I have heard a few of my friends ask me – “Can I shoot squirrels in my yard in Texas?”
Perhaps you have a bunch of these bushy tails pestering your yard. Or, they have been wreaking havoc on your garden.
Before you go ahead and aim your shotgun at these creatures, take some time to pause:
Is it prohibited or not to carry out this action?
Keep in mind that the last thing you want is to get in trouble with the law. Shooting squirrels in the wild may be allowed but what if it is in your yard?
Discover the straight answer to this question and spare yourself from consequences in the end. Let’s get started!
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What You Should Know about Shooting Squirrels in Your Texas Yard
There is no doubt that squirrels are fascinating creatures.
But at the same time, these fluffy-tailed rodents can become more of a nuisance than a backyard best friend. In fact, these are often considered as pests in some areas.
Thus, there are some people who wish to get rid of them completely. And when they do, they ask themselves, “Can I shoot squirrels in my yard in Texas?”
Generally, it is illegal to shoot these bushy tails within city limits. Shooting them can pose serious danger not only to other animals around but also to people.
If you are living in a suburban residential area, there are definitely people and animals that may become injured in case the stray bullet hits them.
In this case, what can you do to get rid of squirrels if shooting them is not an option?
Controlling Squirrels in Your Area
Texas is home to a number of squirrel species. There are actually 3 types of these rodents in the state such as the gray squirrel, flying squirrel, and the fox squirrel.
The most common among all of these types is the fox squirrel. They are typically found in central and eastern Texas. On the other hand, gray squirrels are located in the eastern part. They are also referred to as “cat squirrels.”
As for flying squirrels, they are not as common as the other two. Moreover, they are nocturnal creatures and the smallest of these other rodents. But just like the rest, these creatures inhabit the eastern portion of the state.
Cute as they may seem, tree squirrels are not always pleasant to have in the yard. For instance, they tend to eat up vegetables, seeds, and fruits growing in your garden. Some may even create a nest in your attic.
If you hear sounds of gnawing and running coming from your attic during the daytime, it is highly likely that there are squirrels around.
They may also gnaw at your electrical wiring and cause damages to it. Some squirrels can wreak havoc to your walls and insulation installed in your attic. Overall, the result of having these squirrels around may not always be a pleasant situation to homeowners.
So what can you do?
Well, there are different control methods that may come in handy if you are concerned about this squirrel issue.
Shooting them is not the best option, especially if you are in a place where there are dangers of accidentally injuring the people and animals around.
This is why we recommend that you try a different way of controlling these pesky creatures.
An example would be making your attic and other commonly frequented places of these animals “squirrel-proof.” What this means is that you can trim limbs of trees to make sure your roof is not accessible to squirrels.
Also, you can place metal bands around the tree trunks. This will discourage these rodents from climbing up and using the trunks to reach your attic.
Some squirrels are smarter, though. They may not enter the attic through the trunk of the tree. Instead, they use vents and squeeze themselves inside to get in.
If your vents do not have screens, then chances are these squirrels can enter too easily. This is why it makes perfect sense to seal these areas very well. You should be able to find good materials to seal these entryways such as hardware cloth, sheet metal, as well as steel wool.
But before you seal the areas, make it a point to inspect them first. The last thing you want is to seal them once the squirrel is already inside. Hence, it should be a good option to set up a one-way door. Although squirrels can leave the vicinity of the building, they will never be able to re-enter.
Additional Tips You Need to Know in Controlling Squirrels in Your Area
For the most part, there are much safer and more humane ways to control squirrels. You do not have to shoot them just to get rid of them or to prevent them from invading your place.
Trapping them may be an option, which has proven to be quite effective by several people. Not only is this free from hurting or even killing squirrels but it also works amazingly well.
And like we mentioned earlier, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to squirrel control. What this means is that you should prevent them from getting in instead of allowing them to cause problems and going out of your way to getting rid of them.
So for those who ask, “Can I shoot squirrels in my yard in Texas?” the answer is simple – it is a NO.
You should never ever attempt to shoot squirrels in your yard even if you are already losing patience with them. There are city ordinances on discharging firearms that you should never ignore. Thus, go ahead and try these techniques to control squirrel and spare yourself from massive headaches in the end.
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