Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,
I have some fruit trees: apricot, asian pears, etc. that are feeding the squirrels rather than us. In the past I used a net (for bird control) made out of nylon thread, but the rascals chew through it.
I thought about spraying the nets with a strong pepper solution (Habaneros), and any ideas on the subject would be appreciated: I need a way to have the spray stick to the nylon net. Are there nets made from coton thread? Any other deterrent solutions you may think of? Thanks.
Answer -
I am not aware of cotton threaded nets. I would be cautious about spraying repellents on the fruit destined for consumption. Be sure to follow all labels.

You essentially have two real options.  Population reduction for the squirrels or exclusion.  With exclusion, you would need to have trees far enough away from places where the squirrels could jump to the tree. Trim branches etc. to make this happen. Then wrap the trunk of the tree with 2 feet of aluminum flashing to prevent their being able to get a foothold. The flashing should be 4-5 feet off the ground.

For population reduction info, be sure to follow all laws. Understand relocation of squirrels is not as humane as it may appear. For information on controlling squirrels visit http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/TreeSquirrels.asp

There is a ton of information on this site. I am sure you will find it very helpful.

By the way, any photos of the damaged fruit? you can e-mail them to me at [email protected]  Higher res the better.

Thanks.
I can not move the tree, and indeed it is next to a fence used by the squirrels to jump on the tree.
Do you see a problem in using a pepper solution as a deterent? Ury

Answer
Yes, the problem is you plan on eating the fruit which would have been sprayed with pepper. Depending on your location, you could put an electric wire on the fence to keep the squirrels off the fence. Be sure to consult with an electric fence retailer to ensure you use the product safely and legally. Trimming back tree branches will also help.