How do I use mothballs to repel squirrels?

Okay, I have HAD it with the *&*$# squirrels digging up my planters. I don't mind sharing the birdseed, but the destruction of things I spent so much time growing is the last straw. I bought a box of moth balls, now do I just dump some in the planters? About how many? Will they repel the birds too? I have several plants that I am hoping will attract hummers...will putting a few moth balls in these pots harm the hummers? I am at wits ends, I spent all morning being the crazy lady chasing a pair of grey squirrels round and round the trunk of the pine tree, and am about to lose nearly everything due to these little tree-rats uprooting EVERYTHING!!!! HELP!!!

I don't use moth balls, but I do cut pieces of chicken wire to place on tops of bothered containers (after I plant in them). I don't know if this is helpful to you, but it works for me. The plants grow through the wire.

It might work for some of them..however I have 15 planted containers, and many of them too full to try to get the wire around at this point. But thank you, it is certainly on my to-do for next year. I just didn't realize they'd be so PERSISTENT. I actually had one that wouldn't get off of the patio until I went inside and got a spray bottle and started spraying him. I think I could have walked up and petted the thing!

When you get frustrated to the point of wanting to kill the varmits instead of just repelling, I have found that rat poison is very effective at reducing their population. Note: we are empty-nesters who have no grandchildren/toddlers/grade schoolers or cats/dogs running around in our yard so the rat poison is a viable option for us.

That thought has seriously crossed my mind. I hate the thought of killing anything, but I am almost afraid of them they are so fearless. I have a cat, but he stays inside for the most part, and i can't let him out with the mothballs either. Also, I live in an apartment complex, third floor, so anyone on my patio other that me isn't likely. I guess my biggest drawback is fear that there is someone here feeding them, and I would be crushed if someone poisoned "my" birds. That and I am not too sure of the legality of it..to me they are just rats with cuter clothes, but to others they are wild pets.

I don't have grey squirrels, but a cousin of some kind. I can't stand them.... mostly because of raiding the bird feeders. Last year I purchased a "havahart" live trap. I relocated 6 of them by the end of the summer. So far I have relocated 2 more. I understand your frustration!!! Good luck!

Artemiss:

I "had" a problem with squirrels and armadillos. I bought a product called Shake Away, it's dried Coyote Urine. The stuff works awesome!! Now the squirrels and armadillos raid my neighbors yard. My neighbor thought I was nuts, he tells me there's no coyotes in central FL. I told him I know, and there's also no more squirrels or armadillos in my yard either, they're in your yard tearing it up...lolol...

biLL

Bill,
Funny, my bf mentioned the same thing(coyote urine) a few days ago...I just didn't know what it was called and if it would would work on squirrels...where do you get it?

I found it on-line. I will try to find the name of the site and I will D-mail it to you. It was about 9 months ago I bought it. I found the site through Google. The stuff worked awesome!!!! Like I said, no more squirrels or armadillos. Now they're my neighbors problem....lolol....

biLL

That would greatly appreciated! I have a few mothballs out on the containers that were hit hardest. (my poor, poor fuschia..) but there are gonna repel ME too! phew!

Artemiss:

Go to google and type Shake Away, it's the first link on the 1st page. Or go to www.critter-repellent.com
The stuff isn't cheap but for the results you'll get, you can't afford not to buy it!!. If I remember correctly, they also sent me a free bottle for sending them a testimonial. Anyway, like I said, the stuff works AWESOME!!!!
Good Luck!!

biLL