Squirrels??

Re: Squirrels??

• kastle

  May 2010

  I've never really had a problem with squirrels eating the plants themselves.  I have had a problem w/ squirrels digging in the flower beds (which makes direct sowing difficult) and taking a bite out of my tomatoes.

  You can protect baby plants with a collar around them (TP roll or 2L bottle w/ the bottom cut off) if your squirrels are diggers.  Once the plants are established, my squirrels generally leave the area alone.

  To protect tomatoes, I use those clamshell containers strawberries come in.  I've got photos of it in my blog.
  

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• jefloodphd

  May 2010

  Thanks! The squirrels have been diggers - I thought they would after some seeds I'd planted, and they did eat all the strawberry buds on our strawberry plant....but I'm relieved to hear that they stay away from mature plants.

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• kastle

  May 2010

  That has been my experience...they stop digging when the plant's roots are everywhere.  But they will still go after juicy fruit/veg (like your strawberries).  You can next the berries to keep them away too.
  

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• Dondine

  May 2010

  I had a terrible problem with squirrels digging up bulbs that I had planted.  They were like little demons about it!  I'd plant the bulb, squirrel would dig it up and either place it on the front porch or the deck rail for me to see it, replant and repeat!  I tried sprinkling moth balls around and that didn't help.  DH bought a squirrel trap at the hardware store.  Now we are operating a squirrel catch and release!  We catch a squirrel almost everyday, then take it a few miles away to a park and let it go. 

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• Saxgrl1

  May 2010

  By trapping and releasing...you leave their babies to slowly starve to death. 

  
  Leopard in Acacia Tree, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania 2009
  Crafty Owl Blog
  

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