Squirrels
 

I like the little critters, Iggy and Stumpy in particular; but, the little buggars insist on eating my plants. For the past couple of years I've kept them (almost) at bay with cayenne pepper. They have, however, become immune to it, or developed a liking for it ... they even sent me a note asking that I put out dishes of tequila:D Any suggestions on how I can keep them out of my plants? I don't want to hurt them, and I will continue to buy them peanuts, .... just something kinda eco-friendly that will do the job.

Oh, by the way, I'm not talking a dozen or so squirrels here ... there are hundreds of them on our street. and thousands in the 'hood:D

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I thought the cats would keep them at bay E,you could always order wolfs pee online
Predator Urine- Original PredatorPee- Free Shipping- coyote, wolf, bobcat, mt. Lion, fox urine for deer,coyote, rat, mice problems and more

I hear blood meal or spicy chilli around the perimeter of your plants can work well too.
Good luck with the thieving little critters

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I think lion poo is a good all rounder!:D

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I like squirrels too.
Where Ma lives there are quite a few and recently I saw the tiniest little kit squirrel on her neighbours bird table....I had to look twice, I thought it was a mouse at first until I saw the bushy tail.
I have no better suggestions than those that have been offered by Accyexplorer and Westendlass.....I think I would let them eat my plants just for the pleasure of watching their antics(and of course I would buy them nuts too - crazy, I know...but I like animals).

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Going back to the 80s used to watch em sat in Conservatory wi a brew, Was great in Winter,Clough that was out back, watching em fly from tree to tree, had red uns, but the greys eventually drove em out.little swines. Thats when i stopped the nuts fer those gits.

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I have only ever seen the red ones on the Isle of Wight, but never managed to get a picture of one...despite a lot of patience.

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My cats don't go out ... esp. in winter there are predators out there that like a good feed of cat: coyotes and fishers mainly, and last January a couple of wolves were seen in the neighbourhood. .... and of course, automobiles. My cats aren't street smart, and since LB got killed right outside my home a couple of years ago, I'm real protective of the useless little buggers.

I might try a mix of the chili, cayenne, and white pepper.

If only JRTs could climb trees;)

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They wish they could too. Or at least the ones we have had always wanted to get up the trees after the squirrels.

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A friend of mine has recently had a problem with moles in her garden, about twenty mole hills have sprung up all over it. After asking advice about nature-friendly solutions,she too was advised to use cayenne pepper. I'll have to find out if it's worked.

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So the squirrels were sat in your conservatory wi a brew?

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I used to see red squirrels at the back of the bowling green in Bullough Park in the fifties and round were Margaret P's Ma lived.

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I can remember sitting in a park in York in the nineties eating a sandwich and hand feeding an unusually brave squirrel. It was obviously used to people, never seen one that friendly since though. I think they're great and love watching them.We occasionally get them in the garden but you can always spot them over at Foxhill nature reserve.

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Grey ones, that is.

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I think I vaguely remember them being up Bullogh Park, but then thought it must be my imagination. All Grey ones near Ma's house now. She's still in the same place!

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Attachment 39167
Just to remind everyone, this is a red squirrel. The pic was taken last year on a holiday in Scotland

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I have been giving this problem a great deal of thought on your behalf Eric and have come up with an idea that might just work.

If Canada is like here the contraceptive pill is free, so get down to the clinic and get a few boxes, (if they are reluctant to supply, play the equal opportunities card) then grind them to a light powder and sprinkle the dust over the peanuts before putting them out, this over time should reduce the population.
Don't worry about the male squirrels eating these peanuts because if rumours are true they will develop female characteristics which will have the result of reducing the population even quicker.

Westendlass this may also work for your friends moles if she is prepared to find a large quantity of worms and coat them, (though what the long term effect will have on the worms, who knows? I don't suppose the pill has been tested on hermaphrodite's.

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Walk through yon daily n see em most days, sometimes can see em through bedroom window.:)

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Saw one of the little red ratbags today, middle of the road & no idea which way he was going to go, so I was sat in the wagon holding up traffic until the little sod decided to scuttle off the road & up a tree. :)

There was always hoards of 'em (reds) at the camp site in Holland we used to stay at.

Squirrels
 

I see red squirrels in the middle of the road all the time along with red rabbits, red hedgehogs, I even saw a red badger the other day.

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Photoshop has a fix for red eye.
:)

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I prefer optrex.

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Whatever it is you are drinking.....I'd give it up.....it is no good for your health.

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Perhaps you do but after you've drunk a whole bottle do you not find that it can effect your, erm, your... oh whats the word, erm con, definately con something concrete? nah, contemplation, again nah, ah yes I remember now, constipation?

http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons...cons/onloo.gif

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Don`t worry Margaret, compared to a badger with its brains and guts spread across it`s fur, my health is pretty good.

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You forgot to add "flat" to that statement Gp24! :D

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Didn`t forget Dave, they were in no fit state to sing.

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But they did 'hum' a bit.
B-boom. Ok, I'll get my coat!

Squirrels
 

I hope your coat is imitation fur or it won't just be the road kill that hums.

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It's polyester....try to get that out of a parrot!

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[QUOTE=Less;1100077]I have been giving this problem a great deal of thought on your behalf Eric and have come up with an idea that might just work.

If Canada is like here the contraceptive pill is free, so get down to the clinic and get a few boxes, (if they are reluctant to supply, play the equal opportunities card) then grind them to a light powder and sprinkle the dust over the peanuts before putting them out, this over time should reduce the population.
Don't worry about the male squirrels eating these peanuts because if rumours are true they will develop female characteristics which will have the result of reducing the population even quicker.

Westendlass this may also work for your friends moles if she is prepared to find a large quantity of worms and coat them, (though what the long term effect will have on the worms, who knows? I don't suppose the pill has been tested on hermaphrodite's.

A great idea! But I do think, in order to better protect my plants, I should add ground up viagra to the mix ... if I do this, then they will be too busy screwing to worry about the plants. And, it's squirrel friendly ... the little critters will have a ball:D

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There is a flaw in your plan Eric.....there will soon be so many of the critters that you will have to take another job to pay for the Viagra........and your doctor will think you are having a whale of a time!

Squirrels
 

[QUOTE=Eric;1100179]
It might just be Eric friendly as well, far better you inhale Viagra dust and get flared nostrils, than pill dust and end up with a sex life similar to a worms.

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Added to that, they'd be spending more time on the ground (the males at least) as climbing trees may be a tad awkward. ;)

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Back in the day, I could have handled it;) But, as the late great George Carlin observed when told, on a plane, to "put his seat back forward": "I'm sorry; I don't bend that way any more. If I did, I would be in porno movies":D

Oh, and to stay on topic, I think I'll go with a mix of cayenne, chili, and white pepper ... ta for all the advice.

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I feed a couple of squirrels who are real friendly: Iggy and Stumpy. Iggy will pull on my pant leg if I don't come up with the peanuts quickly enough. In spring, summer, and fall, there are also a couple of real friendly coons, Raquel and Arbuckle. I don't expect to see Arbuckle again; he was getting up in years, and probably didn't survive the winter.

Stumpy is my fav. I almost shot him last fall. He showed up limping one day, with bad cuts on his body. His tail was mangled, ready to fall off, and looked infected. He was having trouble climbing trees. I thought it would be best to put the little guy out of his misery. Had him lined up, and was about to pull the trigger, when the god whom so many misunderstand, tugged at what's left of my soul ... and I changed my mind. He's still around (Stumpy that is, not God). Happy as a clam. Not much tail left, but he's doing fine without it.

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Glad Stumpy survived Eric, you'll get your reward in Heaven :D .Is Arbuckle a fatty?

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Stumpy is very lucky without his tail Eric will never put him in the pot, all of a squirrel can be used and the tail makes a very good substitute for dental floss.

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He's a rotund, elderly gentleman.;)

If you have the slightest interest in god and animals, you might check out Blake's "Auguries of Innocence."

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I've read it today Eric and it's a very moving poem. I even named one of my son's after the redbreast (my favourite bird). Tonight I shall be imbibing of a tipple or two so tomorrow I'll reread and digest properly. Thanks for that.

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And no he's not called Hot Tits by the way!:D

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And you are?:hidewall:

By the way, if you liked the Blake, here's one by Jon Silkin. It mentions a squirrel, but nothing about how to keep them off plants;):



caring

He was a nice guy too. Corresponded with him about an article I was researching on Wilfred Owen ... never published it.

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although there is no indication as to what effect the pill will have on worms i have a bloomin good idea what effect viagra will have on a worm :eek::D

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What a lovely thought provoking poem. I think a love of animals reveals a lot about someone's personality. I know one or two folk who cant be doing with animals at all, which has always puzzled me.

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Last time I saw red ones was in Bolton a few years ago

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Most of ours are black ... with a few grays. Reds are rare. I guess they don't compete all that well in the squirrel world.

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How cute are the white ones?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e...tm%3B466%3B260

BBC - Albino squirrels living in Surrey

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Well this one won't be gathering nuts in May, trapped and snapped today.
:D

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they look like ferrets with camp tails :D

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Well ... it's almost time to try my devil's mix of white pepper, cayenne, and chili. The garden centres are opeining; so, I'll get myself a hanging basket and dose it with the mix. See what happens. If it works: good. If it doesn't, I'll try something else. Anything ... well anything short of buckshot.

Looks like we have other pests in the 'hood. Cats are going missing, and coyotes have been spotted hanging around at nite. Cats are a big item on their menu. Can't blame the coyotes; after all, we build our homes on their land. And it's been a hard winter for them too. However, there's general agreement among my neighbours that the sound of a little gunfire at nite will not be reported to the local constabulary.

So, if there are any coyote experts among you, can you come up with an alternative to a Winchester .270?:D

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Never mind chillies or coyotes Eric, get yourself a Coopers Hawk.