Question
I just purchased a large amount of spring bulbs.  I want to plant them right away (like the directions advise) but I'm concerned about the squirrels.  I seem to have quite a few of them.  They destroyed my fall display and ripped down all the cornstalk I put up.  They're relentless!  What can I do?  Are there any tricks to keeping them away from the bulbs?  Do mothballs or crystals really work?  I appreciate any advise you have on this!
Thanks.

Answer
Gray Squirrels and Gardens

This answer contains more than what you want but you should find it helpful. Also living in massachusetts, if you decide to control squirrels understand that relocation is AGAINST the law. If you want them gone, you will have to kill them. You can't bring them somewhere else and dump them. Besides its not humane anyway. Visit http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/relocation.htm to learn why.

There could be a variety of reasons why this problem is happening this year as opposed to others including, a population spike, a reduction in habitat, or both or a new discovery that they are taking advantage or something else.
You could reduce the population through trapping  http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/solutions.htm . Or you could build a hardware cloth cylinder that would go into the ground and protect the bulbs from being dug up. Think of it like taking a glass and shoving the open end into the ground deep enough to pass around the bulb. I would suspect that you would have to go down 4-5 inches around the plant. For climbing plants you could wrap them in 1/2 inch gauge hardware cloth. Repellent sprays may work but you would have to be sure that you never ate the plants. Some say you can wash the repellent off (these would be the homemade non-toxic variety) before eating, but I would not trust that advice. Also I don't know if the repellents (available at local lawn care stores, the product is called Ropel) would harm the plants. Never use repellents on plants you intend to eat.  Making sure you don't have bird feeders around will also help as this food source simply allows for the creation of even more squirrels. Read http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/solutions.htm it has pages on prevention.

I would not recommend any poisons and certainly would not recommend those silly sonic devices visit http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/ultrasound.htm to see why. Lastly, there are no plants that will repel a squirrel. Whether or not they will eat it would depend on how they think it tastes. I am not aware of any list of plants that are known not to be eaten but it is something I will keep in mind. Also don't give them food elsewhere in the hopes that they leave your plants alone. You will only create a large problem next season. Sorry but there is no magic in this business.

Disclaimer: As with any activity, remember that animal damage control comes with its own risks and problems which can include but are not limited to legalities, health threats, and personal liabilities. Be sure to follow all state laws governing wildlife and make sure you have a thorough understanding on how to resolve the animal damage complaint. My advice is only as good as your understanding of me and my understanding of your situation. If you have any questions be sure to write back.