Gabler
Masterpiece
I was surprised when they wouldn’t give it to me. I even offered to pay cash.
Squirrels!!
- Thread starter Deci22
- Start date
I was surprised when they wouldn’t give it to me. I even offered to pay cash.
WNC Bonsai
Masterpiece
Don’t forget rabbits, they can be damaging too. I out one of my hawthorns on the ground last weekmduring the cold spell and a rabbit ate the ends off several branches. Clipped as sharp as with a pair cutters.
MeDupree
Mame
Quick update: The spray has been working pretty well not even much digging in what's left of the winter mulch bed. One took a nibble off one of my emerging hostas but must've dropped it in disgust lol they usually go to town on those as soon as they pop up but nope not this year.
Fortunately I've also noticed my mixture isn't strong enough to cause an issue with pets stiffing around they love the smell of the fish juice I been feeding the plants tho, definitely will stop fish end of the rainy season.
After about 4 or so broken spray bottles I'm going to start mixing it by the jug(an oil preferably castor but I've used few cap fulls of olive oil mostly to make the pepper spray stick to the plant better, a decent amount of cayenne powder and mostly water n this all should have the color of watery tabasco sauce) and just dilute it a little bit more in the spray bottle to prevent clogging it up. Im misting everything after a fertilizing and rain storm mostly.
Fortunately I've also noticed my mixture isn't strong enough to cause an issue with pets stiffing around they love the smell of the fish juice I been feeding the plants tho, definitely will stop fish end of the rainy season.
After about 4 or so broken spray bottles I'm going to start mixing it by the jug(an oil preferably castor but I've used few cap fulls of olive oil mostly to make the pepper spray stick to the plant better, a decent amount of cayenne powder and mostly water n this all should have the color of watery tabasco sauce) and just dilute it a little bit more in the spray bottle to prevent clogging it up. Im misting everything after a fertilizing and rain storm mostly.
Last edited:
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
My squirrels have moved on to tasting some of the trees.....just a little nibble here and there. And knocking small pots off the benches.
The ones here were particularly aggressive last year. They completely decimated my P.afras and were chewing small branches off some of my bougies.
MeDupree
Mame
Put my P afras out yesterday so hoping I didn't get comfortable too quickly...treated them kind of poorly this winter they all need plenty of new branching so hopefully they don't destroy those trunks
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I am glad my current neighborhood is devoid of squirrels for now being a new subdivision with few big trees. You guys are making me worry about my situation in PA in the future.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Long thread on squirrels! They stopped bothering me here when I got rid of the bird feeders.
Gabler
Masterpiece
I grew up in a wooded area surrounded by farmland where there were lots of squirrels, but also plenty of available food and plenty of hawks, foxes, and coyotes to control the population. The squirrels regularly ate from the birdfeeder, but never once touched my nearby trees (although they did chew on my mica pot one time). I now live in the city, and squirrels are likewise abundant, but there are fewer food sources and fewer predators around to keep the population in check, so I’ve had a terrible time with squirrels eating seeds I’ve planted and otherwise digging around in my bonsai pots. Nonetheless, they haven’t attacked my trees themselves. They’re more interested in searching for seeds in the pots.
MeDupree
Mame
They destroyed plenty of roots last year so I've been placing pebbles on top of the soil but now believe it's causing saturation issues making me concerned for fungus and root rot...most likely I'll start looking for something sturdy and cheap I can convert into perforated pot lids as a solution this month. A bunch of alley cats here and they're no help at all!!
Gabler
Masterpiece
I wish I could do that. For some reason, the neighbors feed them peanuts.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
The probably dont keep bonsai though, bless their souls
LeatherTree23
Yamadori
I had an across-the-creek neighbor who used to feed the neighborhood RACCOONS! Then they’d wash up in the creek and have a party on my back patio at 3am. I feel your pain.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
I believe I have a new natural rodent defence system . I have a non attached garage . Or building ( my house is over 100 years old) at one time a carriage shed . I winter my trees in a isolated room inside . There is a attic . Accessible by ladder . Have not gone up to investigate . But one pane of the only window . Broke in a storm this spring . I’m no bird watcher but looks like a small Awl has taken up residence . 
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
Almost every tree on my benches have been tasted by the damned squirrels. Apparently that's part of my style choices now.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
If I were you. I would be tasting grilled, stewed squirrels by now.
Baku1875
Shohin
squirrels plague my mango tree every year. Mangos are starting to ripen now and I see the squirrels having a feeding frenzy, just raiding my mangos! Sometimes they will have all out skirmishes among themselves, I'm not sure if this is what happens when one becomes rabid, or if it just competition.
There used to be a few local cats in the area, and when their numbers were a bit higher, the squirrels were nowhere to be seen.
It's strange that certain cats dont care much, and others relish in the hunt for squirrels. The cats in my area were real hunters I guess.
Funny enough, the mockingbirds in my area are particularly aggressive, and I see them pecking and attacking squirrels on occasion. I still get more than enough mangos each year and end up deep freezing a lot of sliced chunks anyway, but when they taste real good one year it hurts to see them get consumed by the squirrels. It's nice to be able to donate mangos to neighbors, family, even local businesses that I frequent.
Now that the cat numbers are down, the bird numbers are up and a lot of mangos end up like swiss cheese, pecked all over.
There used to be a few local cats in the area, and when their numbers were a bit higher, the squirrels were nowhere to be seen.
It's strange that certain cats dont care much, and others relish in the hunt for squirrels. The cats in my area were real hunters I guess.
Funny enough, the mockingbirds in my area are particularly aggressive, and I see them pecking and attacking squirrels on occasion. I still get more than enough mangos each year and end up deep freezing a lot of sliced chunks anyway, but when they taste real good one year it hurts to see them get consumed by the squirrels. It's nice to be able to donate mangos to neighbors, family, even local businesses that I frequent.
Now that the cat numbers are down, the bird numbers are up and a lot of mangos end up like swiss cheese, pecked all over.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
When you run out of options . 177 pellet gun . Silent no danger of extra harmful range . There territorial remove your place from the good territory . List
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
Was just checking....Fresno has almost no restrictions about air gun use as long as it's not in a park and you don't threaten people with it.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Canada has very restricted gun laws . But even here a air gun that is under 500 feet per second . Is not considered a fire arm and very easy to acquire. . And use. This is all you need . My daughter was in air cadets . It’s a youth program ran by the military . Her 495 ft/sec target shooting daisy ( detuned from 525 very common in the USA ) is all you will ever need . Granted the high quality barrel in the target shooting gun . Makes it very accurate . Something almost as good is very reasonable priced in a good hardware store .
