Tree Rats

[Mugsie]

Browsing these forums, a number of you live in a warm climate. Unfortunately, myself and a lot of others live in a northern climate. During the warmer months, I'd love to place my orchids outside, handing on a fence under some trees where they get dappled sun all day.

When I start to bring them out, I can hear a call go up throughout the neighborhood yelling "he's bringing out food!". Squirrels. Inquisitive little bas$@#s!. They destroy everything. What they don't eat, they dig up, bury acorns in or just uproot.

Short of placing a cage around every plant, have any of you been successful in deterring them from attacking the plants. I will not shoot, poison or otherwise harm them. Thoughts?

[RJSquirrel]

got to think like a Squirrel ..I put peanuts out in the yard to lure them away from my plants. Rodents going to eat what you put out for them. You have to to draw them in and feed them to keep them from destroying what you dont want them too eat...Give em what they want FOOD!!!Plus the cats like to watch em too

Squirrel watchin is his favorite thing to do..

[Subrosa]

You might try a motion detecting sprinkler. It's fairly effective at keeping chipmunks out of my bog.

[estación seca]

The only completely effective method is exclusion - quarter inch hardware cloth around a simple frame will work.

[Ray]

Some folks have had success spraying their plants and the surroundings with a product called “Hot Pepper Wax”.

[Dimples]

I know some people offer more preferred snacks elsewhere on their property, far away from the plants they would otherwise target. Doesn’t reduce their population, but it keeps them busy in a different part of the yard.

[Leafmite]

I think the easiest is to spray the orchids with cayenne pepper mix or what Ray mentioned every few days and after each rain.

I keep my plants on my front porch (security camera) where I let the dog outside and spend time enjoying the plants. That helps a little as we and the dogs go in and out of the door often so the squirrels do not venture close.

In the past, we did have some problems as our late American Eskimo was very mellow and let the squirrels do as they pleased (even using mounted orchids in their nest building--found them sans orchids but with tags when a storm blew the nest out of the tree). The current Eskie feels protective of my plants after I scolded her for chewing one (it survived) and even has taught the elderly poodle mix (orchid shredder) and my daughters' puppies to stay away from them. I really hope that lasts....

[Roberta]

The squirrels don't particularly bother the orchids, but they do go for my avocados. I have had some success reducing the problem by tying a cheap plastic owl to one of the branches. (source, Amazon). Based on this result, I conclude that squirrels in my yard aren't very bright. That may not be the case elsewhere, where living may not be so easy.

[SADE2020]

I could die if I see a rat running around ...but I love Squirrels

Maybe you can contribute to the circle of life! ummmm, I don't think so! I may go for the Cayenne



---------- Post added at 12:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

The squirrels don't particularly bother the orchids, but they do go for my avocados. I have had some success reducing the problem by tying a cheap plastic owl to one of the branches. (source, Amazon). Based on this result, I conclude that squirrels in my yard aren't very bright. That may not be the case elsewhere, where living may not be so easy.

The decade of Avocados! Everyone is woking up and discovering the avocados are good and tasty; ever your squirrels @Roberta

[Fairorchids]

This spring I built myself a vegetable garden, with 4 raised beds.
1. I put metal cloth in bottom of each raised bed.
2. I laid concrete pavers between the beds.
3. I installed 2x4s in the corners, and every 6 feet along the sides.
4. I installed 12 foot 2x4x across the top.
5. I attached metal cloth all the way around, 3 feet high.
6. I attached deer netting over the top, and reaching down to the metal cloth (using zip ties to connect deer netting to the metal cloth).
7. And one door on one side for access.

Doing a 20'x12' structure cost me about $1,000, but the ()(*&* squirrels are not getting in.

So, this will be the blueprint for stage II (= orchid cage).