Controlling Squirrels

Let's control squirrels. That's all I ever had to say on my radio show and the phone lines would light up with callers suggesting we blow the tree-rats away to those wanting to feed and protect each one of the little darlings.

There's little agreement among gardeners except to point out that this rodent damage gardens. They eat bulbs, dig up flowers, and eat flower buds. That we can agree on.

A Little Squirrel Data

It helps to understand what we're dealing with here.

First off - squirrels are territorial. These territories overlap (which is why you see more than one animal in your yard) but generally speaking there is a dominant animal in each area.

This means that if you eliminate an animal, another will move into this area almost immediately.

Why almost immediately? The average squirrel only lives two years in the wild before being picked off by a predator (be it a car, dog or raptor) or starving to death in a bad year. This is the way of it and to replace these numbers, squirrel females produce a heck of a lot of babies. There's never a shortage of animals to move into vacant territories.

In answer to your question then - if you kill off squirrels in your garden, it is a momentary respite because there will be another one there in a day or two. In a very bad year when the overall population is down, it might take a few days longer but the next year all that empty space will invite a population increase.

In the city garden, it is literally impossible to eliminate squirrels and no matter how much you beat yourself up over it - it just isn't going to happen.

In the country, you can blast away with a gun and constantly reduce the invading numbers but it will be an ongoing problem.

Control Methods

We're talking gardens here - not bird feeders. You bird-folks are on your own with all kinds of tricks.

In the garden we have several options. Water! Squirrels hate muddy feet and if, when you plant your bulbs, you "muddify" the area in a big way, the animals will not dig up the bulbs. Also, plant tulips a little deeper than recommended on the packages. Do not leave tulip debris on the ground after planting.

Protecting buds - use a liquid product that tastes terrible. Look for the label and see if it contains "bitrex" - the foulest tasting substance known to man. The highest concentration is the best. Spray as soon as the plant emerges and continue spraying every week as the plant grows. Good luck. In the experience of my readers who have tried just about every noxious spray going - a spray that doesn't contain bitrex may work the first week but not the second or third. Squirrels need to be shown that the product continues to be bitter and not acclimatize their taste buds. In a hungry year, all bets are off for any product.

Feed the squirrels during the main flowering and budding times (like all summer!) Yes, if you establish a squirrel feeding station, you'll have several squirrels there all the time. But they leave your plants alone, they keep the rest of the population away (territorial remember?) and they provide some entertainment value. Admit it - no matter how much you hate them eating your plants - they are pretty interesting jumpers and aerial acrobats.

Good luck.

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