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7144 members, 153560 posts, 340 blogs
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 Dang squirrels! How to keep them away?
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject: Dang squirrels! How to keep them away? |
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It is so hard to try and keep the squirrels out of the bird feeders. I bought two that I thought were a sure thing! Ha! The squirrels are eating off the ground if they can't get to the feeder. Now when they run out of left overs on the ground, the dang things start eating the blooms on my Hibiscus.  They want the full meal deal as they are going after greenery and all! Help! I'm sure someone has had experience with this problem. So what can be done .......if anything?
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~ 
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kaseylib
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1041
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I bought the squirrel baffles that you put on the post below the feeder. It does work, as long it's at least 4 feet from the ground (they can jump over the top of it otherwise, I know!) and there are no trees or structures nearby that they can hop from. We have many red squirrels around us, and they're even more acrobatic than the gray squirrels. Always a challenge with those rodents! I don't know how to keep them from eating off the ground...maybe place your feeder in an area with no plants underneath it???
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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I don't even try to keep them away from all the bird feeders. I have one resident squirrel in the yard and she has a visitor once in a while. I don't know what they would do if they couldn't reach the feeders. It seems like once you put feeders out the squirrels are going to be there no matter what you do. I do have the 'bushtailed buffet' that keeps them somewhat away from the feeders.
Bushy-tail-buffet
About the only way to keep them from your plants is to build a 'tent' out of chicken wire for each plant but that isn't feasible or pretty.
Otherwise, maybe...ummm...lots of people consider squirrel with cream gravy a delicacy 
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Pianolady
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 02 May 2006
Location: Zone 4b Iowa (Map)
Posts: 519
PlantStew: 259 |
| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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The metal caged bird feeders are the only ones that I've had any success with, but the cage has to be small enough that only the birds can get through it, and has to have a large enough diameter that they can't reach the feeder from the edge of the cage. It also has to have a metal hanger at the top, or the squirrels will get their kicks by chewing through the hanger. Duncraft and a few other companies make them, but they can be pretty pricey.
Anything plastic? Forget it.
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 645
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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There are sprays you can buy to spray your hibiscus with to keep the squirrels off. I find Deer Off brand to be quite effective. (deer squirrel and rabbit repellant. There are lots of very effective squirrel proof feeders. Droll Yankees makes some as does Duncraft and others. But like you said whatever gets knocked out to the ground they eat. Also, mammals, such as squirrels do not like HOT pepper. There are liquid hot pepper additives you can add to the seed. Birds can't taste hot so it doesnt deter them.
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Kasey... I feel like saying 'duh'... I moved the feeders, so hopefully that will help. I don't have a lot of room, cause I keep buying plants!!
Toni, I imagine there are some 'folk 'round here out in the woods, that would love that delicacy.' 
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~
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woodlandfey
On The Way Up
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 99
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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MOVE!
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Quietly Awesome
On The Way Up
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: |
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We have an awfull lot of them buggers this year! I sent DH and DS out to see how many they could take care of. 
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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All I can say is, the flower buds of a Hibiscus must be mighty tasty... Since I saw the squirrel pulling the buds off a few days ago, I haven't had one flower. Maybe the squirrel thinks they are pecans, since they are the same shape and size. I do hope I will get to enjoy a few flowers, since this is my favorite flower.
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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After me blaming the squirrels about devouring the buds... I go out to inspect my plants and water early this morning... and I see my little bunny wabbit hopping away from a big plant. And I see a lot of 'ruts' that 'someone' has been digging at night. So it looks like my garden has turned into a wonderland for wildlife!! 
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~
'Quitcherbellyaching'
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Well I have decided the squirrels and the little wabbit are both responsible for the ruts! Yesterday I saw the squirrel 'wallowing' (is that a real word?) around in a planter box. Guess the wabbit had devoured the greenery that was in there and the squirrel thought it must be the new play area. I knocked on the window and he jumped out of the box, onto the ground, up a tree and into a hanging basket! Dang squirrels... looks like I may be doomed from having a nice garden!  
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~
'Quitcherbellyaching'
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
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Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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If you fed the critter, would it leave your plants alone?
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DaphDaph
On The Way Up
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Location: South Carolina (Map)
Posts: 159
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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I have squirrel feeders and I leave corn around. The deer started eating the little apple tree again this year, so I put some corn by the tree. So far it seems to be working. I also plant items animals like along the back of my yard and keep the other plants I don't want nibbled on closer to my house.
I wonder if you planted something they like (carrots) then they would leave your flowers alone?
I'm most likely the wrong person to give advice since I plant to attract wildlife.
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3115
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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I doubt it, but I can try. I'm afraid though that when it got through with 'its' dinner, it would look for dessert!!
I had a problem with squirrels a few years ago at a house that had a huge back yard with many trees. I fed the squirrels and birds. When I ran out of food, the squirrels chewed a hole in the lid of the rubbermaid trash can that I stored the food in. So I got a galvanized can and used a bungee cord to keep the lid on. The squirrel then chewed through the bungee cord. I then got a screen door spring and hooked it from one handle to the handle on the other side. After a while I could no longer afford their food and mine...so I stopped feeding the little 'rats'. OK, then they bested me one. They chewed the power line into my house, not once, but twice I had to have the power company come out and replace the line!!! That did it for me. I would really like to continue feeding the birds, but the food attracts the squirrels. So when this batch of bird food is depleted ... there will be no more
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