Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

These furry Nazis are absolutely destroying my plants. I posted awhile ago, and it seems letal means are the only true recourse.

I have a small rodent trap set, but there are SO many of them that I'm afraid it's going to be no banana season at all for me this year unless I find some way to repel as well as kill.

In that vein, I would like to know if anyone has tried Baar Castor Oil (see Moles and Castor Oil: Formulas to get rid of moles from your lawn) It supposedly repels squirrels, too, but I would feel better trying this product if I knew anyone else had already tried it with good--or bad--results.

Anyone know of this product and its effectiveness against squirrels???

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

It will be interesting to find out how effective it is for squirrels.

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I will say it's great for moles, but I've always used my trusty slingshot when it comes to squirrels. I'd give it a go, because it's likely to work.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

I am sorry to hear you have a rodent problem (was that from Transformers).

YouTube - Transformers-Mojo Pees On The Robot

I left the east coast thinking I would be away from pests. HA HA HA! I have killer gophers that have destroyed so many plants (bananas and anything else with roots!).

I have tried Critter Ridder from Havahart for my resident skunks. It does say on the container it repels squirrels.

Good luck!

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Reminds me of scenes from CaddyShack.
"License to kill gophers"

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Unfortunately, I have gotten efficient at it!

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Critter Ridder does NOT work. They walk right through it. The local county extension people suggested milorganite; they walked right through that, too.

Hopefully someone here has had experience with the Baar product and will post with their results. I'm not wasting anymore money on anything until I hear from a real person with growing banana plants, and that ain't me right now. It's mid-April and I don't have one leaf, they chew them off before they can unroll.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

get a psychoitic cat....or a small dog( little dogs were bred for hunting small game) like rabbits,squirrles, snakes, dragonflies, butterflies....things of that nature.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

It has to be a heart-sinking experience to see new growth coming and then wake up to find the squirrels munching them. I feel for you. I wondered if pepper spray, mothballs in a stocking or nicotine sulphate would deter the tree rats?

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

another thing that will deture a deer (so it might work for squirrles) is tie a bar of irish spring bar soap to a srting and place it close to where your plants are being eaten. this keeps the deer out the daylilies so it might work for the rest of the greenage.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

OK, all the other suggestions thus far I've tried, except for the cat/dog aspect, and I'm allergic, so that's not an option, plus there's a leash law here.

The Irish Spring soap I have not tried, but am on the way out to the store now to get some as it certainly won't hurt to try.

My main interest, though, is knowing if anyone's tried the Baar castor oil method. This stuff is different than the stuff you get at the drug store, so I'm curious if it will work as stated...since most remedies that state they work on squirrels do NOT work on squirrels.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Is it the plants or the fruit your worried about? If it's the fruit could you wrap the bunches with bird netting, chicken wire, or just bag them like commercial plantations do? Even better yet how about some electrified chicken wire! Protect your bananas and cook dinner at the same time!

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

It's the plants themselves. I live in North Central Florida, and here the leaves die back in winter. In spring, like now, the leaves begin coming back from the stalks. The squirrels eat the hearts out of the stalks of the brand new leaves over and over again, to the point where I think three of the plants may actually have died from this treatment.

I have tried to wrap the stalks with chicken wire, to no avail; they get their teeth thru it somehow and chew the stalks anyway.

Plus, some of the stalks are very tall, some over five feet, and it's quite difficult to wrap them. I have even tried bungee-cording screen around some of them. I am SO frustrated!!

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

I had the same problem with one plant that layed it's leaves over a power/cable wire that they use to walk on. After several times being sprayed in head from my hose they stayed away. Also I have dogs and cats that help keep them out of the actual yard area. Harvey posted a link to a super trap that kills them quickly. I'd invest in some those and a really good pellet gun if I were you. Maybe you could give them water at the corners of your property as that's what they are getting from nibbling the leaf centers. That may slow them down and give you a chance for a clean shot at the same time.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

I can confirm that Critter Ridder does nothing.
Nor does Fox Urine. Didn't even slow 'em down.
Have not had any luck with blood meal either.
The only thing that has seemed to work to some degree for me is cayenne pepper sprinkled liberally around the garden. Unfortunately, it washes away with every rain.

I despise squirrels. They not only ruin the garden on ground level, they dig everything up on my rooftop terrace as well. Killed one banana plant last year and I keep finding peanuts (in the shell) everywhere.

Apparently they were a source of food in the Great Depression... the first one I mean.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Who's Harvey, and what link to a kill trap? Am I missing something?

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HarveyC?????????

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Actually it was one of your old posts Nana Nut...Click the new posts tab and I bumped it up...I did not know how to attach it to this thread.. the post was Please help me !!!!!!!!!!!

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Here's the trap Harvey was talking about.
Squirrel traps, mink traps, rat traps, and other small pest traps

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Heres the trap website..........Squirrel traps, mink traps, rat traps, and other small pest traps

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Nana Nut, I'm going to your original post about your pest.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Are the squirrels eating your plants or fruit?

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Nana Nut, please stay on one thread!!!!!!!!.

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That was probably my fault for bumping up the old thread, I just didn't know how to relate back to the old one and insert it to his new thread...Sorry folks

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Thanks guys for finding the post made by Harveyc with the link to the traps.

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I wonder if alum would be an effective deterrant to the varmits (spray with it)? Did anyone decide if the castor oil works? Seems to me that if we just let them go, we will be overrun with them. What's a natural enemy to squirrels?

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

12 gauge.........:03::ha::ha:

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Ah, yes, the Kania trap. I have one on the way; they are out of the office until the 22nd, but yes, I have one of these coming. Problem is, I have more squirrels than one trap can handle and am looking for any and all things that would repel them as well.

I am pretty sure I'll start hauling bodies out with the Kania trap, BUT I have tried other squirrel traps, like the live trap, and it has been my experience that they seem to learn from OTHER squirrels' past mistakes! When I used the live Havahart trap, at first I was catching them at least a couple a day. Then, it got to where I could put a cup of peanut butter in there and it would go rancid. I could watch them go right past it.

I sure hope that's not going to be the case again with this new trap and I'm still knee-deep in the varmints...

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

hahahahahahahahha

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I feel your pain. I am having the same problem here. I think they will be eating my fruit next.

here read what we/I have tried (to no avail)
http://www.bananas.org/f2/my-praying-hands-7423.html
Even the firecrackers are not working anymore.

I am going to try the cayenne pepper next.

And if that doesn't work borrow the neighbors 12 g. (I think my .270 is overkill)

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Sorry to burst your bubble, Sailfish, but save your cayenne pepper for cooking. It will have no affect on the squirrels whatsoever.

I literally dumped it into the side stalk indentations of all my banana plants and watched in horror as they simply ate them like a salad in front of my eyes.

In fact, I have lemon trees, and they will even pull the lemons off the trees and eat them as well.

I don't think there is anything they will NOT eat, so anything organic just doesn't work on them.

I still hope someone will post who's used the Baar castor oil because I'm not going to spend anymore money on "repellents" that claim to work and don't. If anyone's actually used this with good results, then I'll happily spring for the gallon! Otherwise, it's lethal methods for me from now on. :gangstabanana:

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Dont sell the .270 short. It will not only end the varmits path of destruction, but the explosion will also give lots of family enjoyment. Plus it will improve your aim. I myself like the .300 win mag.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Thanks for posting my old link, I couldn't keep up with all of the threads yesterday.

Nana Nut, sorry to hear you're having such terrible problems. From what some nut growers shared, the Kania Trap took care of their squirrel problem very well. If you have lots, it will just take more time. I don't really believe that squirrels learn from one another based on the large numbers of squirrels some growers caught. Dead squirrels tell no tales! LOL

Just remember to ask Patty for some recipes! ;)

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Well, I do feel that the trap will provide me some relief...and revenge at the same time.

Also, anyone having a lead on where I can buy some of that tainted peanut butter from the recent recall, I'd be interested. :2169: In the meantime, I'm headed for ebay to see if I can find somebody with a cache of agent orange........

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Since Mitchel mentioned squirting some squirrely squirrels with water with some success, I'm reminded of seeing some motion-activated sprinkler that has been sold to discourage various animal intruders. I don't know of anyone who has used it, but it's got good reviews on Amazon: Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler

Boy, I'm thankful I don't have these critters!

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Oh, man, at least I'm not alone in my pain. I found an almost identical thread to the one I started here on another forum I didn't know existed. Help!! Squirrel's eating my banana's - Banana Forum - GardenWeb

I guess the bigger question in all this is the curious one of WHY the squirrels now have put banana plants on their menu? I live in North Central Florida, and you can't spit down here without hitting a 100-year oak tree, so it's not lack of food.

Somehow, these b-tards are morphing into the Borg or something...

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

I'd say the squirrels, which are not exclusively nut-eaters, are looking at fresh banana shoots as "oh yum, fresh salad!"

I've used a motion-activated sprinkler to reasonable success against tree rats, so I'd assume it would have a similar benefits with squirrels. The most effective thing I've found thus far, however, remains my trusty slingshot and pea gravel.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

A friend who's plagued with deer uses the motion-activated sprinkler and seems quite happy with it (but not with his water bill).

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I have a scarecrow. They do work! I sometimes forget I have it on & walk in its path & it scares the b'jeebers out of me.
Even that only scares them away & they come back. I've trapped 5 in one day. It was work getting rid of one & resetting the trap for the next. Hopefully the first few you get will be the ones eating the nannas. They don't all eat nanna leaves.
I still have squirrels around but the ones that ate my grapes & figs & citrus are gone. The others don't know of them - YET. Last year was the first year I got to eat my grapes & other fruits.
Don't know if you read this on a diff thread but since last June, I trapped 77 squirrels.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Only 77? Hell, I see that many over morning coffee. They are completely out of control here in Gainesville, FL. Because Gainesville is full of tree huggers, and probably squirrel huggers as well, the animal "control" will not do anything about it. Homeowners here are on their own.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Maybe you can offer them a sacrafical banana offing away from your other plants, or as I do I have deer feeders with corn for the deer and tree rats away from our pool. so far I have never had a nana attacked.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Actually, I've already tried the sacrificial banana thing, to no avail. They're not interested in the bananas, only the plants.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Homeowners are on their own everywhere as far as animal problems. It is illegal to kill these pests but I plan on continuing. Came home today & there is a possum in trap -- 13th one. No trappings all winter cuz of snow.
If you don't get rid of them, they will get worse. Forget the repellants, they are more work & only last a little while.
GET TOUGH!
Anyone got a good recipe for possum?

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

What did you do w/ the squirrels when you trapped them?
I've trapped several with the trap set & NO BAIT -- they must smell that food was in there. Trust me, they are smart but not smart enough to figure out the trap! I've had squirrels walk on top of trap while a squirrel was in it. They were the next to get in trap.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Patty, you live in Wisconsin. The squirrels aren't as smart up there, believe me. I used to live in Iowa, and those squirrels weren't as smart, either.

Now that I've moved to Florida, the squirrels HERE are not only smart, they're evil, too!

I gave up with the Havahart trap because it got to be too much trouble driving 10 miles into the country to dump them. It's against the law here to trap them and let them go someplace else in the city.

But then, like I said, Gainesville is a truly idiotic city. They won't let you cut down an oak tree if it's the hanging doom of death right over your bedroom, and even more idiotic, get this: it's LEGAL to buy fireworks here (to set off in the middle of the night when the Gators win, but don't get me started on that one), but it's ILLEGAL to set them off (although, believe me, after the Gator games, they DO set them off...).

In other words, while I love the weather in Florida, there are times when I wish I was back in Iowa where it was quiet and the squirrels were stupid...and fewer.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

I have heard that peppermint oil works. It burns their mouths when they eat it. I will be trying it this year before I get out the pellet gun.

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

If you only took those squirrels out 10 miles, they are back. My friend trapped some & tagged them...took them out more than 10 miles & saw them later WITH HIS TAGS ON. He says take them out at least 20 miles.

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I would never drive 20 miles to relocate a squirrel! Off with their little heads I say!

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:ha::ha::ha::ha::ha::ha:

Re: Freakin SQUIRRELS!
 

Ok new thread, post your most delicious squirrel recipe!!!!!!!!