Squirrels - feel like giving up!

mattalex2008

This year our garden has been plagued by squirrels. We back onto a field with fir trees all along the back fences of all houses. We have been growing our own fruit and veg for a few years and very nice it is, mainly to save money. They have not bothered us before this year.
This year the squiirels are eating EVERYTHING! :eek:
They started on the strawberries as soon as very small green berries started to show, meshed those off (in a box so able to cover with a mesh lid).
They then started on the green house, hadn't realised and went out to find total destruction, pepper,tomato, cucumber plants all chewed off, strawberries stripped. Having to start all over again, keeping window open and door shut! but in hot weather this will not be enough ventilation.
They are taking the tops out of my new raspberry canes, stripping the runner bean and french bean plants of leaves (have not got the tops, so i'm hoping they will survive) and are now chewing the leaves/branches of our new apple trees!
They have dug up Dahlia bulbs and even keep ripping up our pond plants (caught them doing it one day, hadn't even though it could be them before) and our spring bulbs!
We can't afford to keep buying the mesh they can't chew through, the said plants are all spread out, so its difficult anyway.
I really just want to shoot the bloody things (don't worry no gun, and i couldn't do it anyway) but just so frustrated!
There is a lot of building work one side of us at the back, and severn trent are behind us doing a load of work (earth movers, building work, loads of noise) so wondering if they are being forced our way by it all. (iykwim)
Though i'm sure they'll keep coming back now!
Any ideas on how to keep them away? Most things have mixed reviews on the internet, so thought i'd see if any of you have had any results with anything!
Please help, before i just give up! xx

Rikki

Could you make up a wooden frame and cover with netting to put in the open green house doorway?

Not sure what to say about the other garden plants, sorry.

jamanda

We're having squirrel problems this year too. I was wondering if, because we haven't had a summer, they think it is autumn and are panicking because they are short on their stores.

Ours are pulling up our onions, taking a small bite and then spitting them out. One escaped up a tree with one onion seedling.

We've never had this much trouble with them before either.

Leif

I would shoot them. Find out what you are allowed to do with an air rifle. I cannot see an alternative to killing them. Perhaps leaving something in your garden for them to eat and which contains laxative, to make them ill. But I doubt it would work.

picklepick

I think the only thing you can do is to trap and shoot them. Once trapped, it is illegal in the UK to release a grey squirrel back into the wild so you'd have to be ready to kill it.

I couldn't do it personally but if you think you could?

Not sure what else to suggest. The greenhouse door net is a good idea though.

Mado

Leif wrote: »

I would shoot them. Find out what you are allowed to do with an air rifle. I cannot see an alternative to killing them. Perhaps leaving something in your garden for them to eat and which contains laxative, to make them ill. But I doubt it would work.

I agree with the idea, but it's not easy as they are fast little buqgers.
Make sure none of the the militant vegan read this thread though... I've been labelled as a monster for squashing slugs and snails.:rotfl:

TravellingAbuela

I share your frustration, but for a different reason! We are currently having all out war with the squirrels who raid our bird feeding stations. If they only ate the seed on the tables I could just about tolerate that, but they destroy all the hanging feeders to get at what's inside - peanuts, fat squares, etc. OH has tried all sorts to outwit them but they always win. I hate the blighters but I couldn't bring myself to shoot them!

POPPYOSCAR

Get a dog!

The squirrels used to come into the house and jump up at the windows until we got the dogs.

Still get a bit of trouble from them digging up plants etc. but they only do it when the dogs are not out, and at this time of the year they are out most of the time.

I love animals but I have to say I cannot stand grey squirrels.

PollyOnAMission

My whippets certainly do a great job of keeping squirrels away! Although they've never caught one. My OH is considering getting an air rifle. They are pests, and cause a lot of damage, especially in native woodland Apparently they taste nice though!

keran77

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

I share your frustration, but for a different reason! We are currently having all out war with the squirrels who raid our bird feeding stations. If they only ate the seed on the tables I could just about tolerate that, but they destroy all the hanging feeders to get at what's inside - peanuts, fat squares, etc. OH has tried all sorts to outwit them but they always win. I hate the blighters but I couldn't bring myself to shoot them!

Hi TravellingAbuela.

I have the same problem! I think one of the squirrels ran off with one of my little cage feeders for suet squares last winter even thought I leave scraps and bird feed in feeding trays for blackbirds and squirrels.

After having lots of cheaper bird feeders destroyed, I bought one of these feeders a couple of years ago http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/squirrel-buster-mini-seed-feeder.html and it works.

This week I resorted to spending some money on the RSPB website and bought the following: http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/squirrel-guard-dome-for-hanging-bird-feeder.html and http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/rspb-cheater-nut-nibble-feeder-small.html
This has meant the squirrels can now only sit on the plastic dome and not access the seed/suet balls. It is a bit large but not bad looking as it is see through. The birds are slowly getting used to the dome. The nut/nibble feeder has been investigated by said squirrels but it is still in one piece and they did not manage to get any of the birds din dins!

Good luck

Lotus-eater

Trap and destroy, there really is no other way.