squirrels stealing tomatoes

[Gus]

What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from tomatoes? It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some tomatoes, but the squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And actually taunt. Taking a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then leaving it.

Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can even get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.

Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that was not deterring them that well.

[David E. Ross]

I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly before eating them.

[Higgs Boson]

Some people (not me) use a .22.

Some people use big black birds.

I'm just sayin'

HB

HB

[Gus]

I tried cayenne for a while and all it did was make the few tomatoes I got before squirrels have a cayenne flavor. Didn't seem to faze the squirrels.

urine... hmmm.

[Frank]

Havahart trap and relocate to a more affluent neighborhood.

Largest rat traps will sometimes get them. Bait with peanut butter.

I laced bird feeder with gobs of hot pepper flakes and it would not deter them.

Squirrels are not an endangered species and if you can't use a .22 you might consider an air rifle.

[Gus]

Too many to get rid of them all; another will just take its place. They are like the Chinese army.

[Frank]

I know. One summer I was trying to trap a groundhog and before I got him I must have made a half dozen trips to the park to drop of squirrels before I got the ground hog.

I would shoot them if my wife would permit it. One guy I know says he has to shoot over a dozen before he sees a difference. I'm not sure tomatoes are a favorite food for them and if it is just a few and you get them it may cease. Squirrels can live a dozen years and do have memories. Two months since I put away the bird feeder a squirrel will come up on the deck looking for it. Since most of my property got shaded in and deer became the big problem I've been growing my tomatoes on the deck without squirrels bothering them. Racoons are more of a problem and will sometimes just rip up a small plant.

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

[Todd]

Hi Gus,

I have a customer/friend with a greenhouse. The resident squirrels would dig under the walls and steal all his tomatoes. He lives out in the boon docks and would shoot at them when they ran away with a tomato in their mouths.

Nothing worked until he removed all his boxes, lined the floor with pavers, and replaced his boxes. Now he brags that he has to give away tomatoes. He chuckles about all the head aches he is giving the squirrels when they hit their heads on the pavers.

-T

[Todd]

Hi Gus,

Certain hunting supply stores sell animal scents to covert the delightful smell of human. Maybe coyote or mountain lion smell would work?

I don't know that this would apply for squirrels, but my sister-in-law got rid of her gophers by cramming cat pee pee and skat from their litter boxes down their holes. Supposedly, it smells like their predators.

It was our idea to have her do it. She didn't want to use poison (her cats would eat the dead gophers and get poisoned themselves) or explosives (my favorite).

Then after she did the deed, I apologized profusely to her, saying I didn't think she would do it. It was only a joke! And, yes, I laughed so hard I almost puked. She is still getting even with me. Life is good. It is good to be a Brother-In-Law.

-T

[Dan Espen]

That cat litter may turn into a sticky mess. I suppose it depends on the brand, but I thought I'd save some outdoors to use like sand after our cat died.

It got moist and turned into a paste.

10 years later I'm still trying to get all of it out of the soil.

[Todd]

Hi Dan,

YUK!

That is why you cram it about 2 feet down their holes! Do squirrels have holes?

-T

[Dan Espen]

Yes, but not in the ground.

[Gus]

They are 'holes. Facade of cute bushy tails, but they are selfish psychopathic bastards.

[Todd]

Hmmm. Will the tree forgive you?

[David E. Ross]

The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently, there is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a buzz (squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing out because of the shoots being eaten.

This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told that a mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been sprayed up into the trees.

[David E. Ross]

On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and may be killed.

[David Hare-Scott]

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and killing a few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace all you can remove. In such a case you need an effective repellent or physical barrier.

D

[Gus]

might I inquire, who's urine?

[Gus]

Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a flower and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish to flower when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown plants about 3 or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so small.

[David Hare-Scott]

Any

D