Have you seen the episode of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” where a squirrel battles a flock of birds for the contents of a bird feeder? The determined squirrel jumps on the bird feeder causing it to spin around in circles several times, he manages to successfully hang on, seemingly undeterred by the ride, then tries desperately to rob the birds of their meal. It is quite funny (I can’t remember if it was that night’s big winner on the show) and I’m sure it’s a situation that many homeowners face on a daily basis.
But the furry rodents (that my 2-year-old loves to torment) not only attack birdfeeders, they also target gardens. Squirrels are partial to berries, fruits, vegetables and young seedlings. They are also known to decapitate flowers during their visit to garden “restaurants.” My aunt says there have been mornings when she has stood in her nightgown watching from her kitchen window as squirrels dined on her maturing crops.
So how can you help keep these smart and determined rodents from turning your garden into their buffet? Here are some tips:
“Squirrel Proof Feeders.” You can purchase these from various garden magazines and catalogs. They often feature counter-weighted or electrified perches that surprise squirrels when they visit the feeder. You could also try greasing bird feeder poles or I know some homeowners who have tried sliming tree trunks.
Animal Repellent. Spray animal repellents such as cayenne pepper mix, predator urine, mothballs, and commercial formulas on or around plants you don’t want squirrels to ravage.
Distraction Methods. Employ ultrasonic noisemakers or set up separate squirrel feeding stations to lure them away from the garden.
Trapping. Physically removing the rodents from your yard is the surest way to cut down on your critter problem. Most gardeners say that live traps are very effective. However, you can’t expect to control an entire population with individual traps. I would suggest using this method if you find that you have one determined furry friend that tends to visit your yard on a regular basis (usually at the same time each day).
Vary Your Approach. If you have ever spent time watching squirrels you will quickly realize that they are intelligent, cunning and motivated in their approach to securing a desired meal. Therefore, you can’t rely on one approach, rather you need to mix it up a bit to keep them guessing—or at least keep them off balance.
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