A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Nasty Squirrels

Hi everyone - I am having a problem with squirrels in my yard. I have read many past posts regarding them, and realize I'm not the only one with the problem!!
I live in the city with a large yard, and they hang out in my apple tree eating all my apples and I swear, dropping them on my head!
They also sit on rocks in my garden and natter away at my cats and the dog - it's like they are mocking them! As well of course, they eat all leaves on my plants that I am trying so hard to keep them alive. This year my hosta came up for the first time in 2 seasons, but as soon as the leaves poked their heads out of the soil they were eaten. (If it's not the slugs - it's the squirrels)!!! I can't win!
Anyway - has anyone tried the cayenne pepper solution - and how does it work?
Any other ideas for a frustrated gardener?

Come on Bob.....this question is for you....lol

Bob will have to dust off the squirrel solution..... :p :p Don't have too much trouble with squirrels eating my plants, but our squirrels must be related....I have one who throws corn kernels on my head!
Have you considered a cat, perhaps....? Mine hasn't caught any, but he sure does like to stalk like them, fierce hunter that he is,lol!

Yep Bob has a sure fire way of permantly taking care of the problem. :p
My dad used to use squirrel bait inside of a green looking container. They crawl in...eat the bait over a several day period and then go off in their holes to die a very horrific death from the poison. I despise this method but when they are an absolute menace you have to do something. Are their cage traps than can get them and then go several counties over and let them go???

I am dealing with a gopher from hell. That darn thing is sooo sneaky.
Catlover

The squirrel's natural predators are: hawks, falcons,widcats, foxes, owls, racoons, opossums, black tailed jackrabbit, coyote, crows, badgers, rattlesnakes, and gopher snakes. Ever tried using one of them?

In the absence of real live predators, the predator urine is probably the next best thing. Predator urine frequently mentioned is coyote urine. Hang one or several near the plant you want protected from squirrels. If you use coyote urine, you may also want to use the Hot pepper Wax spray (you mentioned in your post) at the same time. Use the spray on plants when the temperature is 40 degrees F and you know it will stay at that level or higher, never at below 40 degrees F. Spraying at lower temperature is harmful to your plants.

Papito

Hi again. Read the posts - thanks so far for the ideas.
However, we live in a city of approx 1 million people, - and unfortunately, our city officials are kind of funny about us releasing wild coyotes and rattlesnakes in our back yard!! lol (our neighbours are a bit funny that way as well).
The predator urine may however be our solution! But just curious - we have two male cats, who are notoriously terratorial, as well as a small dog. Is there going to be a problem introducing this predator urine into my garden? Thanks again

What makes me wonder is how they get it...???????? :p :p

Jake (Ellen), urine marks territorial boundaries of animals. So your dogs and cats will not go in places where wild animal urines are sprayed.

Sheritoots (Sheri), take a Coyote give him/her a plastic cup, point to a vacant examination room and say you need urine sample. Okay, that the unreal truth.

Urine samples from wild animals are gathered from game farms and zoo preserves. They are collected via floor collection drains.

Floweraddict (Bob),

I agree with you that using urine spray or powder only deter the squirrels from invading your precious plants/trees, but they are still in the neigborhood. Your approach is more effective in reducing their population. If I have the same problem, I will probably use pellet gun, bean bag gun or whatever is allowed by city ordinance where I live.

Papito

Poor little critters. I like watching the squirrels in my yard. :p