for the animals, that means the rules sometimes change depending what I need to accomplish and lethal options are at my discretion.

 

[Painterman]

Wait until the raccoons decide you're a target.....

Raccoons, just like chicks are shoot on site.

 

[PumaCarl]

It's a thin line, wanting to watch nature, and then having to pay for it! Chipmunks are the absolute biggest problem to me. No mercy, 0. They kill plants, undermine walls, and screw up vehicles with chewing wires, storing nuts, etc. Friends had to shell out $7k for chewed wiring in two cars; and they loved the chippys before that. Nobody (who's an animal lover/apologist) thinks they're a big enough problem to get rid of untill they get the bill.

 

[rayroz]

SMACK DOWN!

 

[dens228]

If certain animals are in my yard they're a pest. Over the years.........squirrels chewing wires, rabbits creating nest after nest and eating everything, raccoons in the garbage, tearing through the side of my deck, once getting into the attic.
Kind of like when I switched from hunting bucks to hunting deer. My motto was, "If it's brown it's down" . Venison tastes good!

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

When it knocks on the door!

 

[Dairyboy]

Only thing by our house are birds. But they all are on the hit list. Lots of doves and starlings and sparrows. We have an orchard around us so they eat the fruit. Lol I guess to me it don't matter where they are they are a pest and they get dealt with.