Squirrel Nuissance problem!

[Cym Ladye]

Orchidjunky,

I notice that we are both in the same area in CA and squirrels were a MAJOR PROBLEM in our area this summer for everyone! I only wish they had just stayed with burying their winter harvest, as they usually do, in my Cymbidiums. But NO, this year in late summer, they decided to chew off each and every new growth an inch above bark level, not to eat, just to CHEW OFF! Fortunately, my new spikes were late in emergence this year, or I would have lost my entire season. However, many of the centers of the new growths were pulled out, leaving pockets where rot started. Another problem to solve with fungicides and sterile razor blades!

I tried every squirrel deterrent I could when it started and finally reverted to the Have-a-Hart traps. Caught and relocated five squirrels the size of small racoons! The problem was solved for the time being, as the acorn crop came into full maturity at about the same time, but the damage had been done.

Only next year will tell if there are other squirrels with the acquired taste for new Cym growths but I definitely plan to be ready for them, even if I have to resort to a .22!

CL

[fotofashion]

CL: Sounds like the time to employ the traps is sometime in the mid summer. I would hate to be so inhumane as to trap them in the spring when they are raising their young but as soon as that is over, it would be the time to relocate as many as necessary.
As I mentioned earler, at one time I had problems with them eating the new growths. Actually, that is why I just stopped trying to raise orchids. I think we have now struck a happy balance with the arboreal rodents. My cat + the trap when necessary.
Beverly A.

[Country Gramma]

I think the idea of a cage of screen or wire is the solution I'd start with. But I've had to use a BB gun on some that were eating into my roof. It worked.
Karen

[Cym Ladye]

"Sounds like the time to employ the traps is sometime in the mid summer."

Beverly, you are right on this. Now that I have experienced the damage a high tree squirrel population can cause, I will definitely be prepared next year. We are not talking about 10-12 Cymbidium plants here but a collection of over 1,000!
but and going to : back!

CL

[fotofashion]

Oh CL OUCH. You need to get busy ASAP. It is funny, when we transported around four squirrels it is like the rest got the message and left things alone. There were times when I would see 12 or more out in the front yard burying acorns so I knew we had plenty. We live in a rural area with mostly oak trees, ideal for squirrels but now I don't see so many on my property. But, again, I credit my cat for that. Most of my neighbors, as far as I can see, aren't much for gardening so they probably don't have problems with them.
Beverly A.

[Connie Star]

My grandfather was a psychologist and devised a couple of interesting devices for deterring them from his bird feeders which might be of use. The best was to rig up a cattle prod to a wire grid and shock them. They eventually learned to stay away only when a human was visible in the house.
I have the good fortune to have coyotes and fishers in my neighborhood. They seem to keep the population down.
My best bird feeder system has been a long rope from a high tree (hubby is a tree surgeon) that can be raised and lowered by pulleys. Parachute cord for the vertical part is strong enough to hold the feeders but thin enough that the squirrels can't climb down it.
That would be pretty hard to do with orchids, tho. I suspect we have few squirrels mostly because of the non-vegetarian varmints we have. We couldn't have an outdoor cat or it would be prey, too.