Squirrels in cattleyas

[Merita]

Hello everyone:
Squirrels have been moved to my trees, they are destroying all the new growth of the cattleyas and tearing the leaves, I would like someone to advise me what to do, I have put black pepper powder on the plants and it has not worked , I have put scarecrows and it does not work either, until a radio I have placed, and nothing. I am sad, disappointed and not knowing what else I could do to keep these animals away.

[SouthPark]

Maybe some ultra hot pepper spray - eg. crushed up california reaper chillies (just don't get the substance on your hand or in the eyes!!!!!!).

This pepper apparently doesn't work on mice. But maybe untested for squirrels.

---------- Post added at 02:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 AM ----------

Some promising signs merita.

Click Here

[Merita]

Thanks SouthPark, I am going to try the chili, some solution must have this.

[wisdomseeker]

I'm plagued by eastern gray squirrels (my property is covered with pine trees). They breed in winter (Jan. - Feb.) and in summer (May-July) around here. During that time they are truly pests: constantly searching for food they have buried in the past and constantly searching for nesting materials.

Squirrels love to hide their food and have a tendency to bury a majority of it in soft dirt. Unfortunately, they do not have good memories and probably forget 90% of what they bury. This time of year, squirrels are really busy digging holes in my plant pots & garden (often times destroying plants in the process). They also chew on my patio furniture/cushions, and bird houses. Squirrel guards don't even work for me (they can jump and hang onto anything). I can't stop them or beat them.

I've tried cayenne pepper, hot pepper sauce, moth balls, rags soaked in ammonia, animal & rodent repellents, hanging fake owls/twirlers/spinners, bamboo skewers & plastic forks in plant pots... the *almost* only thing that has worked for me is staking an arch shaped tent of small spaced chicken wire over my plants for a period of time (the arch shape provides room for plant growth).

I also move some of my plants near a beehive - no problems with squirrels at all. My dog will chase a few, but that doesn't do a thing to solve the problem. Even with all the stray cats hanging around the property, squirrels are everywhere. Wishing you the best on what ever solution works for you, good luck!

[DirtyCoconuts]

how serious are you willing to get and how much damage ( discourage vs lethal) are you comfortable with inflicting?

there are various squirrel deterrents but they are not all successful and then there are many ways to dispose of them ranging from traps to kill traps to this thing (Goodnature A24 Rat & Mouse Trap Kit w/ Counter | Automatic Trap Company ) which should also work on squirrels

i will mention that squirrels are delicious and an air rifle can make short work of an over population

[Roberta]

I have found that the bird spikes (plastic strips with either plastic or metal spikes in 3 rows) that I get at Home Depot can be arrayed to discourage wildlife (I have more trouble with raccoons than squirrels) If there is a tree that they are climbing down to the plants, you can tie a few around the tree. Or on top of fences. My birdbath looks like a porcupine... but they have stopped dumping it.

[Subrosa]

I have problems with squirrels and chipmunks early in the season, but find that if I flay and crucify a couple of the young of the year around my growing area, the rest learn to stay away pretty quickly.

[Merita]

Thank you all for your advice, I am going to do as many as I can. This is the worst plague that has fallen on my cattleyas, every day I find more than five plants with the new growths eaten, some chewed pseudobulbs and shattered leaves. I only see four squirrels and I know they have a nest in the palms, other years there have been some but they have never done this to me, if I don't take them away they will end up driving me crazy.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Fence the area where your orchids are, if it is not already a fenced yard.

Get a small dog, a type with a hunting instinct (dachshund, terrier, something like that, or a mix of similar breeds; try your local animal shelter). The dog may never catch a squirrel, but will definitely be a deterrent. The dog doesn't need to be outside all the time either. Bonus: you will have a loving new companion!

(The fence is to protect the dog, of course!)

[DirtyCoconuts]

+1 for a rescue dog

terriers are monster killing machines and it will probably get a few squirrels..doxies...they will bark a lot and try REALLY hard lol