Check whether it is legal to relocate wildlife in your state. In at least one of the New England states it isn’t legal.

Susan, I have not found out yet who is the provider of peanuts. Judging by the explosion, it is more than one. I did post on a neighborhood forum to ask that people stop feeding them. But since my neighbors don't garden, nor spend much if any time outside, I doubt they realize the problem.

A quick killing of the squirrels would be more humane than relocating them. They have spent their entire life in their current surroundings, so know where to find shelter, food and water, plus their family. If you relocate them, they will end up starving, or being eaten by predators. Plus they suffer the stress of being in a completely foreign place. That's why relocating wildlife is illegal, unless done by experts in very controlled circumstances.

Martha

Killing squirrels is humane????? Realy. And then you live with that guilty nightmare for the rest of your life. And how many other beautiful creatures will get accidentally killed in the process? Put up some owl houses and pray to God for wisdom. It seems to be lacking around here. A lot of bird food mixes include whole peanuts, so your neighbors intentions might be to feed the birds and not the squirrels. I was trying to kill voles once with peanut butter and mousetraps and accidentally killed a beautiful White Crowned Sparrow. On another occasion I put sticky paper under an upside down broken pot to kill ants, and a beautiful wren crawled under it, got stuck, and suffered a slow, horrible death because of ME. So I have to live with this the rest of my life. I'm done with killing. I didn't give them life, and it's not my right to take it away.

Relocating a trapped wild animal is not as humane as many people think and in most states it may be illegal to transport a trapped wild animal without a license. Perhaps this, from the Humane Society, might be enlightening.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/scrap_the_trap.html

It is illegal here in Virginia.

Just throwing out an idea - some people on Gardenweb use a motion activated water device to keep stray animals out of their yards & I notice that some of these list squirrels among the animals on the target "keep out" list. You hook it up to your hose, leave the water turned on, & the animal will "motion activate" the jet of water. I'd try to find one w/ a generous return policy in case it doesn't work!

https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Motion-Sensor-Sprinkler-Repellent/dp/B0742MB4MR

Just throwing out an idea – some people on GardenWeb use an automatic motion activated water jet device to keep stray animals out of their yards that attaches to your garden hose. I notice that squirrels are listed in the target list of animals that these devices are designed to keep out. I’d try to find one w/ a generous return policy in case it didn’t work. I have a friend w/ one of these. They live in the country & want their ducks & geese to stay in the yard, instead of walking down the driveway & out onto the road, where they could get run over. It’s a powerful jet of water & I have to keep my windows up when I come & go or I’d soaked! Check the video at the bottom of the page.

https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Motion-Sensor-Sprinkler-Repellent/dp/B0742MB4MR

Just throwing out a thought – some people on GardenWeb use an automatic motion activated water jet device to keep stray animals out of their yards that attaches to a garden hose. I notice that squirrels are listed in the target list of animals that these devices are designed to keep out. I’d try to find one w/ a generous return policy in case it didn’t work. I have a friend w/ one of these. They live in the country & want their ducks & geese to stay in the yard, instead of walking down the driveway & out onto the road, where they could get run over. It’s a powerful jet of water & I have to keep my windows up when I come & go or I’d soaked!

water jet devices