Battling Squirrels

ChrisK · June 17, 2012

After losing every single unripe, peach, apple, cherry and fig to the tree rats this year and numerous green tomatoes already, I hit my limit. There are too many to dispatch w/o a pellet gun, which is not an option in the city limits, unfortunately.

I built a PVC frame and covered it with Bird Netting (75' x 14' is ~$26 at Amazon). the edges are held down with bricks and small logs. It's not all that aesthetically pleasing and it will be inconvenient to pick and to make crosses but I am determined to have a crop!

jennifer28 · June 17, 2012

Chris

I have a huge squirrel population here too. I have found if I put down a few applications of powedered coyote and fox urine that the squirrels stay away. It works but you have to re-apply after it rains. It tends to repel people, too, because the smell is HORRIBLE. I hope your netting works. I wonder if the *&^#%$ will try to burrow under it? I hope not.

kath · June 17, 2012

You did a beautiful job, Chris. We use a similar setup to keep birds and chipmunks away from the blueberries. The bad news is that the squirrels and chipmunks who are determined to get at the crop can chew holes through the plastic netting, so keep an eye on the integrity of the perimeter. It might be a good idea to use some hot or smelly deterrent to keep them at a distance. Never seen them burrow. Wishing you luck- it's so annoying to lose fruit to the critters.

kath

kurt · June 17, 2012

Twice a year I put out CD discs in the trees and garden strung away from fruit on short fishing line in open areas.The winds will make them short cutters so keep away from fruit for damage.The sun reflection and evening night lights drive them crazy.We are done with the mater season but now is my mango,lychee,loganberry season.Stops birds,racoons possums(for night you need a light source)and those "not so cute furry tailed rats".

koshki · June 18, 2012

In addition to my tomato plants, I also have several bird feeders in my yard. Last year, a couple squirrels discovered they could jump down onto the main feeder and gobble up the goodies. This year, one silly gal has developed a sweet tooth and will drain the hummingbird feeder if I don't chase her away!

Then I started feeding them too when I fill up the birdfeeders. I have a tray feeder stuck in the ground on the other side of my yard. When I feed the birds, I put out a couple scoops of the cheap birdseed for the squirrels. They seem satisfied with that, and I have not had any digging in my tomatoes. Although it could also be that the don't like the garlic I planted in the same containers as the tomatoes!

b54red · June 20, 2012

I wish you lived near me so they could go to your feeders and leave my garden alone.

riceke · June 20, 2012

[QUOTE=Although it could also be that the don't like the garlic I planted in the same containers as the tomatoes![/QUOTE]

I too am being attacked by hordes of squirrels but when you mentioned that they may not like garlic planted next to your tomatoes it rang a bell with me. In 3 out of 4 pots(tubs) of tomato plantings 1 wasn't touched. It was the one that I had planted garlic around the edges of the pot. Ummmmm...maybe there is something to it.

Also even though pellet guns are not permitted BB guns are. Now I don't try to mame them...I just shoot at their tail and watch them jump 10' in the air. Now when they are in my feeder all I have to do is ★★★★ the gun and they scatter most rapidly.

ScottinAtlanta · June 20, 2012

Chris, you picked the only reliable way to defeat squirrels (the spawn of the devil): physical barriers. I finally built an entire cage over my tomato beds using 1 inch chicken wire - the losses were 100% before that. The wire is buried 12 inches on all sides. It has worked perfectly for two years. What a relief!

Crandrew · June 20, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by riceke

Now when they are in my feeder all I have to do is ★★★★ the gun and they scatter most rapidly.

HAHAHAAH swear filter

riceke · June 21, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crandrew

HAHAHAAH swear filter

How else can I say this???

jhp · June 20, 2012

I have the same problem with squirrels. Although I haven't tried it on my fruit trees (I have just about given up on them), it seemed to work last year to put 2 shower radios tuned to talk radio in my garden playing 24/7. I put the volume low enough that my neighbors can't hear it and I can just barely hear it from my patio. Seemed to make the squirrels think there were people in the garden and they stayed out. I got 2 cheap radios ($10 each radios like the ones pictured). They sell at bed bath and beyond and also amazon.com. Just remember to check that they are still on and keep plenty of batteries on hand.

Jen

Crandrew · June 20, 2012

Dang ok Im going to make a suggestion.

Get one that you can power via a small solar panel and save on the batteries not to mention carbon footprint. But a good idea regardless

Dewayne mater · June 20, 2012

Impressive set up! Everyone's squirrels are different, but the ones who bug me don't like a product called Repelsall available at HD. You put it out as a barrier around the beds and they tend to stay away. Another observation, they don't seem to care for "black" tomatoes or sungolds. They like their fruit red or pink. I've had many a red or pink tomato swiped, but never a dark one. Good luck.

Dewayne mater

BarbJ · June 20, 2012

Now if we can really get them to battle each other, we'll be in the clear!

Great set up with the netting, best solution for those furry tailed rats!!

ChrisK · June 20, 2012

Well, one of the rotten little flea infested vermin got in today. Not sure where but the wife said it was quite amusing to watch it with a green tomato in its mouth, trapped inside, launch itself against the netting over and over until it finally climbed a pole and found a small opening. It has now been secured and rechecked for entry points.

June 18, 2012	#5
koshki Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Grosse Pointe Shores, MI Posts: 127	In addition to my tomato plants, I also have several bird feeders in my yard. Last year, a couple squirrels discovered they could jump down onto the main feeder and gobble up the goodies. This year, one silly gal has developed a sweet tooth and will drain the hummingbird feeder if I don't chase her away! Then I started feeding them too when I fill up the birdfeeders. I have a tray feeder stuck in the ground on the other side of my yard. When I feed the birds, I put out a couple scoops of the cheap birdseed for the squirrels. They seem satisfied with that, and I have not had any digging in my tomatoes. Although it could also be that the don't like the garlic I planted in the same containers as the tomatoes! __________________ Katherine

June 20, 2012	#7
riceke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 346	[QUOTE=Although it could also be that the don't like the garlic I planted in the same containers as the tomatoes![/QUOTE] I too am being attacked by hordes of squirrels but when you mentioned that they may not like garlic planted next to your tomatoes it rang a bell with me. In 3 out of 4 pots(tubs) of tomato plantings 1 wasn't touched. It was the one that I had planted garlic around the edges of the pot. Ummmmm...maybe there is something to it. Also even though pellet guns are not permitted BB guns are. Now I don't try to mame them...I just shoot at their tail and watch them jump 10' in the air. Now when they are in my feeder all I have to do is ★★★★ the gun and they scatter most rapidly. __________________ *Ken*

June 17, 2012	#2
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	Chris I have a huge squirrel population here too. I have found if I put down a few applications of powedered coyote and fox urine that the squirrels stay away. It works but you have to re-apply after it rains. It tends to repel people, too, because the smell is HORRIBLE. I hope your netting works. I wonder if the *&^#%$ will try to burrow under it? I hope not.

June 17, 2012	#3
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	You did a beautiful job, Chris. We use a similar setup to keep birds and chipmunks away from the blueberries. The bad news is that the squirrels and chipmunks who are determined to get at the crop can chew holes through the plastic netting, so keep an eye on the integrity of the perimeter. It might be a good idea to use some hot or smelly deterrent to keep them at a distance. Never seen them burrow. Wishing you luck- it's so annoying to lose fruit to the critters. kath

June 17, 2012	#4
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,503	Twice a year I put out CD discs in the trees and garden strung away from fruit on short fishing line in open areas.The winds will make them short cutters so keep away from fruit for damage.The sun reflection and evening night lights drive them crazy.We are done with the mater season but now is my mango,lychee,loganberry season.Stops birds,racoons possums(for night you need a light source)and those "not so cute furry tailed rats".

June 20, 2012	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I wish you lived near me so they could go to your feeders and leave my garden alone.

June 20, 2012	#8
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Chris, you picked the only reliable way to defeat squirrels (the spawn of the devil): physical barriers. I finally built an entire cage over my tomato beds using 1 inch chicken wire - the losses were 100% before that. The wire is buried 12 inches on all sides. It has worked perfectly for two years. What a relief!

June 20, 2012	#11
jhp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 492	I have the same problem with squirrels. Although I haven't tried it on my fruit trees (I have just about given up on them), it seemed to work last year to put 2 shower radios tuned to talk radio in my garden playing 24/7. I put the volume low enough that my neighbors can't hear it and I can just barely hear it from my patio. Seemed to make the squirrels think there were people in the garden and they stayed out. I got 2 cheap radios ($10 each radios like the ones pictured). They sell at bed bath and beyond and also amazon.com. Just remember to check that they are still on and keep plenty of batteries on hand. Jen

June 20, 2012	#12
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	Dang ok Im going to make a suggestion. Get one that you can power via a small solar panel and save on the batteries not to mention carbon footprint. But a good idea regardless

June 20, 2012	#13
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Impressive set up! Everyone's squirrels are different, but the ones who bug me don't like a product called Repelsall available at HD. You put it out as a barrier around the beds and they tend to stay away. Another observation, they don't seem to care for "black" tomatoes or sungolds. They like their fruit red or pink. I've had many a red or pink tomato swiped, but never a dark one. Good luck. Dewayne mater

June 20, 2012	#14
BarbJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California, USA Posts: 154	Now if we can really get them to battle each other, we'll be in the clear! Great set up with the netting, best solution for those furry tailed rats!!

June 20, 2012	#15
ChrisK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	Well, one of the rotten little flea infested vermin got in today. Not sure where but the wife said it was quite amusing to watch it with a green tomato in its mouth, trapped inside, launch itself against the netting over and over until it finally climbed a pole and found a small opening. It has now been secured and rechecked for entry points.