Squirrels!!!!!!

[Brassleaves]

These little demons continue to dig in my Sarra and D. filiformis pots. I've tried staking the pots, but the just push them to the side no matter how many or how deep I place them. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of them in my area. With no predators left they have become a rather big problem, so shooting them would just be futile since there are 20 more for every one that I shoot.

What should I do? Will putting rabbit fencing over my pots affect the plant growth tremendously? I don't think it would be a problem for the filiformis, but the S. pcittacina and S. purpurea are a different story. Maybe dome fencing over these?

I think what I really need is a motion activated-squirrel only auto targeting high powered pellet gun. j/k....kinda

[gaduke]

I sprinkle ground up cayenne pepper on my bog gardens, you can find it in a large container in any grocery store, it does a good job! ;D ;D

[marcel]

O For peat's ( )sake... please NO SQUIRREL WARS!

[sheila]

www.eurocosm.com/Application/Products/Garden-products/scarecrow-sprinkler-GB.asp

One of those might do the trick, though if its attached to your mains water supply, best not to aim it directly at the pots. Expensive but apparently effective.

[mmlr38]

I too have a serious problem with squirrels where I live. I came outside to check on my plants a few times and found them uprooted. I ended up building a little "bottomless cage" out of 2"x2" boards and chicken wire to set over the top of my plants. It works well and is easy enough to take on and off to get at my plants.

[kitkor]

Careful using stressful squirrel controls, you might be helping them learn more quickly. It's all part of their evil plan. Really.

[Brassleaves]

Do you need to replace the pepper every time it rains?

[gaduke]

Yes I usually do, unless its a light rain.

[brokken]

I tried something called a "Garden Ghost" which uses compressed air to scare critters away. It was marginal at best. I've also tried wooden skewers and that didn't help either. I think you're better off using a cage of some kind.

[Clint]

Cayenne pepper works without fail for me. It's unnecessary to apply it after every rain. Capsaicin is not water-soluble.

[jfowler]

I have to say that I was skeptical about the pepper treatment, but since my yard is overrun with squirrels , and since I've tried everything from expensive wolf urine pellets to steel traps, I'd give it a shot.

I went to Sam's Store and bought a huge (industrial size) plastic container filled with ground cayenne pepper. One evening, just after a particularly viscious attack on the bog garden by these #$@*! critters, I liberally sprinkled the pepper over the entire bog garden. Actually, the orange color was not entirely unpleasing. I have not seen evidence of those annoying critters digging in the bog garden since, even though they are in the yard every day. So, I'm a believer -- I just wish I had found out about it sooner. ;D

Although you state that the operational component of the pepper is not affected by rain, I'm going to treat the bog garden with pepper at least once a month just in case. Thanks for the tip .

Sorry for the use of those emoticons, but it was fun. It's the first time (and last time) I will use them -- I promise .

[Clint]

I'm happy to hear you success! If you want to apply it monthly, I don't see the harm. I don't know what the build up of powder month after month will do. I don't think it will hurt the plants directly, but I also don't know if it will mold once it builds up. That's why I wonder if aerosol mace would be better. Let us know if there's any build up or mold a year or so from now!

Use emoticons if you want. Just don't put like 100 in one post. There was someone that used to do that like three or four years ago at another forum, and it drove everyone crazy and slowed people down.

[jfowler]

Hello Clint. I'm only lightly dusting the area although my supply is large enough to do the whole yard! I'll report back if there is any problem. Thanks, again.

[Randy Zerr]

My cat does a good job of keeping the squirrels away. He's even taken a couple out that got brave enough to venture too far from the trees. But.. will the cat stick around where you need him all the time? My cat never digs in the plants.

[gaduke]

Glad it worked for you! ;D