Squirrel problem

megman · Post by **megman** » 06-12-2012 11:29 AM

You'd think having container pots on the roof of a 3 story building things would be safe from squirrels.

I've already had the tree rats digging in the pots I'll be damned if I'm going to lose peppers to them again this year.

Any ideas of how to keep them at bay? I'm thinking an electric fence plugged straight into the AC line........

voguy · Post by **voguy** » 06-12-2012 06:21 PM

Put down a smooth board, like a 4' x 4' gypsum board, and put something sticky on it like sugar pop, and then pour on a generous helping of ghost pepper dust or crushed dried peppers. They walk on it, it sticks to them, and the peppers make them miserable. They leave.

Option 2. you can use a fence charger with wires on dowels around plants. Doesn't kill them, but they seem not to like the charge.

Dude111 · Post by **Dude111** » 06-12-2012 09:28 PM

One time we had 2 squirrels in our basement,i dunno how they got there and i was afraid to tell anyone for fear they would try to kill them!

I told them and we got some LIVE TRAPS and put them back outside

I petted one of the squirrels with a stick and she didnt try to attack the stick,i wonder if i could have tried picking her up and placing her outside myself

Good luck getting your problem fixed megman!

megman · Post by **megman** » 06-13-2012 09:08 AM

voguy wrote: Put down a smooth board, like a 4' x 4' gypsum board, and put something sticky on it like sugar pop, and then pour on a generous helping of ghost pepper dust or crushed dried peppers. They walk on it, it sticks to them, and the peppers make them miserable. They leave.

Option 2. you can use a fence charger with wires on dowels around plants. Doesn't kill them, but they seem not to like the charge.

I don't see your first suggestion working.

When I had my house, every Spring I planted hot peppers in my garden and the damn squirrels would eat the jalapenos and cayenne's and cherry bombs.

Or maybe it was a Mexican squirrel.

As for the electric fence, I'm not looking to maim. Large hoard of racoons in the neighbourhood too, a couple sleep in the gap between the buildings. I'm thinking a hat and furry underwear......

Cherry Kelly · Post by **Cherry Kelly** » 06-13-2012 10:05 AM

A farm type electric fence works on raccoons and possums - should work on squirrels too! Another thing IF you can find it -- those plastic snakes (ones that looks real) Move them around every couple days.

EDIT to repeat a story that happened one year with electric fence around the sweetcorn.
Skunk hit it with nose, got angry turned around and -- ohhh ya needless to say it threw the skunk several feet away.... never saw that skunk again either!

SquidInk · Post by **SquidInk** » 06-13-2012 10:33 AM

Drones.

Grab a quadrotor or two, drop small anvils, command it all using OpenPilot ( http://www.openpilot.org/ ) & your pc. Should work, unless you're dealing with the Rats of NIMH.

Biggest hurdle is construction of a rooftop hangar large enough to accommodate the quadrotors.

Good luck!

megman · Post by **megman** » 06-13-2012 10:37 AM

I want this one......

megman · Post by **megman** » 06-13-2012 10:39 AM

Cherry Kelly wrote: A farm type electric fence works on raccoons and possums - should work on squirrels too! Another thing IF you can find it -- those plastic snakes (ones that looks real) Move them around every couple days.

EDIT to repeat a story that happened one year with electric fence around the sweetcorn.
Skunk hit it with nose, got angry turned around and -- ohhh ya needless to say it threw the skunk several feet away.... never saw that skunk again either!

The big question here is just how sweet was your corn after that?:D

Post by **Fan** » 06-13-2012 12:45 PM

Fighting squirrels is a losing proposition and will only serve to raise your stress levels.

Put out food they would prefer, and keep it stocked up. Old corn cobs work well.

voguy · Post by **voguy** » 06-13-2012 04:49 PM

Optionally, live trap, and take them MILES from where you live for release.

Dude111 · Post by **Dude111** » 06-14-2012 12:14 AM

Yup

The 2 in our basement though we just let go in the back yard..

megman · Post by **megman** » 06-14-2012 02:27 AM

There are probably more critters in my area than people so hauling them off isn't feasible.

I can see if I put old corn cobs out on the roof, I'll have a Seagull infestation next.

What I really need is a 6' tall bluejay. Squirrel's only natural enemy.

Post by **Fan** » 06-14-2012 07:34 AM

megman wrote: There are probably more critters in my area than people so hauling them off isn't feasible.

I can see if I put old corn cobs out on the roof, I'll have a Seagull infestation next.

What I really need is a 6' tall bluejay. Squirrel's only natural enemy.

I have a blue shirt and am over 6' - I'll do it for a measly $500/day + expenses (of course).

Dale O Sea · Post by **Dale O Sea** » 06-14-2012 08:28 AM

megman wrote: There are probably more critters in my area than people so hauling them off isn't feasible.

I can see if I put old corn cobs out on the roof, I'll have a Seagull infestation next.

What I really need is a 6' tall bluejay. Squirrel's only natural enemy.

If a blue jay scares them, I'd think an owl would terrify them.

But you know me and tech - I like this one but ya' might douse a few innocents in the process:

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Post by **Fan** » 06-14-2012 08:30 AM

The squirrels here don't care about any birds around them. They just dismantled my new bird feeder 3 days after it went up. It is now lying on the ground.

I have come to learn to love my new squirrel overlords.