I am very annoyed!

[dandysmom]

Some of you think I may be a bit paranoid about squirrels...well this is the latest! I went to the garden this morning to check on the ripening tomatoes...I have a small yard and only room for three plants; so I hover over them like a hen with a few chicks! So. this is what I found...
http://www.catsey.com/%5Bcenter%5D%5Bimg%5Dhttp://wwwdogsey.com/pics/15120DSCN0459.JPG%20%5B/img%5D%5B/center%5D
http://wwwdogsey.com/pics/15120DSCN0459.JPG

http://www.catsey.com/%5Bcenter%5D%5Bimg%5Dhttp://wwwdogsey.com/pics/9108DSCN0460.JPG%20%5B/img%5D%5B/center%5D

http://wwwdogsey.com/pics/9108DSCN0460.JPG


I had really been looking forward to the very first tomato....so, apparently was the squirrel!! :( :evil:

[Kazz]

Eileen I am so sorry but I can just imagine the squirrel posting on a secret squirrel site about the lovely tasty tomatoes he/she has been hovering over like a mother hen. :)

[Moli]

What a shame, I would be annoyed too DM....:twisted:

[Fran]

Oh Eileen, how frustrating :mad: Is there any way you could protect the plants?? As you can tell I know nothing about these things :roll:

[dandysmom]

Eileen I am so sorry but I can just imagine the squirrel posting on a secret squirrel site about the lovely tasty tomatoes he/she has been hovering over like a mother hen. :)
I'm still mad, but couldn't help but laugh at your idea....:roll: I wouldn't wish the little vermin on my worst enemy if I had one...

[dandysmom]

Oh Eileen, how frustrating :mad: Is there any way you could protect the plants?? As you can tell I know nothing about these things :roll:
Fran, one year I got so frustrated that I saved those mesh bags that you get bulbs in in the Autumn and put them over the ripening fruit so they could still get sunshine and fresh air....so ...... the squirrels just chewed thru them and ate anyway!! There is no hope.....:( :roll: (sigh)

[Fran]

Fran, one year I got so frustrated that I saved those mesh bags that you get bulbs in in the Autumn and put them over the ripening fruit so they could still get sunshine and fresh air....so ...... the squirrels just chewed thru them and ate anyway!! There is no hope.....:( :roll: (sigh)

:( what about a small lean-to greenhouse? Have you room for something like this?

[Kazz]

:( what about a small lean-to greenhouse? Have you room for something like this?

Could you get a squirrel to stay in a small lean to greenhouse? or would that be classed as squirrelnapping:roll: :-D

Sorry in a weird mood tonight, :roll:

[dandysmom]

Could you get a squirrel to stay in a small lean to greenhouse? or would that be classed as squirrelnapping:roll: :-D

Sorry in a weird mood tonight, :roll:
What I'd really like to do would be borrow my police friend's gun and pick them off! Unfortunately, although he hates them as much as I do, that's illegal! And we are both law-abiding citizens .....:-D (heavy sigh!)

[Mags]

That is such a shame Eileen and I can imagine how annoyed you are:mad:

Could you possibly get some meshing to cover the tomato plants - then if the darned squirrel attempted to get to the tommies, it would only get itself tangled in the mesh:?

[dandysmom]

That's a thought, Mags! But they are so fiendishly clever and persistent that I doubt if it would deter them .........

[Mags]

Here are a couple of interesting solutions that may help, Eileen........

http://www.vegsource.com/talk/gardening/messages/6420.html

http://www.critter-repellent.com/squirrels/test/squirrels-test-garden-flowerbed.html

[charliebubs]

Oh no Eileen - how awful and frustrating!!! :( Little sods!!!!

I hope you do manage to find a solution - I think a little greehouse is a good idea.

[dandysmom]

Here are a couple of interesting solutions that may help, Eileen........

http://www.vegsource.com/talk/gardening/messages/6420.html

http://www.critter-repellent.com/squirrels/test/squirrels-test-garden-flowerbed.html

Mags, thanks so much for that last link...I've just ordered some! Hope it does as well as all the testimonials: did you read any of them? People who aren't plagued with squirrels just don't realize how terribly destructive they are...I'll let you know how it works! Thanks again!

[Mags]

I read that a lot of people seemd to swear by it Eileen, so I hope they are right and it works for you........or rather the squirrel! :-D

What did you think about the idea of having a windchime up to scare them away?

[Moli]

Nothing else for it DM, I will come and visit and bring one of the staffs with me, once the little pest see's her he will never come back!!;)

[dandysmom]

I read that a lot of people seemd to swear by it Eileen, so I hope they are right and it works for you........or rather the squirrel! :-D

What did you think about the idea of having a windchime up to scare them away?
They ignore windchimes. I've had one in the tree near the birdfeeder forever with no effect. The only way I finally got them out of the (supposedly) squirrel-proof birdfeeder was by using that teriffic tip I read in the paper to sprinkle cayenne pepper on the seed! It works! Birds have no taste receptors for capsaicin, but they do!! Hee hee! :-D
Edited to say they also ignore the twirly pinwheel things! Tried that. Ha!

[Mags]

They ignore windchimes. I've had one in the tree near the birdfeeder forever with no effect. The only way I finally got them out of the (supposedly) squirrel-proof birdfeeder was by using that teriffic tip I read in the paper to sprinkle cayenne pepper on the seed! It works! Birds have no taste receptors for capsaicin, but they do!! Hee hee! :-D
Edited to say they also ignore the twirly pinwheel things! Tried that. Ha!
Sounds as though you have almost reached the last resort Eileen! :lol:

[alexgirl73]

aww Eileen, poor you! You have been so looking forward to that tomato too! Little blighters!

[dandysmom]

Sounds as though you have almost reached the last resort Eileen! :lol:
I' always willing to try something new! My neighbors and I have about run the gamut of things to do, including trapping. ...Carolyn had a trapper (expensive !) remove the ones who were chewing through her porch roof, and in less than a week a new batch was there! Moli: appreciate the offer, but they ignore and sneer at the JR's next door!

[Jac]

Eileen how about that very fine plastic coated mesh. It has a fine wire in it but it's tough. Darryle has it over his beardie's.

[dandysmom]

I'm not familiar with that, Jac; will ask in my hardware store the next time I'm there. But they can chew through wood (like my neighbor's porch roof!), so wonder if it would hinder them...? Thanks for the tip! And thanks all for putting up with my squirrel rants...

[Elaine]

I hope you can find a solution Eileen, although it makes me chuckle, it must be very disheartening for you not to be able to taste your own produce.
Those darn varmits;)

[dandysmom]

If it weren't happening to me, I probably would laugh also! I can (reluctantly) see the funny side of it.........