Question
QUESTION: Hello Stephen,

This is my first summer in a new house and we have squirrels!  I planted a nice little container garden on my back deck...only to find that the squirrels had no manners at all.  They have torn up a number of my plants and they are always digging around in the containers.  I have a number of tomato plants and while they haven't bothered them as of yet, I know that once the fruits are ripe, they are going to steal them.  I purchased some nylon netting at the fabric store and I thought it would be the best bet, but when I got home and tried to wrap up my plants, I realized that if I cover the plants, the bees won't be able to get to the flowers to do their thing...meaning the end of all of my hard work.  Do you have any suggestions for how to keep the squirrels from eating my garden?

Also, I recently noticed that one of the baby 9or smallest) squirrels, has started chewing on the side of my house.  The nerve of him!  Right outside of my back door!  He has  managed to chew a hole about the size of a nickel, but it is not empty behind it, so he can't get in.  I made a little paste of chili flakes and I coated that area, but is there anything else I can do to keep these guys away from my home?  I live in the city, which means that much of their natural habitat is gone.  It also means that I can't shoot them.  I don't want to poison them, because what if they have already managed to chew their way into my house, I don't want a dead squirrel, or worse, a family of dead squirrels, rotting somewhere in my walls.  I have considered purchasing one of the humane traps, but I worry that I won't be able to catch all of them once they catch on to the game.  

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you so much in advance for your time.

Sara

ANSWER: First, don't think for a minute that urbanization has harmed squirrels. In fact, there are more squirrels today because of humans than when Columbus came to america. It is a common myth to think that all animals were harmed by human expansion.
As for the humane trap, I assume you mean cage trap. They can be quite cruel if not used properly.  First, unless you are willing to secure your plants, the only other effective method will be to wait them out and see if the population drops on its own or to reduce the population yourself.
You can try repellents on the plants provided you never plan on eating the plants. But I doubt they will help you. they do help people feel better though, it is called the placebo effect. But some people do find that they help for real.
If you want to learn how to control squirrel populations then you should visit http://icwdm.org read up on squirrel trapping. I trust you don't have a bird feeder on the property. If you do read the article there on how to feed birds and not squirrels.
Remember there is no magic in animal damage control. If it seems too easy, it is. And you will have a lighter wallet because of it.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for the prompt response!  And for alleviating the guilt I feel regarding my dislike of the furry rats.  I did mean the cage trap, and I figured I could trap them and then release them far away from my house.  I am willing to secure my plants, I just worry about  how to do so.  If I wrap the netting around the bottom, but leave the top open, do you think the squirrels will be able to climb up the netting, even if it isn't secured at the top?  I wonder if there isn't a way to keep the squirrels out, but let the bees in.  

I researched the repellents, and  found nothing promising there.  The stuff at the garden center said it may or may not harm the plants, or me if I ingest the veggies after treatment.  YUCK.  I do not have a bird feeder of any kind and we keep the garbage and recycling in the garage.  I thought about placing some squirrel food out there, with cayenne pepper in it...to discourage them from coming around, but I don't think they are that smart and I wouldn't want to induce more visits.  

Thanks for the link you sent.  It looks like there will be hours of reading for me there.  Again, thank you for your time.

Sara

Answer
You are welcome. The short answer is, completely enclose your plants with screening or don't waste your time. They will easily climb it. Now an electric fence is another issue. Something to consider if it is legal in your area.

As for translocation of your squirrels. Some states don't allow it. Hopefully more states will follow suit. Translocation can be quite cruel. If the squirrels are that much of a problem they will likely be so somewhere else. There are no empty spaces for squirrels in the U.S. Hopefully your state allows the squirrels to be killed. Info on euthanasia is also available on the site. Often the reduction in population will help alleviate your problem.
As always, follow your state laws.