Question
QUESTION: We live in the San Bernardino, CA mountains amidst pine trees and a serious drought.  For the first time ever, tree squirrels have decided to gnaw on our deck, creating significant damage.  We feed birds and have water on the deck for the birds, chipmunks and squirrels.  We enjoy watching the wildlife, just want the squirrels to stop chewing, hopefully without going to war with them putting out poison.  Thank you for any suggestions.

ANSWER: Thanks for your question. I was quite surprised to learn that California, the regulation capital of the U.S. allows toxicants to be used on tree squirrels. Are you sure they permit that or did you just use the term poison to refer to killing? For if California permitted toxicants on tree-squirrels it would be the only state in the U.S. to do so.

First, understand that by feeding wildlife you are encouraging a confrontation. Nature believes in supply side economics. Where there is a supply, there will be a demand to meet it. With your food and water supply, it is just a matter of time before you have even more problems. Visit http://icwdm.org to learn how to feed birds without feeding rodents.

Second, squirrel chewing can be caused by females about ready to give birth. They often don't eat so they gnaw on stuff instead. It should only be temporary. Wood stains like Cuprinol wood preservative which had copper zaphenate (now illegal) would stop chewing whereever the product was absorbed into the wood. Taste repellents like ropel may give you some relief.

Tactile repellents like hot foot will also work but they leave a gooey mess. Place the goo on a board or tape so you can remove it easily without staining the deck.

Otherwise, you are looking at trapping and euthanizing. Translocation even if legal is not necessarily humane. Visit http://icwdm.org to learn why and how to trap squirrels and euthanize. Don't bother with silly ultrasound devices. They are very good at repelling money from your wallet but that is about it.

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. Just to clarify, we were told we could get a permit to SHOOT the squirrels with a 22.  That was over the top for us.  Another friend just suggested using a water hose when we catch them.

Answer
Not sure what you meant by a 22 being over the top. Shooting if safe and legal in your area, is an effective population control technique. Pellet gun would be safer as it has a shorter range.

As for the water, what is that supposed to do? My guess is that it supposed to be a hazing technique to teach the squirrel not to come back? Or did you mean drowning? If you meant the former, don't waste your time. Squirrels are used to rain. If the latter, drowning will kill squirrels and can be safer than shooting. If you wish to have a better way to euthanize the squirrels, then visit our site and search for euthanasia. We have instructions on Carbon dioxide chambers.