How to stop squirrels from eating your tomatoes

It may have started with the strange finding of partially-eaten ripe tomatoes in your yard. Most likely, you had your eye on the most beautiful tomato in your garden, waiting for the moment of perfection to pick it. And then it was gone, and you find its remains in your yard. Neighbor kids? You're puzzled, until you happen to glance out a window and see a squirrel with a tomato in hand, having a snack. There are a number of things to try, but be prepared for a frustrating battle. Squirrels are tenacious and often clever.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fox urine powder
• Chicken wire
• A truck load of determination

1. There are two basic methods to handle squirrels that eat the tomatoes: get rid of the squirrels, or create a barrier to keep the squirrels out.

2. Once squirrels have taken up residence in your tree, it's very difficult to get rid of them. Even if you kill or relocate the squirrels, more will arrive to take their place. It can be an unending - and frustrating - battle.

3. The most effective way to stop this practice is to build a barrier around and over your tomato plants. You can get fancy and build a cage with a wooden frame. Or you can simply take chicken wire and make an enclosed area around the plant. Make the enclosure big enough so that the squirrel cannot reach through the chicken wire and pick a tomato, then eat it through the fencing. You will also have to construct a top and secure it with wire. The bottom of the fencing will also have to be secured with wire, or you can bend the edges and weigh it down with rocks or bricks.

4. In the long run, it may be more practical to construct a more convenient wood frame with chicken wire and make a top that can flip up so that you can have easy access to your tomatoes.

5. Nylon netting can also be used, but if your squirrel is determined, he can chew through it.

6. An easier method to try is a urine powder that works by making the animal believe there is a predator (usually a fox) nearby. A product called Shake Away (for small critters) has a money-back guarantee by calling the toll-free number. Follow the instructions carefully, and sprinkle the powder lightly around the perimeter of the tomato plants. Reapply after a rain, and according to the schedule on the can. This may or may not work, depending on the squirrel. Squirrels are the toughest critters to handle in the garden.

7. If the idea of building cages is too complex, and the urine powder doesn't work, you may need to learn to coexist. You could put out food on a regular basis to try and lure the squirrel away from your garden. Since squirrels set up territory, it's debatable whether or not that would attract more squirrels.

8. The best method may be to plant some extra tomato plants in another part of your yard. Use the urine powder in your garden, but set these plants out specifically for the squirrels. If possible, plant them close to the tree they inhabit. This is what has worked for me, and we now live in relative peace. The squirrels have their plants, and I have mine, and I plan to donate any surplus fruits to the local food pantry.

9. Finally, the most successful method of keeping the squirrels away: a good dog. While it's not a good reason to get a dog, you could borrow a friend's dog (if your yard is fenced in - the dog needs to be able to chase the squirrels) and give it a try. Rescue shelters often have programs to take shelter dogs home for the weekend, to give them a break from the shelter. And you never know...you just might fall in love.

Tips & Warnings

• Good luck. Once these pesky animals gets the taste of your ripe tomatoes, the war is on and it takes dedication and patience to manage them.
• It is said that squirrels go after the tomatoes when the weather is dry, to get liquid. However, once they've developed a taste for the fruits, my experience has been that they won't stop until you find a way to lure them elsewhere or build a barrier.
• Never use poisons if you have pets. A pet could find a carcass and chew on it, or even eat it, and suffer a similar fate.
• Using humane traps and releasing squirrels into a wooded area in the country is controversial. Many say it's not humane at all, because you are introducing the squirrel into foreign territory where other squirrels dominate. They won't know where food sources are, and will very likely die of starvation. And new squirrels will likely take over their spot on your property.
• While it may be tempting to shoot the squirrels, it is illegal to discharge firearms in most towns and cities.

[OutdoorWoman]

on 10/19/2008 Jim, cutting down a tree or two wouldn't hurt, because it's one less place for a squirrel to nest. Esp. if you can locate the nest and get rid of that tree. (But hopefully no little family in the tree at the time...I know, I'm such a sucker for them, even though they're horrible.)

[jimdris]

on 10/19/2008 We've only seen squirrels recently, as the trees in our neighborhood have gotten larger. As a desperate measure, could you cut down a tree or two?

[SeventhSibling]

on 10/19/2008 We (and I am referring to my lab dog and me) have a BIG problem with squirrels. The squirrels "own" the tree in our backyard and they've gotten into the tomatoes and the pumpkins. Dang varmints. Thanks for your advice and well written article!!

[only1special1]

on 7/25/2008 Thanks!