squirrel problem

[kmac30]

i've got a bunch of potted plants/flowers and they get ravaged every morning by squirrels. it was funny at first but now it's a real problem. there's nothing in the pots other than dirt, but they seem to think otherwise. i put cayenne pepper in the pots, but that only worked for a week or so.

anyone have a solution (aside from a pellet gun). i just want to keep them out of the pots. any help is appreciated

 

[CottonEyedHorn]

Critter Ridder?

 

[brntorng]

They're easy to trap and relocate. Go to Academy and get a small Havahart trap. Smear some peanut butter on the trigger and leave a trail of sunflower seeds leading into the trap and onto the trigger. I've caught 47 this summer in my backyard (I live along a greenbelt and was getting overrun with squirrels) and relocated them miles away in a park area. The best location for the trap is off the ground, preferably in a tree, to avoid catching non-climbing critters.

 

[kmac30]

you've caught 47??

i don't think catching them is a good option for me. my area had a mouse problem (supposedly stemming from the bad storms we had in may) and i've caught a few in my basement. not really my thing.

critter ridder might be an option as long as i can use it w/o bothering my dogs.

 

[WooHorn]

Nah. Full-time outside dogs are the only things that I have seen work. I have the same problems because our squirrels like the softer ground in flower beds and play areas. All the squirrels lived on our lot because all of our neighbors had dogs. I tried the pepper (rats like it) and even mixed up concentrated red fox urine and sprayed that around (NASTY STUFF).

We got a dog and a dog door and that at least keeps the squirrels out of the back yard.

 

[kmac30]

i have a dog that is OCD with some critter that is outside (could be possum, but who knows). if we got a dog door she would stay outside 24/7. maybe i'll get one this weekend

thanks for the info people!

 

[pulque]

Fried squirrels and gravy, yum!

 

[Jellydonuts]

"..(could be possum, but who knows)... "

It is likely squirrels. It is the season were they begin to hide pecans/acorns and that dirt is soft.