Keeping Squirrels out of Flower Pots and Beds

Well I do to. A lot of it has to is do to man and his management of wildlife and the enviorment. I can give you a little example of (well not so little maybe) of something right here in my region. Over the years the states in this region have managed for a large deer hear. These herds have now grown to the point where deer are being forced into yards in the suburbs of St Louis and Kansas City for food and space. My son is a contractor and sees them all the time in yards in the St louis suburbs. That can be taken care of by a limited increased harvest. But there are other side effects of the large herd. Some years back Arkansas decided to help the black bear that have always lived in the deep ozarks re-establish their numbers. This misguided project was undertaken in Northern Arkansas. At present there are now Black bear all the way up into central Missouri and over into Okla and even Kansas. I would venture to say there are more bear now than when Jesse James roamed through these hills. These too will wind up in yards like the deer and allready do in some places. The large deer herd on the other hand and the way they have grown in numbers has been a real help into bringing the mountain lion back in this state for sure. For a long time when there was a close encounter between man and moutain lion the conservation commision would deny it. There is a lady on DG that had a horse killed by what the conservation commision claimed was a bobcat. I have seen plenty of bobcat and there is no way a cat between 25 and 30 lbs tops would even attempt to take on a full grown horse. As a matter of fact there preferred diet is small animals like rabbits. It has just been recently that the conservation commision has started to admit there is a wild population in the state. For awhile they claimed when one got hit by a car,etc on the hwy that it was someones escaped pet ,and would follow that with a lecture about owning exotic pets. I do not buy it. It is nothing more than the large herd of deer providing a abundant supply of food. Also in the last few years there have been reports of Jaguar around the Okla Ark boarder. There always was a few in Texas that came up from Mexico. But if they in fact are this far up I think it has to do a lot with the climate changes from enviormental abuse. Those things are the third largest cat in the world. So I agree with you I do not like to see animals destroyed are go instinct. I have shot so many squirrels I could not count, but to this day it is hard fro me too pull the trigger on anything but here they do a awful lot of damage when their numbers are to great. Its b ecoming that way with the deer. Anytime I can dive down a road and they will stand there are you have to stop while they cross like a cow they are tooooooo close and tooooo comprtable with man. Like i said one time before on here I counted 2 groups of Doe standing along the road within a mile of the house.

yes you are right that in our attempts to save animals we have gone too far and i've seen that in parts of texas where deer are like pets coming into peoples yards for treats! we stayed overnight in an area where the motel gave out cups of food and the kids hand fed the deer --so called "wild deer" -not fenced in! i vistited my daughter in virginia and we hiked on the apalachian trail and i kept seeing deer-and finally one was on the trail with her baby and i was only about 20 feet away just staring at her while she stared back--it was a beautiful site-- my daughter said they had an overpopulation there too--60 minutes did a show on deer overpopulation somewhere in the united states and showed how divided people were on the issue--i do not know the answers and yet as an animal lover i like seeing a variety of animals and yet i know not all is right with animal populations--

A doe in the spring can be a very dangerous animal. When someone friend are foe comes along the doe will make the fawn drop and she will wonder off a short ways. The fawn will lay frozen so still you can walk up and pick it up. If your lucky like I was one time picking one up out of the middle of the road and putting it over in the brush along the side fine but should she choose to assult you it is really something. They will rise up on there hin d feet and start whirling those hooves faster than you can believe. They can really tear your head and shoulders to pieces very fast. The instance we had here a couple of years ago was from a lady feeding the doe daily out of her hand. Thay lady about died. One of the paramedics sain she was almost scapted.

I moved into my house a year ago. An avid gardener who loves animals, I was in a fix with the squirrels here.

My solution: If you can't beat em - feed em.

I put out small green plastic bowls (not as noticable) full of sunflower seeds at certain areas of the yard. Had to make sure they were filled every morning, or they'd show me just how unhappy they were about it.

They didn't bother the flower beds / hostas again. The birds also stayed out of the veggie garden, and our cats got to watch it all safely inside.

I problem is, if you feed them, they are going to multiply and hang around. They'll be digging holes all over. Also, you may get rats and mice coming to eat from the bowls. I hope that will not happen--just a warning. Squirrels are cute animals- I wish you the best!

Stupid squirrel!!!!! It's been ripping apart my outdoor sisal throw rug I have on my deck. I just noticed it last week and had to chase it away a few times already. Can I put hot pepper on it ya think?

Flowergen--- Look at the vabover post with a picture of my garage steps. It took only a few minutes for on large gray squirrel to do that. I have 4 squirrels that come around every day and clean up under the bird feeders. As long as that is what they do fine. There is enough there for 4. But that is a border line limit. I will not allow anymore.

Overpopulation depends on lots of things. If you're in a really rural area, you would definitely not do well by feeding them.

However, since we've moved here (quiet suburbia) 9 months ago, we've found at least 5 dead squirrels. 2 on the street, 3 on 3 properties... including my own. That poor guy got wedged in the branches of a tree.

What I meant by 'If you can't beat em - feed em' was only if all else fails. Of all the garden 'pests', they're the hardest to eliminate without jeopardizing much.

As far as rabbits & deer are concerned, if you can find 'Liquid Fence', it's an amazing product that I 100% swear by. My former home had at least 5 deer and too many rabbits to count. I just about gave up on every form of gardening until I found that. (Helped w/ the squirrel situation too!)

I believe they have a website to order if your local hardware / garden center doesn't carry it.

We've used coffee ground for years to keep squirrels away from our tulips. It works a bit. However, we've always used coffee grounds that have been brewed. This year we are going to try cheap unbrewed espresso. My one question is how does the coffee grounds effect the birds? I know birds have no sense of smell but does the caffeine have bad effects?

I agree with some of the people that would never want to harm the squirrels. If they are being killed immediately it's one thing, especially by owls or hawks as that is the cycle of life. However, I would never personally want to harm one. This past year, I was at a little league game when a baby squirrel walked out onto the field and kept climbing on the umpires foot. I walked over to the fence and he called timeout so I went out and picked up the squirrel. As it turns out, the squirrels mother was caught in the netting of the batting cage and died (probably from trauma) after biting through all the wrong strings in an attempt to free itself. I had the squirrel (about 8 weeks old) for 2 days before I found a place to take it. I picked the fleas and mites off of it and fed it formula and berries. It would climb up my sweatshirt and sit on my shoulder while I walked around the yard. It was content to just relax and watch the world. Not sure why this squirrel decided that it wanted to be with humans and was so willing to stay but it was great for photos. Though they are annoying in the garden, I can't look at them and not think of this little guy. Thanks for the warnings of hot pepper, we had tried it a few times before.

I can't believe I missed this thread. I HATE squirrels - they have killed sooooo many of my plants.

We live in an urban neighbourhood with very nice neighbours that FEED the squirrels . . . like we need more. There are no natural predators to control the population, so DH live traps them and moves them to a large forested park several miles away. He has relocated as many as 16 in one week. From spring to late fall he probably relocates 150 or more.

The area is such good squirrel habitat, that as soon as we remove enough squirrels, new ones move in - but his efforts do keep things a lot more manageable. Instead of looking out the window and seeing 11 squirrels in one glance (yes, that many!) we might only see 2 or 3 (still three too many as far as I am concerned). Were these rats, everyone would be appalled, insisting that animal control erradicate the entire population - but alas, the squirrels have that cute little tail, so no animal control.

The squirrels have done serious damage to people's home, getting into attics (not ours, thank goodness!) making nests in the insulation, and there is a possible danger they could damage electrical wiring.

Squirrels are cute in their natural habitat - but not when they overwhelm a neighbourhood.

I had one neighbor who had good luck LAST YEAR with liquid fence against deer. But according to the state trapper they often overcome any adversion to that are any other product. I have heard that before also. Another thing about Liquid fence and most of those products is the cost. It is fine if you have a small garden but I have several hundred plants spread over 3/4 ac that includes about 400 impatients that many begonias( they are not to nuts about begonias) and a135 hosta. The cost is prohibitive. I mix my own with eggs and it works pretty well. I found a Deer repellant study on the internet and posted it on the Hosta Forum. It is very revealing. With buckshot are even a pellet rifle the trapper tells me that the pain it will inflict will make a lasting life time memory. It must be done correctly however, with the right load and range to prevent permanent suffering. I use a 410 ga shotgun with a light power load and shot at least size 71/2 and 8-9 would be even better. The deer have to be shot going away from you in the rump area that is very thick hide. At a range of 20 - 25 yards it will not penetrate the hide but it will make one sore butt for several weeks. A pellet rifle will work real well also in more urban areas. Another thing about this method it will stike fear into the entire herd about the area as well many times.

If it comes to the point where i must shoot squirrels I usually use a 20 ga shotgun and do not take hard shots. Rarely will it not kill a squirrel instantly.

I do not have toi feed the squirrels I have 3 hickory trees and 4 oaks all dating back way over 100 yrs. It that way all over the area so there is no lack of food.

Last year I put mouse traps in some of my potted plants because nothing else seemed to work. Every day I reset the traps. But, after awhile they must've given up because I didn't seem to be resetting as many.

I just read the latest messages and thought I should add more. I added cayenne pepper to the bird feeders. Most of the squirrels left. The birds kept coming. Some squirrels still ate the dropped seeds/pepper and they certainly do not appear to have any ill effects. I just think most of them hated the pepper and went elsewhere. I definitely do not think I was blinding or torturing them. I want them to leave and quit providing fleas to my yard. I want them to leave and quit eating wood, tarp, tomatoes, and whatever they desire. I especially want them to leave before my new plants arrive and my wintersown plants go in the ground. Last year was not good.

I just started wintersowing. One squirrel sat down and watched me. I felt doomed. I had my deck treated before winter set in. The deck man said the oil used would stop the rodents from chewing on the wood. I hope so. I saw tiny squirrel hairs on all the wood stair rails. I am going to have the fence treated early in spring. The rodents have chewed the tops of almost every wood piece.

By the way, overpopulation is a killer of humans. If you ever hit a deer, you will agree with me. I am lucky to be alive. This area is full of deer and many are killed on the roads. We also have had large mountain lions killed on the road. They had really big feet and were not little bobcats. The thought of bears arriving nauseates me. I have grandkids now and would like them to be able to go outside without someone riding shotgun. I have a 6 foot fence and thought the kids might be safe. I had a 6 foot fence where I last lived and deer would still get in my back yard. I may never let the kids go out alone. Is this the wild, wild west again? I live in the suburbs and see more animal life than when I lived on 60 acres. Saving my grandkids trumps saving any rodents.

I found a great squirrel solution....
http://community.nascar.com/members/tallsbrat/videos/339

Even if it doesn't keep them away for long it sure is entertaining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I am out numbered here but i do continue to buy corn and peanuts and feed the squirrels.When I am out working in my gardens they keep me company and follow me around.
They were here before we were and they belong to nature.

If they belong to nature let nature feed them then. I'm not working so hard planting all my flowers to let those critters rip them all up. Also, had to throw out my large sisal rug because they ripped it apart. Those rugs are NOT cheap.

I'm with you flowerjen, I think the squirrels should be Nature's food for other creatures, but alas, there are no natural predators in our neighbourhood. Even the occasional roadkill doesn't offset the population growth. Squirrels are charming in rural areas with hawks and pine martins, but my neighbourhood is infested with them. . . . We HAVE to live trap them and move them to other areas.

My problem is natures food is in the garden in the form of large hickory trees and oaks including one you could not rap your arms around including one that is is way over 100 ft high. Like I said one pair of mating squirrelsill get you 50 squirrels in about one year. I have several types of natural preidtors including hawks eagles and feral cats. The hawks are the best. I have about 2-3 right now in the yard that clean up under the bird feeders but when they stop that and star destroying property then I will get rid of them.

And how do you "get rid of them"? Fool-proof info. needed? That is the answer most of us are looking for.
They are bad enough, but do not do NEAR the damage rabbit do. (in my suburb yard we have hundreds.) Most come out at night, but it's like they know we can do anything to them, so some even come out in the day. And I have a cat plus two teenage cats next door!
I just bought a product from amazon called Bullet something or another specifically to ward off rabbits and dogs, my main problems. It basically smells like ground up mothballs. It's terrible! It gives me a headache and fills up the whole yard with it's toxic scent. Money down the drain.
And all the deterents from Liquid Fence smell so horrible (STRONG garlicy smell, and I like garlic). So horrible infact, that my neighbor complained.
Again, now I have all these products that I can't use in my suburban lot and I STILL lose plants to the rabbits.

Have you tried deer scram? Smells like you're cooking steaks.

heeheehee - like venison?

With a shotgun

Lucky you. It's against the law to even fire a BB gun in my county.
:-(

(Don't know if I could really pull the trigger anyway. But I wouldn't be sorry if someone else did!)

I don't understand why we can't treat urban squirrels the way we would treat an infestation of rats - with pest control professional who eliminate them - permanently!

Could they come for my moles/voles too?

Seandor---- You check around quietly and I am sure you will find some who do. Squirrels do help some around here. I just have to control their numbers. moles and voles caqn be trapped in a couple of different ways. I think they can also be exterminated by pumping some sort of gas into the burrows. I would think that and extermeinator would know.

i live in an apartment complex, and garden a little of the back area. Over the last year, the mole problem has increased beyond belief. i use the castor oil granules wherever i plant, but it does only so much good.
Between the squirrels digging from the top, and the moles digging underneath - yikes.

No offense, but 'nature's food' for squirrels consists of seeds, bulbs, and tubers.

Many perennials have these. So which would you prefer: to have squirrels eat things you specifically put out for them (nuts, seeds), or flower & plant roots?

As one poster said, they (squirrels) have been here long before we have. I think it's just getting nasty that we want beautiful things surrounding us, as long as it's not 'too' natural.

Saw fox urine on an earlier post. It works in chipmunk holes, but does have to be renewed. Our chippies are down, but squuirrels are not.

I live with squirrels.Red, Gray and flying. I think they eat a lot of things besides seeds,tubes and bulbs. They sure love hickory nuts as they cover my walk to the lake with sharp bits of chewed up shells in the late summer. They also have a perchant for birds eggs. It is not really what they eat it is what they will chew on for whatever reason they decide to chew. If they would just they acorns and hickory nuts out of my yard they would bushels. But they do not stop there they will chew stairs, deck railings,houses,overhangs and anything else there is chewable. I used to use Ivory and Dial soap chunks around my hosta to help keep the deer away until the squirrels even chewed those up. I do not kill anything but the grays,they are the real problem makers for some reason. The flying will chew on the opening of a bird house in order to make it large enough so that they can go in and den inside. Flying are not a dime a dozen and one will make a den in several houses. That is minor damage and I can stop it anytime I want but putting metal liners in the holes. But most of the time I just make another bird house. It does not take very long even for domething fancy with a theme. We used to sell them at craft shows Iused to build as many as 100 in a run.

Even if you shoot them and poison them...they will come back they will survive....they belong to nature !

The point is not to wipe them out. The point is to control their population numbers.

They wait on my back deck each morning for me to come out and feed them peanuts. I do that first....than I must asess all the damage they have done...sigh.
Chewing wood, digging up my newly planted flowers and plants, dumping over planters and window boxes, etc etc....sigh
It is not that they do not do a lot of damage here but that is the way of wild life...They do not respond when I tell them "go away, I am mad at you" lolol
But they are soooo cute...never could I harm one.
Sorry folks, to each his own.

I think squrriels are overpopulated right now in many places and attack plastic for food. Not good for their innards and annoying to those who have to replace equipment.

It is exactly overpopulation. If a person desires to feed them and treat them as pets that is fine with me. Whatever makes you happy is what is important. But in spite of appearing as some wild killer of wildlife I am a strong conservationist and do not like to kill animals. But here it becomes something you must do. I have know squirrels to chew thru the eves of 1/2 million dollar summer homes and cause exstensive damage inside. I have three are 4 running around the yard now and they are a big plus since they clean up the seed that falls under the feeders. But the minute I have to many I will get rid of the rest as humanly and quickly as I can.

I can get squirrels to run by my best imitation of a hawk call. We do have hawks about. But not finding food so eating plastic etc. isn't good for them.

They just chew things iris. My yard is sometimes about covered with hickory nuts and acorns. Chewing has nothing to do with hunger I can assure you.

i think they are overpopulated now too--i never remember seeing so many dead on the road as now--

I would not kill them either but if my dog gets there paws around them then that is the circle of life. My neighbor had his brand new camper vents' chewed up my them. That is $100 per vent. Instead of killing them he went to the SPCA and borrowed traps to capture them and remove them from the property. It is human and eventually you might be able to reduce the population considerably. Contact your local SPCA office and ask about the traps.

In MA it is illegal to transport wild animals to a different place, so check state regulations before you try it.