Question
I recently experienced some heart problems.  My doctor suggested gardening to relieve some of my stress.  I have to say I have been enjoying it and look forward to coming home each day to see the progress of all the bulbs and seeds I planted in flower pots and placed on my deck.  Well I came home today to find that a squirrel had a party by digging up my sunflower seeds (eating the seeds and leaving the shells) and started in on my rainbow plant, but it was unharmed.  My husband showed up and saw the squirrel scurry off the deck.  What can I do to keep him away so he won't destroy the rest of my hard work?  HELP!!!  I'm suppose to be relieving my stress, not elevating it.

Answer
In managing pests, timing is critical. Install barriers before you expect an animal to make it's appearance, and start control measures at the very first indication of damage. Unlike most insects. animals can wipe out an entire planting, or even a whole garden in a very short time if the problem is left unattended.
Squirrels are ingenious in foiling your attempts to thwart them. A single try at establishing a barrier may not do the job. You will have to keep trying until you come up with a control, or combination of controls that finally outsmarts the wily marauders.
Typically a combination of traps, and barriers is the best stratagy. Biological controls have limited effect. and poisons are a hazard to pets and children.
Try to trap them, and move them to another enviroment away from your plants. Use a medium trap, and bait it with fruit, nuts, and peanut butter.
Barriers such as screens, or netting to keep them away from your plants,  will work in certain situations.
Scent repellent may work, some times. Ro-Pel, is a commercial product that smells awful to squirrels. It is available at Burlington Scientific Corporation and Ringer Research.
"Eaton's 4 The Squirrel," is a commercially available sticky gel. They don't like to get it on their feet.
It is available at J.T. Eaton and Company.

The next thing that works sometimes is a big dog, or mean cat. They will continue to chaise the squirrels away.

I am sorry about the stress, but, if you are not able to solve the problem, then perhaps indoor plants will be just as pleasing, and the squirrels can't get to them.

bakerplanter