How to keep squirrels away

[Kirk44]

Hi my pond and garden area is in it's fourth spring now and I feel like both the pond and garden are really established. Unfortunately it looks like the squirrels agree and are really wreaking havoc. I always had a few but this spring they are really doing a lot of damage to the plants. I don't want to kill Any of them. Is there any way to just keep them from digging up the garden?
Thanks Kenny

 

[Relic]

Squirrels are a royal pain. I raise oak trees as a hobby and have to keep seedlings inside a wire cage to keep the squirrels from destroying them. The yard looks the beaches at Normandy after the Allied bombardment there are so many random holes dug by the squirrels everywhere. I have a couple of dogs that will bark and chase them with a vigor...except they spend most of the day asleep, while the vandalism goes unchecked. Good luck, but don't hold your breath...

 

[Mmathis]

Are you allowed to trap and relocate squirrels where you live? If so, that might be an option. Sure, they’ll eventually repopulate. A rehabber once told me that if you relocate squirrels, take them across a body of water (like a river or large lake). Not sure if that’s true, but apparently it’s supposed to make it harder for them to find their way home.

 

[rubyduby]

Hopefully a predator will take care of your problem (hawk, owl, ect..) since nature does a great job of controlling numbers (well it did an even better job before man interfered with highways and buildings in the way of what used to be normal trails for wildlife to get food (coyotes, ect)

 

[Souper09]

Are you allowed to trap and relocate squirrels where you live? If so, that might be an option. Sure, they’ll eventually repopulate. A rehabber once told me that if you relocate squirrels, take them across a body of water (like a river or large lake). Not sure if that’s true, but apparently it’s supposed to make it harder for them to find their way home.

I’ve done catch and release, and take them five miles away, there’s water and highways they have to cross before they get back here. I’ve done pretty much every critter expect a fox. I don’t know who is more nervous at the release point, me or the critters. squirrels launch out of there.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

I have had good success with the products from 'I Must Garden'. They make squirrel repellant in both spray & granular.

Squirrel Repellent | Repel Squirrels - I Must Garden

Squirrel Repellent really works! Botanical oils and other natural ingredients keep squirrels away. All natural, people, pet and environmentally friendly.

www.imustgarden.com

And, yes, they will come back from a long way if relocated. You have to take them at least 5 miles, and I'd bet those little hooligans would still find their way home.

 

[Mgessert]

My yard is fenced and I have a little terrier who is relentless at keeping them treed. Over the years they seem to have moved elsewhere. Of course he does do a little digging of his own so I gave him one of my raised beds.

 

[ShaunS]

Hi my pond and garden area is in it's fourth spring now and I feel like both the pond and garden are really established. Unfortunately it looks like the squirrels agree and are really wreaking havoc. I always had a few but this spring they are really doing a lot of damage to the plants. I don't want to kill Any of them. Is there any way to just keep them from digging up the garden?
Thanks Kenny

I’m brand new, Kirk, but maybe check out something like this…..? No affiliation or idea if they work or not, though. My dog helps and I have a net I can take off easily when I'm not around.

Amazon.com

 

[Kirk44]

Thanks for all the help. I'll try the natural Squirrel repellent and let you guys know.
Thanks again

 

[WaterGardener]

I have problems with squirrels in the garden, too. In the fall, they bury black walnuts in the garden area, especially in the raised beds. All this spring they have been digging them up.

I read that they hate the smell of coffee, so I'm spreading coffee grounds around those areas every day. Haven't done it long enough to know if it works, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[mrsclem]

@Kirk44 - please post any things that work. Our 1 1/2 acre is home to dozens of grey squirrels. Huge pain with their digging and getting into the garden.

 

[Relic]

I have problems with squirrels in the garden, too. In the fall, they bury black walnuts in the garden area, especially in the raised beds. All this spring they have been digging them up.

I read that they hate the smell of coffee, so I'm spreading coffee grounds around those areas every day. Haven't done it long enough to know if it works, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Man, if the coffee grounds work I'll be a regular dumpster diver at my local Starbucks...

 

[SarahT]

Man, if the coffee grounds work I'll be a regular dumpster diver at my local Starbucks...

Many Starbucks will bag up the coffee grounds for you, no dumpster fun involved.

 

[mrsclem]

We have the steel torpedoes on our bird feeder poles. Worked great since we put them up. Yesterday I saw a squirrel on the peanut tray! How did he get there??? Climbed up brick chimney, ran across the roof and jumped to feeder!

 

[SarahT]

We have the steel torpedoes on our bird feeder poles. Worked great since we put them up. Yesterday I saw a squirrel on the peanut tray! How did he get there??? Climbed up brick chimney, ran across the roof and jumped to feeder!

They were filming the next episode of American Ninja Squirrel.

 

[SoCal Pond]

I have a big fat guy that pretty much ruined every fruit tree in my yard this year. He would pull every fruit from the tree even though it wasn't ripe. He would take one bite and throw it down and repeat the process until the tree was empty.

It is a delicate process since my wife has way more tolerance than me and does not approve of my methods.

I bought this bad boy. It is 10X stronger than a rat trap.

Now he is going after my grape vines. I placed grapes in it a few days ago and almost got him. My wife was not happy saying he was hurt and panting or crying this morning while he got out of it. I reset it and hope to get this over with soon.

 

[Lisak1]

Ah. It’s a fine balance. I understand they need to survive too but the “one bite - no good - next one please” method makes me crazy! I had to pick my tomatoes as soon as they blushed and my cabbages when they were roughly half grown just to get any harvest. And beans? Not a chance.