Squirrels eating pseudobulbs? Control?
 

Although I have not caught them red-handed, I suspect squirrels (or possibly mice) are eating the pseudobulbs of some of my plants, especially Cymbidiums.

I already use Metaldehyde bait to control for snails and slugs. Whatever it is seems to have no interest in the leaves. For these reasons I don't suspect snails, slugs or caterpillars.

The culprit is eating an entire pseudobulb or two at a time, mostly the older ones so far. Cymbidiums have been the main target but I have seen damage to My Bletia, a Bulbophyllum, and a Cattleya.

Has anyone else experienced similar damage? How do you control squirrels? The plants are in the back yard, which is where my dogs spend part of the day, they are not deterred. Looking for a repellant.

Poison not an option. Neither are firearms.

Have you considered Hot Pepper Wax, or a homemade version?

Thanks Ray, I will give that a try.

Chipmunk will do the same thing. I've had it happen and the only way to stop it is to make sure they can't get access.

That and maybe feed them something they like better. I don't know if it's a coicidence or not but since we started putting out corn and peanuts for them I haven't seen as much damage to the plants. I still get a bit...but it's not as bad as it was a few years ago.

Thanks katrina, I may be able to do something with netting.

I'm glad we don't have them here.:hmm

Netting won't work. It has to be wire hardware cloth or window screening. They fit through amazingly small holes and they chew through netting and shade cloth easily to get at the tasty treats inside.

I use a live trap baited with an apple slice to catch them. My friends in the herpetological society take it from there.

There are rodent repellent products made with fox (or other predator) urine. The squirrelzillas in my neighborhood just laughed and continued to trash anything on my balcony. I gave up.

Do you have a dog crate your not using or know of anyone with a spare? If I were to put my plants outside I would try using one I happen to have. You could find used crates on Craig's list. Might have to modify it with wire mesh depending on the spaces between the wire.

Can you get creative with Steel wool? I use it to deter the little critters from digging in my flower beds (where I don't have rue, tansy, wormwood or some other unsavory herb). Squirrels, mice and chipmunks will not chew through it and it hurts their little paws, too. One should use gloves when handling it. :)

By steel wool, I mean the fine stuff that you buy at the hardware store. It works very well.

The most bitter of herbs is rue and I have never seen anything nibble on it. The wormwood plant has an aroma and it seems to help deter the mammals, too, as well as insects.

Good luck!

I don't know what pepper wax is but Cayenne seasoned soil did not deter the a$$holes (ours are that obnoxious), they like spicy foods. Maybe Habaneros would work. I have chicken wire covering my pots that are outside; covering across the top and having the plants grow between the wires or in the spaces between the plant and the wall of the pots.

Get a dog. It doesn't even have to be a real dog if it's motivated enough, but if it has a bark like a 12 gauge it won't have to work as hard.

We have 3 dogs already. As I said in the original post, the orchids & dogs share the same part of the yard. Two dogs are older but still bark a lot. The third one is a young terrier - dachshund mix with a bark that will split atoms; he was born rabid and has kept the attitude going for a year and a half. Unfortunately the squirrels are active at times when the dogs are indoors (early morning). Keeping dogs outdoors full time is not an option.

A .22 air rifle should do the trick nicely.

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No.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I tried the pepper spray (a commercial one). They loved it, left a note asking for the recipe. Moving on to try other suggestions.

Cymbidium seem to be the main target. I have temporarily moved them indoors.

Given your parameters, I'd scour your local Craigslist, classifieds and yard sales for used bird cages. They provide protection and if you have baskets or mounted plants they're perfect for hanging them.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Oh this is funny. Nothing like the orchid board to give me a good laugh in the morning. I'm going to have to go with you will have to do the fencing thing to keep the little buggers away. Luckily I don't have squirrels but I have to fence the garden from the rabbits. Little shits were even eating things they have never bothered before this year. I do sometimes threaten there lives but :roll: we think there cute and feed them, so well, I can't really kill them. I've had pets before, there so cute.

I have dogs that munch any vegetable plants within reach. I tried sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes all over them. Now I have dogs that want to eat everything I cook with cayenne powder, habañero sauce, chile powder. And they're big enough to knock any pot off the stove, or reach anything on the counter. The plus is now I can't walk away from the kitchen and get distracted while cooking, so I stopped burning pots full of food.

Here we eat them (the rabbits) in various ways...I can give you a few recipes.:biggrin:
In fact that's one of my favorite meats.

For just a second, I wasn't sure if you were sprinkling red pepper flakes on the vegetable plants or the dogs. :biggrin:

The whole experience is making me feel a bit like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

I found I had a weasel in my barn, took care of all my chipmunks and piney squirrels. Since I don't have chickens, let the weasels do what they do.

Here the only weasels are on the City Council. Oops, off topic.

:shock: but, but, there my pets :biggrin:

Kind of funny the different opinions we can all have. To me, a squirrel is nothing but a rat with a hairy tail and deserves the same treatment when it becomes troublesome. I won't say how I dealt with my problem, though it was effective.

Rbarata, funny all our food preferences too. You don't see rabbit for sale or offered around here but rarely, mostly at higher end shops with more exotic meats. Around here we offer gator. :D And some of the country folks outside of town hunt and eat squirrel.

I've heard of using predator urine/feces as a deterrent in gardens- might not be worth the smell to you, but maybe it would work? Maybe they sell fox or something urine odor in a sporting goods store. Not if you're bringing stuff indoors soon though.

Wow....in Texas I step outside and see 10 rabbits and 40 squirrels. Thankfully the dogs keep them away. Unfortunately it also brings....rattlesnakes to eat said rabbits and squirrels...:( I got a spray at home depot that smells horrendous for a few hours but kept the squirrels and armadillos from digging in my flowerbeds beds and pot plants. Good luck orchid Whisperer!

For a fraction of a second, I thought you had "rasta-critters" LOL!

Nope rattlesnakes last year's was 5 ft long.....ugh....😨

Heh we get wild cottontails around, but in my yard they didn't do the damage squirrels do. Lot of big oaks around here that house whole nations of squirrels. We get LOTS of snakes too, I like the nonvenomous ones around because they eat the vermin. (idea- maybe drape the orchids with a shed snakeskin and/or feces if you know someone with a pet one?) And on the food topic, rattlesnake is good we get plenty around and will butcher them.

The commonest rattlesnake in metro Phoenix is the Western Diamondback. I don't have any in my neighborhood, because we have a good population of California king snakes, which eat other reptiles. Outdoor cats seriously damage the king snake population; they aren't welcome here. The coyotes take care of the cats.

I like the nonvenomous ones also. We had bull snakes move in and they seem to keep the rattle snakes away. I'm not tryin rattle snake meat, no way no how.

Kindrag23, where you been girl?

Imy not getting close enough to just kill one I obliterate them with my shot gun. :rofl: there's nothing left after that :rofl:

Lost everything over winter season (even a 8+ yrs old hibiscus, bugs were bad this winter). just now starting up again since leaving high stress job for a better one.

If you visit Phoenix, they serve it at The Rustler's Rooste at the Arizona Grand resort at South Mountain. I've been told it tastes like chicken.

I'm so sorry you lost everything. But I'm glad your rebuilding. Also hope the new job is a better one and gives you more time to play with your orchids.

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It looks like a nice place and I would try the beef. :rofl:

They only show themselves when they're between me and the neighbor's windows.

Here is the picture of the weasel that lives at my house. He wandered into a live trap for piney squirrels. I noticed this summer has been very quiet, no chipmunks or squirrels incessantly chattering. YAY for weasels!

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He's cute. We have them here too but I have never seen them.

He is cute. I think he might be young. I might not have ever realized he was there until we caught him. He can stay as long as he wants.

Aw how cute. They are elusive creators.

I'm bringing this back up because I got an e-mail from Jerry Baker, you know the garden guy. It said that for some reason squirrels don't like the color red. so it said to use red furniture, red pots or red tape. Just thought I would let you know you might like to try it.