I love growing food. I'm no farmer but it's cool to have a tomatoes and some berry bushes, etc. and maybe some cucumbers. but I have a serious squirrel problem. My retired marine neighbor and his wife put raw peanuts on the fence for them twice a day. I've counted 8 in my yard at once. Despite how fat they all are, Nothing I grow stands a chance.
I'm not friends with that neighbor (no issue, just neither of us are very outgoing) but if I tried to kill the squirrels, that would make an instant enemy.
So I just ordered galvanized hardware fabric to make a cage around my 5'x3' raised bed. I'm gonna frame it to be just shorter than the fence, with 2x4s and give it a nice door with hinges and a latch.
What am I failing to consider here?
https://pestpointers.com/scents-that-squirrels-hate-and-how-to-use-them/
The dog was helpful , but she liked tomatoes and sweet potatoes .
I built a few frames out of 1/2 inch EMT with the 90 bends. I bought some cheap clips from harbor freight and cover it with a dark shade cloth in the summer and a white pattern in the winter. It's kept squirrels and birds out. "Makerpipe" has some good fittings.
I use to catch squirrels with a havahart trap with deer corn,you can move them or cook them with dumplings.Coworker said in his neighborhood there were so many they started eating the rubber on his car bumper.You need to thin the herd...
I had a Jack Russell that loved to squirrel hunt,he even caught one in the backyard.He killed the squirrel while we were out,but the squirrel really put up a fight,dog had bites all over.
I bought a BSA .22 pellet gun just for him,it was louder than using .22 CBs.You should take the neighbor some squirrel dumplings ;D
I have a big vegetable garden. Squirrels usually leave everything alone; that being said, I am well aware of folks who see their tomatoes and peppers especially go to squirrels. The thing they eat at our place is Mexican sunflower plants, for whatever reason. A pepper spray usually helps, but you have to reapply often.
Frank
I would like to have squirrels in my Garden ^-^ ^-^ I would feed them.
not much small animals in this desert who could visit a home garden other than lizards ::)
on spring we can see few hummingbirds but thats it
We don't have squirls either Alex. But, we have cute Norway rats, about the same size as a squirl, that eat the vegetables. I could send you some.
Yeah the ones down here have no sense of self control or moderation, they're just always frantically fattening up and hoarding for that winter that just isn't coming. (Florida)
Quote from: oc1 on February 28, 2025, 06:15:43 PMWe don't have squirls either Alex. But, we have cute Norway rats, about the same size as a squirl, that eat the vegetables. I could send you some.
LOL no thanks, we have Kangaroo rats down here, but they live in the desert and rarely are become a Garden problem, they're cute, tho, they're considered almost extinct at one time but not anymore, its really cool see them jumping/hopping
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kangaroo-rat-native-baja-california-isnt-extinct-after-all-180968926/
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on February 28, 2025, 06:20:45 PMYeah the ones down here have no sense of self control or moderation, they're just always frantically fattening up and hoarding for that winter that just isn't coming. (Florida)
I have heard stories of Squirrels that are considered almost a plague, in the city I used to live which is 3hrs drive from me, they have a birds problem, the pigneons !! dang, those birds I really hate them.
some people found a way to even eat them :-X
We have 3 kinds of squirrels here, the problem ones are ground squirrels, it's a constant battle. I have a trap that can catch multiple squirrels in one setting, my record is 4 in one hour. It comes with a big tray you fill with water and drop the trap in. Crude but effective
The tree squirrels are too wary to fool the the garden
Nature abhors a vacuum, not enough CB's in the world, they'll just keep coming.
I ust thought of a movie title maybe Svengoolie should present
"Night of the Zombie Squirrels" drive in most likely ...
Quote from: Cuttyhunker on February 28, 2025, 09:33:45 PMNature abhors a vacuum, not enough CB's in the world, they'll just keep coming.
What's a CB?
Quote from: nelz on March 01, 2025, 03:44:10 AMQuote from: Cuttyhunker on February 28, 2025, 09:33:45 PMNature abhors a vacuum, not enough CB's in the world, they'll just keep coming.
What's a CB?
CB short and CB long are 2 different sizes of low-powered bullets for a 22. If you shoot it at a piece of plywood it's louder when it hits than when it fires.
Quote from: steelfish on February 28, 2025, 06:54:04 PMwe have Kangaroo rats down here, but they live in the desert and rarely are become a Garden problem,
When I was a kid they had those on Padre Island, TX. We once tried to catch them when night shark fishing from the beach. They're fast.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_CB#:~:text=The%20.,Louis%2DNicolas%20Flobert%20in%201845.
Comeon all you need is a wham o slingshot .
Quote from: oldmanjoe on March 01, 2025, 01:39:16 PMComeon all you need is a wham o slingshot .
I saw a rat on the bird feeder once. He got to find out that im still a crack shot with the slingshot after all these years.
Firing any kind of projectile in an HOA is not only dangerous but probably in violation of HOA, city, county, state, federal, international, PETA, fish/game rules and regulations and public opinion. I read online squirrels can have 2 to 4 babies twice a year. Face it Jason your garden is doomed unless you raise Rosemary or mint. Go to the farmers market.
There are decoy birds of prey that emit motion activated sounds. Owls, hawks, you can't just set it and forget it though or they will become desensitized to it. Move it around the yard. Personally I would start by setting it on a post in very close proximity to where they place the peanuts.
I moved to the Oregon coast a few years back (time flies). The first couple of weeks I kept hearing what I thought was an exotic bird. Turns out it's the species of squirrel here. Very vocal.
My first instinct was to shoot them as I was a squirrel hater from before. At my old house they would half eat every apple and fig in my yard. Basically big rats is what they were. Shot quite a few before I got to where I had semi-control, which is about all you can attain.
I've now kind of adopted the attitude of the James Taylor song where he sings "The squirrels think these woods are their home....". Guess I'm getting liberal,lol.
Quote from: oldmanjoe on March 01, 2025, 01:39:16 PMComeon all you need is a wham o slingshot .
I wanted a pet. They probably bite and are too hyperactive to handle. The slingshot would've been fun with sand crabs though.
My wife is obsessed with poisoning rats and runs a bait line every few weeks.. You stumble over her little black boxes everywhere.
Interesting thread so far. Yeah I don't actually wanna kill them. Randy is sort of right, there used to be a forest here. People bulldozed it 40 years ago to build our homes. The squirrels were here first, and just never left.
I wouldn't put food out for them or tolerate them eating my fruit I'll try to grow for my kids, but I don't mind their presence.
Also I think it would be hilarious to set up a webcam to watch them staring longingly at the contents of my garden cage and trying but failing to get in.
Tree Squirrels don't dig tunnels, right? I can extend the cage below ground if I need to.
I have squirrel problems too. Your neighbor should not feed them and I am sure they don't grow food like you. Slingshot is only good for awhile to scare them. A big wire cage covering your vegetables is probably the only option other than to kill/eat them. I have feral cats so I am seeing less squirrels now.
If you could see the carnage that a few wild pigs can create in your landscaped yard during the wee hours of the morning, on a recurring basis.... Pigs and 9-band armadillos, that's what we deal with in our HOA.
We have feral cats running around here. You think squirrels are bad, how'd you like to step out your front door and be hit with a stench from hell, cat crap is the worst. And then there's their piss... I'll trade you squirrels any day.
The fool cat ladies I'm surrounded by must like the putrid stench because they feed them and keep 'em coming around. And lord forbid you should harm a precious kitty, you'll end up in jail.
I find it interesting how City folk feel the need to draw in wild creatures, never considering the possible diseases they carry or destruction they can create or cause.
If a rabies carrying critter bites or scratches them or their kids, or a squirrel makes it into their attic, chews on an electric wire and their house burns down they won't think they're so dang cute.
Jason, Like a birdfeeder the only thing that will really work is a physical barrier. Standard hex chicken wire, 1.5" X 2", used in the blue crab traps is probably too large an opening for the smaller grey squirrels you have in Florida. There is a smaller hex mesh used in crawdad traps that would be restrictive enough to exclude the rodents. Since your bed is small at 3 X 5 a welded square mesh of 1 X 1, or 1 X 2 inch formed into the shape of a shoebox to cover the garden should work. Simply lift it off when you want access. I set up a pal with a similar solution, worked fine, with the added bonus of the feral cats no longer having access to a soft earth litter box. Find a local crab pot builder to fabricate it for you or find the wire at Lowes.
I've got a 4'x50' roll of half inch hardware cloth that I'll be using. I'm gonna do a 6' high wood frame with a door. Probably gonna put window screen across the top to make it also function as a shade structure to extend my season in sweltering Florida.
I already have a bunch of 2x4s and a roll of screen. but I probably wanna get some 1x2 pieces to frame out the door without making it too heavy.
Lots of ideas.
Here on the mountain we have reached an equilibrium of sorts with our critters, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bears, rats/mice, banded tail pigeons, stellar Jay's, etc. I have rat traps set up year round which do a good job on the rodent issues, but 1 squirrel found out the hard way that rat traps work on squirrels. I had to dog proof my traps to keep them out and it's been successful. Right now I have 2 maybe 3 squirrels, in the past more than 6 were here.
To dog proof my traps I built what can best be described as a shoe box with 1 end removed, out of scrap 1/2" oak. It was built wide enough to just slide a T-Rex rat trap in so nothing can get behind or approach from the rear of the trap. Bill
Hey Bill, gotta love the "kills" graphics! ;D
But I don't see a squirrel, did it survive?
Quote from: nelz on March 02, 2025, 08:38:27 PMThe fool cat ladies I'm surrounded by must like the putrid stench because they feed them and keep 'em coming around. And lord forbid you should harm a precious kitty, you'll end up in jail.
Had to share this one ;D probably belongs in the memes thread, but it's not fishing related so?
Cage is finally complete. I had built a temporary structure to protect the plants when I left town, but the permanent structure is now in place. I built my temporary structure out of panels sized for the permanent structure, so nothing was wasted.
It's war. Squirrels haven't come close to penetrating the cage. But they've taken out their frustrations on all the rest of my plants. Digging holes in my potted plants left and right. Like all of them.
But I've got 2 tomato plants and a sweet pepper in there too. And my son has been loving the blackberries.
This squirrel is no longer a problem.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39638-2737-1000001652.jpeg)
Quote from: Keta on April 26, 2025, 04:27:45 AMThis squirrel is no longer a problem.
Holy cow, what happened to it?
A 17gr 17HMR bullet hit it.
I am anti-poison inasmuch as it tends to not be quick, and also is not only a primary but also a secondary/tertiary killer (squirrel/rodent stumbles around and expires, then a next level predator/scavenger consumes them - then also dies, etc, etc. I like the hawks and owls around my house. Heck even the coyotes aren't that bad). I have had good luck with traps like what Bill has built, and also have had good luck with "Havahart" live box traps. They get relocated a few blocks away into the Riverbottom (and also get "decorated" with a liberal application of Tempura paint from SWMBO's classroom - if I start to see purple ground squirrels reappearing that means they didn't ge tthe hint the first time...) - john
;D ;D I have nocturnal Porcupines, potentially they are a bigger nuisance, they are very strong, agile and determined and can be dangerous. They have never managed to get in to my vegetables, and only dig up the rest of my garden every other night. Despite my best efforts at keeping them out I know they will one day get in, particularly if I plant a lot of root veggies.
I looked them up. They get fairly large. I think what makes squirrels so effective is how small and agile they are. I assume these guys have a way of dealing with fences?
my squirrels love black oil sunflower seeds. i leave a container near the ground, where the squirrels can get to the seeds, and the cats can get to the squirrels.
Quote from: alantani on April 29, 2025, 11:25:13 PMmy squirrels love black oil sunflower seeds. i leave a container near the ground, where the squirrels can get to the seeds, and the cats can get to the squirrels.
You inspire me with your efficiency. No cats here though.
You may not believe this, but some people don't like cats because they kill the wildlife. They take out several billion birds per year in the U.S. alone. We have feral chickens instead of wildlife so there are plenty of chicks to keep the cats occupied. Maybe the cats are overfed because they do more chicken watching than chicken stalking.
That didn't take long. Gotta trim it down.
In other news my blackberries are flowering again. Didn't see that coming.
It's a twofer. A functional trellis is hard to find.
>:D Let the squirrels do the trimming , they have been waiting patiently to do so !