| Author | Content |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 8, 2007
11:27 AM Post #4061068
| I spent a fortune on 3 tiny mini hostas and the squirrels tore them up so many times, roots and all this time along with every thing else in pots !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hope they work.I have tried sprinkling the pots with hot red pepper but nothing seems to stop them. I do not want to hurt them but...Any suggestions ? |
soapwort243
South Milwaukee, WI
October 8, 2007
9:27 PM Post #4063250
| I was told putting Blood Meal around the plants will keep the squirrel and rabbits away. I have tried it and I think it helps for awhile but I can not swear by it. |
Raggedyann
Lawrenceville, GA
(Zone 7b)
October 8, 2007
9:35 PM Post #4063279
| Cats keep squirrels away, do you want me to send you one of mine? LOL
Someone told my husband that squirrels do not like snakes, so they put rubber snakes on branches, in pots, the yard to keep them away.
I use bloodmeal too. Between that and the cats, one of them is working. |
carolmo
Kansas City, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 8, 2007
11:02 PM Post #4063554
| I used 1" cheap plastic mesh from Walmart over the containers, cut mesh with scissors, pinned mesh down with garden staples, cut hole for plant if needed. Squirrels finally quit trying to dig. Nothing else worked. On a few occasions, they tried at an end of the mesh and if they could get the mesh up, they dug. So, I added more garden pins/staples. Pain in the neck to do, but it worked very well. I am going to do this again next year, even if it takes time and energy. It is fairly cheap.
I tried bamboo skewers for plants in ground, but took too many of them and critters still dug them up. I tried sprays and peppers - these worked for short while only. If I get expensive new plants next year, I am going to put mesh down first, pin it down, then add the plant. Pain but I will do it.
I just used this mesh and sand to plant tulip and lily bulbs, hoping this works.
Good luck. I lost most of several new heucheras and many of my other plants to these critters. It is now war. I just put tons (I mean it) of cayenne pepper in the bird feeders and am watching to see if they leave. Last year I thought they were so cute. Ick. Carol |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
October 8, 2007
11:12 PM Post #4063585
| I also used plastic mesh (bird netting from a local home & garden center) over top of my containers--I wasn't having problems with squirrels ruining plants, but they were burying walnuts in my pots and I was constantly pulling out baby walnut trees. No more baby walnuts after I covered the pots with the mesh! |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 9, 2007
9:11 AM Post #4064539
| OH my, thank you for advice...seems you all have squirrel problems too...
I have ordered some VERY hot pepper, cayenne did not work. I was looking for the netting and unable to find it but now I will check at Walmarts.
This problem has been going on year after year but it is getting worse and so frustrating !
Thanks so much for all of your help. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
October 9, 2007
9:25 AM Post #4064589
| The netting I used is the same stuff you buy to put around berry bushes to keep the birds off of them. This might not be a good time of year for you to find it locally--especially someplace like Walmart they probably don't carry much gardening stuff in the fall/winter. If you can't find it there you might try a nursery instead, or else you could probably get it from one of the mail order garden supply places. |
carolmo
Kansas City, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 9, 2007
9:27 AM Post #4064592
| Stormcloud: What kind of hot pepper, where did you get it, can you get it without high shipping costs? I am watching the feeders. Cannot tell if even birds are going there yet. It has been raining for some time - on and off. I only saw one rodent this morning so far, in upper part of garden - not near the feeders yet. The lousy rodents (mean it) also donate fleas to my cats when they get to venture out. Now treating lawn for chiggers and fleas. Treating cats for fleas. And I thought squirrels were cute once upon a time. When we moved here about 14 years ago we had both red and grey squirrels. The greys ran the reds off. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
October 9, 2007
9:23 PM Post #4066741
| i think my mystery of what is eating my plants is solved--i never thought of squirrels--thought of bunnies, birds, the turtles that live in my yard but now i think i know who has eaten my plants and leave little divets all over the mulch! |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 11, 2007
2:00 PM Post #4072249
| PLEASE do not use hot pepper for a repellent.It really doses not work anyway and I just read that it has been banned in several areas because it burns the poor squirrels nose and mouth and can also blind them. I had just ordered a jar online and paid $9.00 to ship the $6.00 jar but I will surely not be using it. How sad to think of harming the poor innocent rodents. NEVER
Try using human or dog hair in the pots as a repellent. And no thank you, I do not want a cat !!! I have 7 dogs ! |
greenjay
Centennial, CO
(Zone 5b)
October 11, 2007
2:04 PM Post #4072259
| Here is what we use to deter squirrels from digging up bulbs:
1) mix in fresh, strong smelling coffee grounds & plant bulbs
2) cover with layer of used bedding from a friend's pet rabbits
The 2 odors are both repellent, do no harm to the squirrels, and smell of coffee will make your neighbors wonder what in the heck you are growing... |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 14, 2007
4:02 PM Post #4082347
| Thanks, Greenjay...this sounds like great advice and I am going to get right on trying it !!! |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
October 16, 2007
12:51 PM Post #4089380
| Maybe if the squirrels were blind they wouldn't be able to find my gardens!! LOL (just kidding, a little)
I resorted to using chicken wire bury it just under the soil. Had to use hardware cloth and garlic for the chipmunks(the squirrels cousin) and they are not the cute disney chip and dale characters. They eat birds eggs! |
carolmo
Kansas City, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 16, 2007
3:09 PM Post #4089900
| YEAH! No more squirrels. At least not tons of them. Only a few around now. Lots of birds. One inch of cayenne pepper in bird feeders is OK. Finally. The rodents appear to have left my yard for other yards. No more holes everywhere. My lawn looked like a mine field - holes everywhere. All my new plants were dug up - maybe not anymore. Maybe I can enjoy retirement. Maybe I do not need to get a shotgun. Maybe I do not have to learn to like squirrel stew. I could not believe those rodents could do so much damage. Even tear up a grass yard? For 2 years they have dug up my plants. The plastic mesh, bamboo skewers, pepper wax spray, cayenne powder all together seem to have worked, and not letting them eat the birdfood. I am really tired. Thought gardening was a hobby - not this much work. Thought I had to deal with bugs - not large rodents. I will post again if I am wrong again. Carol |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 21, 2007
3:16 PM Post #4107634
| Awwww...sorry about all of your trouble over these Squirrels, Carol...I have all the same issues here and have for many years.
BUT, to burn and/or blind the poor critters ?? NO WAY FOR ME.
There has to be a better way... |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
October 22, 2007
8:46 PM Post #4112541
| I am not so sure about the hot pepper. I have heard it will keep them off of things. But It does not work with deer I can tell you that. Just last summer I had deer eating up some nice Hosta and a Hibiscus. I put enough pepper on them to acually give the leaves a red tinge. Come out the next morning and all there was left was a few bitten off leaves. with a little red pepper still on there. They had eaten all the rest. Trouble with squirrels is they multiply like mice and rats almost. I was told by a conservation agent that a 2 squirrel population will explode to 50 inside of a year with no problem. Being rural on a lake I deal with them from the end of a 20 ga. Seems that is the only solution we have around here. They can be the most damaging animal I have ever seen for the verity of thing that they will chew. As far as digging goes,we have Armadillo's now in the Ozarks and they dig like little backhoes. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 25, 2007
7:54 PM Post #4123734
| Try dog and Human hair in pots and beds...supposed to repel the squirrels.
As for the Deer...never heard of anything that worked. Sigh |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
October 26, 2007
6:31 AM Post #4124806
| I know something that will work on deer but you have to be rural it involves stinging thier rump very well. So I do not recommend it. I do not think hair would do anything aound here. I do pretty well with a concotion of 18 eggs and about 1/4 cup of garlic in 4 gals of water. You just have to do it a lot. If you read the lable real well on products like liquid fence you will see that is all it really is. It is just a matter of hetting the right mix.
I live in a resort type area with a lot of summer homes Squirrels will do extreme damage to things like wood decks step siding and anything else they can chew. The only way we can control them is by keeping the population in check. That might not set well with some people but that is what has to be done here. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 28, 2007
2:51 PM Post #4132568
| Hmmmm well I see the issue both ways and I do suffer a lot of squirrel damage here. In fact last winter they chewed right through our wooden garage door to get inside and find birdseed I had stored in a plastic bin in there. They chewed thru the bin and enjoyed my birdseed...sigh
Every morning I have to go out to my garden and replant all the little plants they dig up.
BUT...I would never harm them...I just wish I could find something to repel them from certain things. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
October 29, 2007
9:56 AM Post #4135168
| The problem is the populations grows so fast if left unchecked the squirrels will control you not you the squirrels. I have oaks and Hickory trees in my yard big enought that you could load a back of a pickup truck with all the nuts in the fall. You would thing that would prevent them from raiding the feeders and chewing up everything else but it does not.
I do not think you can really discourge them. At least that is what the state trapper told me. |
g916
South Londonderry, VT
(Zone 4b)
October 29, 2007
10:25 AM Post #4135294
| Something was eating my Oriental Lilies, chewing right through the stems. After everythng else failed, in desperation I
sprayed bitter apple on the remaining stems. It didn't hurt the plants and nothing ate them. I have a very large squirrel
population.
|
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
October 29, 2007
9:32 PM Post #4137683
| Never heard of that one before |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
October 31, 2007
12:41 PM Post #4143406
| WOW...I never heard of spraying the bitter apple before either but I sure am going to try it.
I have a bottle of it here to keep the doggies from chewing furniture but it has not worked for that. !
Thanks for sharing your tip ! |
amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)
November 20, 2007
11:45 PM Post #4215940
| what is bitter apple?
amy
* |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
November 20, 2007
11:58 PM Post #4215980
| It's a spray you can buy that tastes really nasty, usually it's sold to spray on things you don't want your dog to chew |
PeeperKeeper
Georgetown, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 24, 2007
10:22 AM Post #4224702
| I use Bitter Apple on my dog because she has a habit of licking/chewing at a certain spot on her front leg. It works well for that. I would think it would be a good idea to try it in the garden.
We just moved to a rural area with lots of woods. The houses are set very far apart, and there have only been houses out here for about 5 years. I haven't seen many squirrels yet, but we had tons of them in our old neighborhood which was in town. They used to dig up my plants all the time. They multiply more in town than in the country because out here there are still coyotes and who knows what else to help keep the population down.
I've asked Santa for an owl house for Christmas. The man at the Wild Birds Unlimited store said pretty much as soon as you put one up, you will have an owl move in around here. He had one in his 12 hours after he put it up. I don't know if owls get many squirrels because squirrels are mostly diurnal and owls are nocturnal, but I'd like to have an owl around anyway. At least they will keep the mice down, and as long as it's not a screech owl I think it would sound cool at night. I know for a fact that hawks take squirrels because I saw one with one at our old place, but I don't know how to attract hawks. I don't particularly want the coyotes around too close because we have a smallish dog, but they are awesome to hear "singing" off in the distance. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
November 25, 2007
1:28 PM Post #4227917
| I would not bet on anything the man in the wild bird store said about owl houses. I do believe you will get a squirrel in there a lot faster. Besides remember owls are night creatures. I find it hard to believe they will do any damage to the squirrels. If your going to be rural and the distance is far apart I would go to a shotgun. 20 ga with shells with what is called a game load and number 6 shot. that is what I use a lot of the time when they are hopping around in the trees. A lot of people make the mistake of using a 410 ga shotgun on squirrels but it will wound a lot more than it will kill. and many kills are not clean. If I have to resort to shooting I like a clean kill. All I use my 410 for is to shoot deer in the rump with. At about 20 yrds, 7 1/2 size shot it will not penatratethe hide on their thick rump. But it gives them a sore rump for a few days and a life long memory of a place to avoid returning to. If no shotgun them go to a good Pellet rifle with a scope. Never underestimate the power of a good pellet rifle like RWS with 1000 lbs muzzel velocity. I have one and and it has a 4 power scope on it. At 25 yards I could pick off pingpong balls all day long and never miss. But it is hard to use on running squirrels. You must have a steady aim. The ammo is cheaper is the main thing. |
PeeperKeeper
Georgetown, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 25, 2007
8:47 PM Post #4229284
| We're not THAT rural. When I say the houses are set far apart, I mean a few acres a lot, not half a mile. I did tell my daughter if she wanted to watch for that buck who decided to make my new smoke tree a scrape (he rubbed his horns on it every night until I put a fence around it) and pop his rear with her BB gun, more power to her. I don't think the neighborhood association would appreciate me getting after him with a shotgun though.
I don't have any reason to doubt the word of the bird store guy. He's been a small business owner in the area for many years and is an authority on all things bird. He wouldn't be able to build a business based on a hobby like birding if he lied to customers just to make a sale. Yes, I remember owls are night creatures. I mentioned it in my original post. But you never know, they might get lucky. As it is now, I haven't seen any squirrels so I think there would be at least as good of a chance of an owl claiming an owl house as a squirrel. |
WeeNel
Ayrshire Scotland
(United Kingdom)
November 26, 2007
9:19 PM Post #4233019
| I would rather see an owl house than an injured squirrel any day, yes they do a lot of damage to the plants, bulbs and trees we all want to grow, I have been told to hang bags of human hair up on the garden beside the shrubs and plants that the deer eat and also the squirrels dont like it either as they smell of humans sends them packing, but you must refresh it every week ?????
also on the market is a product from lion droppings, dont ask me where to get it, but I believe it is mail order so who knows, maybe the stuff is in USA and not in UK YET.
The best deterrent I have found is the chicken wire, the plants and bulbs will grow through it and the squirrels cant scrape the soil under it, so you dont see it, the wholes in the lawn are them burying there nuts for winter shortages, but as Ecrane found out, they dont come back for them, so the nuts germinate. Water squirting on a timer is supposed to help too but cant be bothered setting it all up to be honest, Squirrels are still active when the owls are about at dusk/dawn, I have hawks and buzzards, but we still have squirrels, sigh, sigh and sigh again. good luck to you all, WeeNel. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
November 27, 2007
11:13 AM Post #4234907
| Well everyone deals with it in there own way. Squirrels here MUST be controlled and thecsame appies to deer. we had the first weekend of the annual deer season 2 weeks ago and the state recorded more than 100,000 taken. I do not hunt deer by the way only time I have ever shot a deer is for a determint as discrobed above. I have shot more squirrels than I can count. Very Very few of them were anything but clean kills. Below is a picture of what a squirrel can do in a few minutes. I just will not have my property destroyed. That is the main thing round here is destruction of property.
Wee Nel I do not know how long you been doing the human hair thing but the deer will usually get used to it after a time and totally ignore the hair.
This message was edited Nov 27, 2007 9:15 AM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
WeeNel
Ayrshire Scotland
(United Kingdom)
November 27, 2007
8:10 PM Post #4236943
| I agree with you that the deer and the squirrels are so destructive, I also agree that you need to try control them. What was also my own opinion, was how that is done, where I live, which is surrounded by woodland, that was my choice, to live in lovely green, lush, fertile area of the countryside, this in turn was where the deer, squirrels, birds and many other wild animals had inhabited long before I arrived, so I look on it that I was the intruder, yet I will still continue to grow plants that are not favourable to the deer, yet know that there is very little they wont eat, the squirrels drive me nuts as they also cant distinguish between a garden plant or a wild tree/shrub or flower, but I am happy to continue enjoying such wildlife on my doorstep, keep trying different methods to distract rather than kill them. I am also happy that I have a full veg garden that feeds my family even though the deer eat some of the veg and fruit, to grow any shrub or plant that I love and admire so long as I can stay one step ahead of all the wildlife and protect the plants to an extent, (you cant beat them all the time) so that is what my gardening is all about, we all have different ideas and methods of dealing with whatever conditions we have, and I dont remember saying there was a right or wrong way, I said what my own preferences were, no one was ever condemning other methods, just giving ideas for others to try.
As regards the human hair, I did write that you need to change the hair every week ???? so (get friendly with local hairdresser) and you also need to change the position you hang it up, you can also add it to your compost so long as there are no chemical treated hair, it only helps, it dont mean you wont see any wildlife ever again. hope this clears things up a bit, Happy gardening, Weenel. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
December 2, 2007
9:38 PM Post #4255411
| I put up 2 Owl houses a couple of years ago and the squirrels immediately moved in, nested and had babies. It was so cute to see those little ones out on the little front porch waiting for their Mama.
Sorry...I do not believe anyone has the right to destroy G-ds creatures...the wildlife was here before we were.
As to the human hair, well it does not repel anything here,I tried it in every way suggested and even groomed my dogs out there for the hair. No Good at all...
I will keep tryng to have them move from my garden area but will never harm a living creature.
Yes, I have had plenty of damage here...last winter they chewed a hole right thru our wooden garage door. |
3gardeners
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7a)
December 3, 2007
12:06 PM Post #4257204
| Just curious, do you use any pesticides for insect control, chemical or organic? God made bugs too.
Rodents were here before us, and will be after us, but OUR arrival has provided them with an unnaturally easy supply of food and their numbers are getting out of control. I resorted to traps. I caught a few and carried them off to a park, but it had to be 2 MILES away to keep them from find their way home. (According to a ranger.)
I had to stop putting out birdseed all together this spring. For the first time in 10 years, I had not only 10's of squirrels in my 1/3 acre lot, but I also had rats coming up from the woods to within 1 FT. of my house, at 10:00 am in the morning!
So now the rodents are not only digging and eating $100's of dollars in bulbs (not to mention all of the hours in the blazing GA sun I work), they have also robbed me of bird watching. I use to have lots and lots of species coming through, as well as my regulars.
I use to LOVE the squirrels too and I WISH I could have a few, live with them, and them eat a bulb or plant or two, but that isn't the case. They are oportunistic rodents (like they were made to be) and they should be controlled just like the deer population is. If we have an infestation, fleas will be the least of the pest and disease problems we have to worry about.
Unfortunately, I live in a subdivision and have no legal way other that trapping to compete with there numbers.
Rabbits are out of control here too. And they are REALLY cute. Yet when you drive through in the night you see HUNDREDS of little pairs of eyes. For 3 years in a row, they have eaten my 2 varigated hydrangeas to the ground! Plus many annual and perrenials. They LOVE my 7 yr. olds black eyed susans. (Now those are tought plants. Eaten to the ground 3 times in one year and still it tries!) And rabbits are WAY to clever to come anywhere near a trap. D*#% rabbits.
I have purchased fox urine now. I pray that it will be the silver bullet and end all this angst so we can all just get along! |
amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)
December 3, 2007
11:07 PM Post #4259101
| stormcloud -
are you a vegetarian? or vegan?
i won't eat anything i wouldn't be willing to kill myself, so i cut out meat - except fish - many years ago. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
December 4, 2007
1:29 PM Post #4260738
| test |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
January 16, 2008
7:44 PM Post #4412244
| Yes,amethystsm, I most certainly am a vegetarian. I have been for over 20 years.
I would not kill it and I would not eat it !!
And yes, like you I do eat fish and I do eat eggs.
I have had an extreme amount of damage this winter from the squirrels but I continue to feed them and clean up after them. They were on this property before I was. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
January 16, 2008
8:14 PM Post #4412378
| sometimes we have a coyote in our neighborhood even tho it has been here a while and people get upset but again --they were here first and it is like they are the last few left in the area and i hate to have them go! does that sound crazy? |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
January 26, 2008
6:19 PM Post #4457844
| Not to me it does not sound "crazy".
I think if the Coyote bothers someone, and I know they do as we had some living in a empty lot next door to us, then we are the ones who should put up a fence to keep them out of our yards.
Do not let little pet animals or little children out alone when you know that you have coyotes in your area. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
January 26, 2008
11:28 PM Post #4458997
| I do not think a lot of you on here really fully understand conservation and its relation to animal control. Yes the animals were here first. But they breed at a lot higher rate than humans. They also run into problems on roadways in yards and other places if they get to be to numerous. It is not that the animals were there first it is that given a choice they would stay back in the woods etc. but when you have over population of them you force them into these situations. If your really serious about balance between a over population of some animal like deer then maybe practice birth control are have no children at all since there is no way man and animals can share the same ground. Remember they are subject to many diseases that can be transmitted to man. When you let them over populate they weeken and become liable to come down with certain things. Other animals are not so cute as they appear. Raccoon,coyotes, squirrels etc all can come down with rabbies. Deer can be exremely dangerous at times. We had a lady here abpout 2 yrs ago that was feeding a doe. The doe came with her fawn one morning and the lady did not see it ( the doe will many times make the fawn hide in a spot until dhe fimnishes feeding that is how they are) and the doe proceeded to almost stomp her to death. Your urban sprawl and to many people is the problem with animals. They are not the problem the people are. One pair of squirrels can become 50 squirrel in about a year. Coyotes have 6-8 pups. About 1/3 of the deer births are twins. So you got a chioces. Cantrol them, let them run over you are just move back into the city. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
January 27, 2008
2:02 AM Post #4459431
| i still hate to see them go--just like i hate to see an animal become extinct-- because something is going to happen or even needs to happen sure doesn't mean i have to like it! |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
January 27, 2008
9:34 AM Post #4459819
| Well I do to. A lot of it has to is do to man and his management of wildlife and the enviorment. I can give you a little example of (well not so little maybe) of something right here in my region. Over the years the states in this region have managed for a large deer hear. These herds have now grown to the point where deer are being forced into yards in the suburbs of St Louis and Kansas City for food and space. My son is a contractor and sees them all the time in yards in the St louis suburbs. That can be taken care of by a limited increased harvest. But there are other side effects of the large herd. Some years back Arkansas decided to help the black bear that have always lived in the deep ozarks re-establish their numbers. This misguided project was undertaken in Northern Arkansas. At present there are now Black bear all the way up into central Missouri and over into Okla and even Kansas. I would venture to say there are more bear now than when Jesse James roamed through these hills. These too will wind up in yards like the deer and allready do in some places. The large deer herd on the other hand and the way they have grown in numbers has been a real help into bringing the mountain lion back in this state for sure. For a long time when there was a close encounter between man and moutain lion the conservation commision would deny it. There is a lady on DG that had a horse killed by what the conservation commision claimed was a bobcat. I have seen plenty of bobcat and there is no way a cat between 25 and 30 lbs tops would even attempt to take on a full grown horse. As a matter of fact there preferred diet is small animals like rabbits. It has just been recently that the conservation commision has started to admit there is a wild population in the state. For awhile they claimed when one got hit by a car,etc on the hwy that it was someones escaped pet ,and would follow that with a lecture about owning exotic pets. I do not buy it. It is nothing more than the large herd of deer providing a abundant supply of food. Also in the last few years there have been reports of Jaguar around the Okla Ark boarder. There always was a few in Texas that came up from Mexico. But if they in fact are this far up I think it has to do a lot with the climate changes from enviormental abuse. Those things are the third largest cat in the world. So I agree with you I do not like to see animals destroyed are go instinct. I have shot so many squirrels I could not count, but to this day it is hard fro me too pull the trigger on anything but here they do a awful lot of damage when their numbers are to great. Its b ecoming that way with the deer. Anytime I can dive down a road and they will stand there are you have to stop while they cross like a cow they are tooooooo close and tooooo comprtable with man. Like i said one time before on here I counted 2 groups of Doe standing along the road within a mile of the house. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
January 27, 2008
12:00 PM Post #4460223
| yes you are right that in our attempts to save animals we have gone too far and i've seen that in parts of texas where deer are like pets coming into peoples yards for treats! we stayed overnight in an area where the motel gave out cups of food and the kids hand fed the deer --so called "wild deer" -not fenced in! i vistited my daughter in virginia and we hiked on the apalachian trail and i kept seeing deer-and finally one was on the trail with her baby and i was only about 20 feet away just staring at her while she stared back--it was a beautiful site-- my daughter said they had an overpopulation there too--60 minutes did a show on deer overpopulation somewhere in the united states and showed how divided people were on the issue--i do not know the answers and yet as an animal lover i like seeing a variety of animals and yet i know not all is right with animal populations-- |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
January 27, 2008
5:24 PM Post #4461480
| A doe in the spring can be a very dangerous animal. When someone friend are foe comes along the doe will make the fawn drop and she will wonder off a short ways. The fawn will lay frozen so still you can walk up and pick it up. If your lucky like I was one time picking one up out of the middle of the road and putting it over in the brush along the side fine but should she choose to assult you it is really something. They will rise up on there hin d feet and start whirling those hooves faster than you can believe. They can really tear your head and shoulders to pieces very fast. The instance we had here a couple of years ago was from a lady feeding the doe daily out of her hand. Thay lady about died. One of the paramedics sain she was almost scapted. |
kelli1993
Allentown, PA
(Zone 6b)
February 5, 2008
3:12 PM Post #4498943
| I moved into my house a year ago. An avid gardener who loves animals, I was in a fix with the squirrels here.
My solution: If you can't beat em - feed em.
I put out small green plastic bowls (not as noticable) full of sunflower seeds at certain areas of the yard. Had to make sure they were filled every morning, or they'd show me just how unhappy they were about it.
They didn't bother the flower beds / hostas again. The birds also stayed out of the veggie garden, and our cats got to watch it all safely inside. |
soapwort243
South Milwaukee, WI
February 5, 2008
8:14 PM Post #4499974
| I problem is, if you feed them, they are going to multiply and hang around. They'll be digging holes all over. Also, you may get rats and mice coming to eat from the bowls. I hope that will not happen--just a warning. Squirrels are cute animals- I wish you the best! |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
February 6, 2008
3:13 PM Post #4503381
| Stupid squirrel!!!!! It's been ripping apart my outdoor sisal throw rug I have on my deck. I just noticed it last week and had to chase it away a few times already. Can I put hot pepper on it ya think? |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
February 6, 2008
9:09 PM Post #4504936
| Flowergen--- Look at the vabover post with a picture of my garage steps. It took only a few minutes for on large gray squirrel to do that. I have 4 squirrels that come around every day and clean up under the bird feeders. As long as that is what they do fine. There is enough there for 4. But that is a border line limit. I will not allow anymore. |
kelli1993
Allentown, PA
(Zone 6b)
February 7, 2008
12:28 PM Post #4507224
| Overpopulation depends on lots of things. If you're in a really rural area, you would definitely not do well by feeding them.
However, since we've moved here (quiet suburbia) 9 months ago, we've found at least 5 dead squirrels. 2 on the street, 3 on 3 properties... including my own. That poor guy got wedged in the branches of a tree.
What I meant by 'If you can't beat em - feed em' was only if all else fails. Of all the garden 'pests', they're the hardest to eliminate without jeopardizing much.
As far as rabbits & deer are concerned, if you can find 'Liquid Fence', it's an amazing product that I 100% swear by. My former home had at least 5 deer and too many rabbits to count. I just about gave up on every form of gardening until I found that. (Helped w/ the squirrel situation too!)
I believe they have a website to order if your local hardware / garden center doesn't carry it. |
Beth08812
Dunellen, NJ
February 8, 2008
9:14 AM Post #4511032
| We've used coffee ground for years to keep squirrels away from our tulips. It works a bit. However, we've always used coffee grounds that have been brewed. This year we are going to try cheap unbrewed espresso. My one question is how does the coffee grounds effect the birds? I know birds have no sense of smell but does the caffeine have bad effects?
I agree with some of the people that would never want to harm the squirrels. If they are being killed immediately it's one thing, especially by owls or hawks as that is the cycle of life. However, I would never personally want to harm one. This past year, I was at a little league game when a baby squirrel walked out onto the field and kept climbing on the umpires foot. I walked over to the fence and he called timeout so I went out and picked up the squirrel. As it turns out, the squirrels mother was caught in the netting of the batting cage and died (probably from trauma) after biting through all the wrong strings in an attempt to free itself. I had the squirrel (about 8 weeks old) for 2 days before I found a place to take it. I picked the fleas and mites off of it and fed it formula and berries. It would climb up my sweatshirt and sit on my shoulder while I walked around the yard. It was content to just relax and watch the world. Not sure why this squirrel decided that it wanted to be with humans and was so willing to stay but it was great for photos. Though they are annoying in the garden, I can't look at them and not think of this little guy. Thanks for the warnings of hot pepper, we had tried it a few times before. |
Seandor
Springfield, MA
(Zone 6a)
February 8, 2008
9:18 AM Post #4511037
| I can't believe I missed this thread. I HATE squirrels - they have killed sooooo many of my plants.
We live in an urban neighbourhood with very nice neighbours that FEED the squirrels . . . like we need more. There are no natural predators to control the population, so DH live traps them and moves them to a large forested park several miles away. He has relocated as many as 16 in one week. From spring to late fall he probably relocates 150 or more.
The area is such good squirrel habitat, that as soon as we remove enough squirrels, new ones move in - but his efforts do keep things a lot more manageable. Instead of looking out the window and seeing 11 squirrels in one glance (yes, that many!) we might only see 2 or 3 (still three too many as far as I am concerned). Were these rats, everyone would be appalled, insisting that animal control erradicate the entire population - but alas, the squirrels have that cute little tail, so no animal control.
The squirrels have done serious damage to people's home, getting into attics (not ours, thank goodness!) making nests in the insulation, and there is a possible danger they could damage electrical wiring.
Squirrels are cute in their natural habitat - but not when they overwhelm a neighbourhood. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
February 8, 2008
10:45 AM Post #4511390
| I had one neighbor who had good luck LAST YEAR with liquid fence against deer. But according to the state trapper they often overcome any adversion to that are any other product. I have heard that before also. Another thing about Liquid fence and most of those products is the cost. It is fine if you have a small garden but I have several hundred plants spread over 3/4 ac that includes about 400 impatients that many begonias( they are not to nuts about begonias) and a135 hosta. The cost is prohibitive. I mix my own with eggs and it works pretty well. I found a Deer repellant study on the internet and posted it on the Hosta Forum. It is very revealing. With buckshot are even a pellet rifle the trapper tells me that the pain it will inflict will make a lasting life time memory. It must be done correctly however, with the right load and range to prevent permanent suffering. I use a 410 ga shotgun with a light power load and shot at least size 71/2 and 8-9 would be even better. The deer have to be shot going away from you in the rump area that is very thick hide. At a range of 20 - 25 yards it will not penetrate the hide but it will make one sore butt for several weeks. A pellet rifle will work real well also in more urban areas. Another thing about this method it will stike fear into the entire herd about the area as well many times.
If it comes to the point where i must shoot squirrels I usually use a 20 ga shotgun and do not take hard shots. Rarely will it not kill a squirrel instantly.
I do not have toi feed the squirrels I have 3 hickory trees and 4 oaks all dating back way over 100 yrs. It that way all over the area so there is no lack of food. |
tammynn
Davenport, IA
February 8, 2008
11:30 AM Post #4511626
| Last year I put mouse traps in some of my potted plants because nothing else seemed to work. Every day I reset the traps. But, after awhile they must've given up because I didn't seem to be resetting as many. |
carolmo
Kansas City, MO
(Zone 5a)
February 8, 2008
11:31 AM Post #4511631
| I just read the latest messages and thought I should add more. I added cayenne pepper to the bird feeders. Most of the squirrels left. The birds kept coming. Some squirrels still ate the dropped seeds/pepper and they certainly do not appear to have any ill effects. I just think most of them hated the pepper and went elsewhere. I definitely do not think I was blinding or torturing them. I want them to leave and quit providing fleas to my yard. I want them to leave and quit eating wood, tarp, tomatoes, and whatever they desire. I especially want them to leave before my new plants arrive and my wintersown plants go in the ground. Last year was not good.
I just started wintersowing. One squirrel sat down and watched me. I felt doomed. I had my deck treated before winter set in. The deck man said the oil used would stop the rodents from chewing on the wood. I hope so. I saw tiny squirrel hairs on all the wood stair rails. I am going to have the fence treated early in spring. The rodents have chewed the tops of almost every wood piece.
By the way, overpopulation is a killer of humans. If you ever hit a deer, you will agree with me. I am lucky to be alive. This area is full of deer and many are killed on the roads. We also have had large mountain lions killed on the road. They had really big feet and were not little bobcats. The thought of bears arriving nauseates me. I have grandkids now and would like them to be able to go outside without someone riding shotgun. I have a 6 foot fence and thought the kids might be safe. I had a 6 foot fence where I last lived and deer would still get in my back yard. I may never let the kids go out alone. Is this the wild, wild west again? I live in the suburbs and see more animal life than when I lived on 60 acres. Saving my grandkids trumps saving any rodents. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
February 27, 2008
10:21 PM Post #4598601
| I found a great squirrel solution...
[HYPERLINK@community.nascar.com]
Even if it doesn't keep them away for long it sure is entertaining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
April 7, 2008
9:12 PM Post #4773200
| I guess I am out numbered here but i do continue to buy corn and peanuts and feed the squirrels.When I am out working in my gardens they keep me company and follow me around.
They were here before we were and they belong to nature. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
April 7, 2008
11:24 PM Post #4774084
| If they belong to nature let nature feed them then. I'm not working so hard planting all my flowers to let those critters rip them all up. Also, had to throw out my large sisal rug because they ripped it apart. Those rugs are NOT cheap. |
Seandor
Springfield, MA
(Zone 6a)
April 8, 2008
12:22 AM Post #4774312
| I'm with you flowerjen, I think the squirrels should be Nature's food for other creatures, but alas, there are no natural predators in our neighbourhood. Even the occasional roadkill doesn't offset the population growth. Squirrels are charming in rural areas with hawks and pine martins, but my neighbourhood is infested with them. . . We HAVE to live trap them and move them to other areas. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 9, 2008
8:40 AM Post #4780617
| My problem is natures food is in the garden in the form of large hickory trees and oaks including one you could not rap your arms around including one that is is way over 100 ft high. Like I said one pair of mating squirrelsill get you 50 squirrels in about one year. I have several types of natural preidtors including hawks eagles and feral cats. The hawks are the best. I have about 2-3 right now in the yard that clean up under the bird feeders but when they stop that and star destroying property then I will get rid of them. |
3gardeners
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7a)
April 9, 2008
1:03 PM Post #4782092
| And how do you "get rid of them"? Fool-proof info. needed? That is the answer most of us are looking for.
They are bad enough, but do not do NEAR the damage rabbit do. (in my suburb yard we have hundreds.) Most come out at night, but it's like they know we can do anything to them, so some even come out in the day. And I have a cat plus two teenage cats next door!
I just bought a product from amazon called Bullet something or another specifically to ward off rabbits and dogs, my main problems. It basically smells like ground up mothballs. It's terrible! It gives me a headache and fills up the whole yard with it's toxic scent. Money down the drain.
And all the deterents from Liquid Fence smell so horrible (STRONG garlicy smell, and I like garlic). So horrible infact, that my neighbor complained.
Again, now I have all these products that I can't use in my suburban lot and I STILL lose plants to the rabbits. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
April 9, 2008
1:29 PM Post #4782213
| Have you tried deer scram? Smells like you're cooking steaks. |
amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)
April 9, 2008
1:30 PM Post #4782216
| heeheehee - like venison? |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 9, 2008
6:53 PM Post #4783670
| With a shotgun |
3gardeners
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7a)
April 9, 2008
10:05 PM Post #4784624
| Lucky you. It's against the law to even fire a BB gun in my county.
:-(
(Don't know if I could really pull the trigger anyway. But I wouldn't be sorry if someone else did!) |
Seandor
Springfield, MA
(Zone 6a)
April 10, 2008
9:48 AM Post #4786433
| I don't understand why we can't treat urban squirrels the way we would treat an infestation of rats - with pest control professional who eliminate them - permanently! |
amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)
April 10, 2008
8:06 PM Post #4789275
| Could they come for my moles/voles too? |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 11, 2008
8:42 AM Post #4791488
| Seandor---- You check around quietly and I am sure you will find some who do. Squirrels do help some around here. I just have to control their numbers. moles and voles caqn be trapped in a couple of different ways. I think they can also be exterminated by pumping some sort of gas into the burrows. I would think that and extermeinator would know. |
amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)
April 11, 2008
2:27 PM Post #4793039
| i live in an apartment complex, and garden a little of the back area. Over the last year, the mole problem has increased beyond belief. i use the castor oil granules wherever i plant, but it does only so much good.
Between the squirrels digging from the top, and the moles digging underneath - yikes. |
kelli1993
Allentown, PA
(Zone 6b)
April 12, 2008
3:30 PM Post #4798266
| No offense, but 'nature's food' for squirrels consists of seeds, bulbs, and tubers.
Many perennials have these. So which would you prefer: to have squirrels eat things you specifically put out for them (nuts, seeds), or flower & plant roots?
As one poster said, they (squirrels) have been here long before we have. I think it's just getting nasty that we want beautiful things surrounding us, as long as it's not 'too' natural. |
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
April 12, 2008
3:47 PM Post #4798320
| Saw fox urine on an earlier post. It works in chipmunk holes, but does have to be renewed. Our chippies are down, but squuirrels are not. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 14, 2008
8:03 AM Post #4806063
| I live with squirrels.Red, Gray and flying. I think they eat a lot of things besides seeds,tubes and bulbs. They sure love hickory nuts as they cover my walk to the lake with sharp bits of chewed up shells in the late summer. They also have a perchant for birds eggs. It is not really what they eat it is what they will chew on for whatever reason they decide to chew. If they would just they acorns and hickory nuts out of my yard they would bushels. But they do not stop there they will chew stairs, deck railings,houses,overhangs and anything else there is chewable. I used to use Ivory and Dial soap chunks around my hosta to help keep the deer away until the squirrels even chewed those up. I do not kill anything but the grays,they are the real problem makers for some reason. The flying will chew on the opening of a bird house in order to make it large enough so that they can go in and den inside. Flying are not a dime a dozen and one will make a den in several houses. That is minor damage and I can stop it anytime I want but putting metal liners in the holes. But most of the time I just make another bird house. It does not take very long even for domething fancy with a theme. We used to sell them at craft shows Iused to build as many as 100 in a run. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
May 3, 2008
6:14 PM Post #4902332
| Even if you shoot them and poison them...they will come back they will survive...they belong to nature ! |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 4, 2008
4:26 AM Post #4903904
| The point is not to wipe them out. The point is to control their population numbers. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
May 6, 2008
7:03 PM Post #4915981
| They wait on my back deck each morning for me to come out and feed them peanuts. I do that first...than I must asess all the damage they have done...sigh.
Chewing wood, digging up my newly planted flowers and plants, dumping over planters and window boxes, etc etc...sigh
It is not that they do not do a lot of damage here but that is the way of wild life...They do not respond when I tell them "go away, I am mad at you" lolol
But they are soooo cute...never could I harm one.
Sorry folks, to each his own. |
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
May 6, 2008
7:15 PM Post #4916008
| I think squrriels are overpopulated right now in many places and attack plastic for food. Not good for their innards and annoying to those who have to replace equipment. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 7, 2008
1:43 PM Post #4919712
| It is exactly overpopulation. If a person desires to feed them and treat them as pets that is fine with me. Whatever makes you happy is what is important. But in spite of appearing as some wild killer of wildlife I am a strong conservationist and do not like to kill animals. But here it becomes something you must do. I have know squirrels to chew thru the eves of 1/2 million dollar summer homes and cause exstensive damage inside. I have three are 4 running around the yard now and they are a big plus since they clean up the seed that falls under the feeders. But the minute I have to many I will get rid of the rest as humanly and quickly as I can. |
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
May 7, 2008
2:45 PM Post #4919988
| I can get squirrels to run by my best imitation of a hawk call. We do have hawks about. But not finding food so eating plastic etc. isn't good for them. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 7, 2008
4:28 PM Post #4920425
| They just chew things iris. My yard is sometimes about covered with hickory nuts and acorns. Chewing has nothing to do with hunger I can assure you. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
May 7, 2008
6:13 PM Post #4920916
| i think they are overpopulated now too--i never remember seeing so many dead on the road as now-- |
Gardenia731
Lakeland, FL
(Zone 9a)
May 12, 2008
10:58 PM Post #4943546
| I would not kill them either but if my dog gets there paws around them then that is the circle of life. My neighbor had his brand new camper vents' chewed up my them. That is $100 per vent. Instead of killing them he went to the SPCA and borrowed traps to capture them and remove them from the property. It is human and eventually you might be able to reduce the population considerably. Contact your local SPCA office and ask about the traps.
|
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
May 12, 2008
11:00 PM Post #4943558
| In MA it is illegal to transport wild animals to a different place, so check state regulations before you try it. |
dale_a_gardener
Tampa, FL
(Zone 10a)
May 14, 2008
7:19 AM Post #4949106
| In the south we have recipes for squirrel stew. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 14, 2008
7:26 AM Post #4949121
| Here to Dale.
Iris--- the reason they have that law is because it does not solve the problem it only moves it onto someone else. |
carolmo
Kansas City, MO
(Zone 5a)
May 14, 2008
7:52 AM Post #4949225
| I am a lousy cook but may try squirrel stew. They just dug up a newly planted daylily and some of the new winter sown baby plants. I added red pepper, black pepper to the dug up areas and more areas, then went out to find cheap cayenne again - got 5 bottles. Dosed the bird food again. One squirrel still seems to like the pepper. If he/she is not careful, he/she will be the main dish here soon.
They did not bother any area where I installed that plastic mesh, a labor intensive piece of work. So, I will keep doing that too as long as I can.
My neighbor cut down most of the trees in her back yard and that seemed to help lower the tree rodent population too. Re other rodents, such as moles/voles: most of the new tulips did not make it, in spite of adding sharp sand and mesh baskets. I just added grub control to some areas and am waiting for the stores to open to get more. I cannot use it where I have food plants. I used it around the fence area, where the tulips were supposed to be, and under the bird feeders (where I found a lot of mole tunnels - I think). I want to add it to more of the grass area. I know I saw tiny mice (voles?) around this area for several years.
Question 1: For those who trap rodents and release them elsewhere, what about those who end up with your rodents? That does not seem fair. You move rodents to new unsuspecting gardeners? Hmmmm, is this how I keep getting more of them?
Question 2: I have always heard that moving critters to new locations where they do not have their old protective areas and food supplies probably ensures their early demise. Wildlife people have often said this. So, why is this a humane solution? Curious. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 14, 2008
2:34 PM Post #4950799
| Carol---- being out here on lake of the ozarks I do not trap squirrels. I just get rid of them permanently. Only thing I trap and relocate is coons and possums. The only reason for that is because coons are hard to kill and I like a very fast clean kill. I suspect because your neighbor cut down her trees you are getting the population from that. It is true if you trap and move them your just giving someone else the problem. As far as it causing a early death no way. They will adapt with whatever is on hand. besides that they are free to range. To even think about being successful relocating a coon you got to take it a minium of 10 miles. If you try to take it down the road a few miles it just might well be back the next night. Coon overpopulate also. But nothing at the rate squirrels do.
|
planolinda
Plano, TX
May 14, 2008
8:12 PM Post #4952037
| relocating squirrls seems impossible unless you make it a full time job! there are so many! |
growgirl59
Saint Louis, MO
May 14, 2008
11:30 PM Post #4953166
| Aren't sqirrels territorial? I think I read that you have to go several miles away, with a river between you and where you take them, to have any chance of them not returning. Squirrels here seem to be getting bolder. They get very close when I'm working in my yard and don't budge when I yell (my neighbors must think I've lost my marbles.) They barely move when I wing a pile of weeds at them. How come you never see baby squirrels? At least I don't. Totally off the subject -- has anyone been to Olney, Illinois? The town is full of albino squirrels - they're everywhere! Back on the subject - I have an unusual situation in my yard. There must be an exposed area on the power lines that run along the back of my property. Several times a month I find a dead squirrel (and occasional possum) in the exact same spot, electrocuted, I'm sure. I was told they would have to touch two wires at the same time for this to happen, but there's got to be a connection there. In addition to the damage from the squirrels, I have a lot of problems with the all-too-cute, buy VERY destructive chipmunks. Sniff, sniff...is that chipmunk stew I smell???
This message was edited May 14, 2008 10:47 PM |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 15, 2008
7:39 AM Post #4953829
| The reason for the dead squirrels along the power lines would have little to do with touching both wires (positive and negative) at the same time. More than likely if it is due to chewing on terminal insulators. It is a big problem for power companies. It could be something else however. Someone might be using poison are else you have a neighbor with a high power quiet pellet gun. I have taken down a lot of rabbits in the Maryland Heights, Bridgeton area with a pellet gun. I only hope if it is the latter he knows how to use it correctly. The White Squirrels in Olney I believe are not albino. They are just white. There is another population somewhere in Northern Missouri. Albino animals do not usually live a long time. They develop phyical problems early in life they are also easy marks for preditors. We had a albino buck here for a couple of years. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
May 15, 2008
6:41 PM Post #4956699
| i saw a book of albino animals--they were really fun to look at and there were so many different ones--weird about the animals that die in that spot--kind of like your own little bermuda triangle---a real mystery |
Gardenia731
Lakeland, FL
(Zone 9a)
May 15, 2008
10:41 PM Post #4957819
| Cats and dogs seem to have had enough with our lil pests and so as the birds. I am not quite sure what kind of bird is it but they are beating the living heck out of them. The cats are hunting them and so as the dogs. Hopefully this will reduce some the ones around here. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
May 16, 2008
7:44 AM Post #4958833
| Gardinia---- Birds hate squirrels. They will raid their nest and eat the eggs. And that is not from want of food. There can be all kinds of forage in the area and they will still go to the eggs. |
stormcloud
Yonkers, NY
June 11, 2008
11:34 AM Post #5087569
| Since this is still a free Country to each his own . I cannot but wonder what it will be next... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trioadastra
Ellsworth, WI
(Zone 4a)
June 28, 2008
11:04 AM Post #5172705
| Wow, squirrels sure seem to be a hot topic. I, too, have waged war with the little buggers, and pulled up about a dozen walnut seedlings this year. Last year I tried practically every means of controlling them, and even set out rat poison (in a pms induced rage...) Since I grow most of my garden from seed, there is no way to describe the frustration of bringing these tiny plants to life, babying them over the winter, hardening them off for weeks, then planting them out, only to find they've been ripped up the next morning, and even destroyed. DH actually stopped me from walking out the front door with his shotgun. It's a good thing he has more sense than me; the rest of my in town neighbors may have been a little scared for their lives...
Anyway, I have finally found a solution, as mentioned above, the chicken wire works wonders! I bought the plastic kind at Menard's and I can cut it into tiny squares to go over my new plants. It may look unsightly for a while, and is extra labor, but it's nothing compared to all the time I've put into the seedlings. I remove the squares after the plants get large enough to survive a little digging, and usually by that time the squirrels have lost interest. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
June 28, 2008
11:16 AM Post #5172762
| My squirrels are under control this season. I have 3 using the yard at present. they are a big plus in cleaning up under the bird feeders, that they cannot raid. This time of year it is deer for me. Part of the herd came into it summer grounds about 1/2 mile up the road. I am able to control them with my high powered pellet rifle this year. There is a lot of yearlings in the herd this year that never experienced a real sore rear end. After they do they will not be coming down here anymore. |
wormfood
Lecanto, FL
(Zone 9a)
June 29, 2008
2:22 PM Post #5178149
| I took a year off of work and sat with my paintball gun. After a couple of good shots they made great strides to avoid my yard to get to the next yard bird feeder. Just like they know how long a dog leash is, they know they won't get shot outside my boundaries. It's 2 years past and I believe they need a reminder. It stings but I can't kill or possibly wound any animal. As with the hawks, I just pop off the gun a couple of times, no paintballs. They stay away 2weeks at a time. Love the SQUIRRELAPULT. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
June 29, 2008
2:26 PM Post #5178164
| the squirrels were so fun to watch today--they were just so playful!! now that my plants are grown they aren't such a problem--i am lucky that so far they haven't chewed anything but plants and bulbs |
rosewynd
Anza, CA
(Zone 8b)
June 30, 2008
12:35 AM Post #5180785
| I am raising fat squirrels. I meant to be raising veggies... Gonna get a shotgun - I've had it. |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
June 30, 2008
2:04 AM Post #5180913
| Lead is the only permanent treatment. Squirrels are smart enough to figure out a way around anything else you try. |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
June 30, 2008
10:29 AM Post #5181997
| I have been saying that on here for a couple years dp72. They have to be controlled. They are in fact a cousin to the rat and multiply about as fast. I do not like to shoot anything but I know I have to. I have shot more deer in the rump with a hi powered pellet rifle this year tha many hunters have shot in their life. I seen one limping the other day on the road and I know i did it and it does bother me to see that even knowing it will get over it in a few weeks. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
June 30, 2008
10:30 AM Post #5182000
| i understand --they are trouble --but they sure are a lot cuter than rats!! |
rosewynd
Anza, CA
(Zone 8b)
June 30, 2008
8:28 PM Post #5184820
| After they've eaten ALL your veggies and fruits, they are no longer cute. |
wormfood
Lecanto, FL
(Zone 9a)
June 30, 2008
10:27 PM Post #5185529
| And the palm seeds I'm waiting for two years to come up. They're not even there! They're not protected, you can put an ad in the paper, someone will come get them for eating. I heard they taste like chicken. |
trioadastra
Ellsworth, WI
(Zone 4a)
July 1, 2008
3:18 AM Post #5186321
| If squirrels are so smart, why don't they ever remember where they buried their dang walnuts the previous fall? I've pulled up a dozen this year! |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
July 2, 2008
1:12 AM Post #5191563
| They never do remember where they bury the nuts. They can smell them from above the ground. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
July 2, 2008
6:56 PM Post #5194834
| well i learned something new! i guess they'd have to remember a lot of hiding places otherwise! so i guess they are hidden for any squirrel to find-not the hider only? |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
July 2, 2008
7:12 PM Post #5194904
| There is no permanent way to keep squirrels away from your flower beds and pots. So there. |
duck_toller
Middleton, WI
(Zone 4b)
July 4, 2008
9:31 AM Post #5202622
| I still have rabbit, squirrel, and chipmunk damage, but I was able to reduce it significantly by hiding dog treats at random spots in the garden. My retriever thinks it is a wonderful game and "patrols" our acre pretty closely. She has yet to actually catch anything but she has chased the pests and/or dug up nests. I think the rodents have just chosen easier gardens to raise their familes.
It helps that we have fox and red tailed hawks hunting here too. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
July 4, 2008
9:52 AM Post #5202716
| i saw a dog the other day at the bottom of a tree looking up and running around the tree while the squirrels teased him from above! i do think a dog would be a good deterent--at least it would keep them in the trees! |
ozarkian
Gravois Mills, MO
(Zone 6a)
July 4, 2008
12:22 PM Post #5203474
| Catching chipmunks is one thing but squirrels are pretty good fighters. Cats do a better job on the small vermin. But since I am rural and have a good backdrop for my shooting I imagine when their numbers become to great again I will just shoot them. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
July 4, 2008
2:01 PM Post #5203813
| oh you know you are going to get some upset folks saying that! |
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)
July 4, 2008
2:29 PM Post #5203917
| that' the idea |
planolinda
Plano, TX
July 4, 2008
3:06 PM Post #5204027
| well that's what i thought! |
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
July 4, 2008
3:38 PM Post #5204168
| I think the chipmunks move in cycles, we have fewer at the moment. Plenty of squirrels as with oak trees they and the deer have food. We only have our bird feeders out from mid-Oct to mid-April. A new mesh feeder doesn't allow them it get much, although they try. |
duck_toller
Middleton, WI
(Zone 4b)
July 4, 2008
5:24 PM Post #5204688
| Yes, she's endured squirrel "taunting" from trees with the little red pine squirrels the worst "scolders," but her regular rounds of each of the flower beds checking for a possible treat has really helped reduce pest damage. Nosing and digging into ground squirrel and rabbit dens has them moving on to other areas. Since most of my potted plants are by the front door and patio, where she likes to nap, I've had no squirrel damage there.
It's true I have to pull dog fur off my rose bush thorns, and she likes to lie on the cool leaves of the hostas and lily of the valley. But she is still a good, child safe, non-chemical solution to garden pests.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
