Question
We have an orange tree, apricot tree and lemon tree.  We just watched a squirrel climb up the plastic webbing we wrapped around the trunk of our apricot tree! Over the span of a month, my husband has diligently screwed hundreds of rat poison bars onto the top of our fence and every bar has been gone the next morning! But no dead rats, birds, squirrels, etc.  They pick our apricot tree clean every year, and eat out the contents of our oranges, leaving a perfect 3/4 shell. Is it time to get out our BB gun?  
What can we do?  We've thought of aluminum collars for the trees, high enough so the squirrels don't jump over them. We've trimmed branches back so they can't jump (hopefully) from fence to branch to tree to tree.  We've thought of metal screening along the fence top, forming a tunnel in which to put the rat pellets and bars (to keep them away from birds, squirrels, possums, racoons), but we haven't added the collars or tunnels yet.

Other ideas?

Thanks,
Lynne

Answer
I hope what you told me is not true. If it is your husband has violated federal and state law on the use of toxicants. he could get into huge trouble if he gets caught. It is not unusual not to see dead bodies after poisoning.  Rat poison is for rats, not squirrels!!!!
Information on controlling rats (too long to list here) is at http://icwdm.org there is more information there than you will ever possibly need. And its all free.

Your best choice is aluminum wrapping of the tree It should start at least 5 feet off the ground and be two feet wide with the second band overlaying the one below slightly like a shingle does on your house.  I assume it is far enough away from places where the animals can jump from. BB guns also work, but you must be sure it is legal to kill squirrels and to shoot in your state/area.  Trapping would be safer.

More details at http://icwdm.org