How to Protect Fruit Trees from Squirrels, Raccoons and Birds

The joy of having fruit trees is not only the showy flowers in the springtime, but the healthy, flavorful food produced during the growing season. Unfortunately, people aren't the only ones who enjoy fruit from fruit trees. The wildlife considers all gifts from nature to be for its benefit. It would be nice if these critters would share crops or at least leave a thank you note. But they don't. As a result, it's up to us humans to protect the fruit on our fruit trees if we want to have some for ourselves. Here are some tips to help protect fruit trees from squirrels, raccoons and birds.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. There are all sorts of contraptions developed to scare away birds, raccoons, squirrels and other fruit raiders. Some of them are mobile, some squirt water, others make noise. Some of them work well. But you can probably do a good job yourself, too.

2. Try scaring off birds with shiny things tied to tree branches with strings. Aluminum foil was a favorite for years, but recycling old CDs has now come into favor. The glittering disks throw off sparkling rainbows that make many birds too nervous to get close. CDs are easily hung from branches and removed when the cropping season is over.

3. Netting is probably the most efficient method of protecting fruit trees. It can also be the most tricky. When a fruit tree is small, it is not a great challenge to throw a bird net over the top, but as the tree grows to adult size, it often takes two determined people to wrap a tree in plastic netting. Make sure there are no holes at the bottom where the net meets the tree trunk nor anywhere in the stretched top area. Birds can get in the top and become trapped. And squirrels can crawl up a loose spot from beneath.

4. If a raccoon or squirrel is determined to get at your fruit, you will probably not be able to stop it. Clever pests with sharp nails and teeth can find their way through all kinds of barriers. The good news is that most of them get discouraged easily so netting usually works pretty well anyway. And so long as birds can't find their way in, netting will stop them from pecking away on all the fruit they can't reach through the net.

5. Snakes are natural preditors that will help guard fruit trees

   Predator scents can be bought in dry or liquid forms and may have some effect on fruit raiders. Scented products need to be regularly applied and most raccoons couldn't care less. You can also try fake owls and snakes. Sometimes the raiders will be fooled -- at least for a while.

6. Another successful way to discourage good climbers like squirrels and raccoons is to wrap a good 3 - 5' band of thin, smooth sheet metal around the trunk of the fruit tree, ideally about 4 - 6' above the ground. Larger raccoons will require larger bands. Make sure the animals have no branches or footholds and cannot jump the distance to get up into the tree. Both squirrels and raccoons are very athletic and dexterous, but if you make it impossible for them to get a grasp on a climbable surface, they'll have to pass up the fruit tree.

7. Protect fruit

   These are just some suggestions for protecting the fruit on your fruit trees. For more information on gardening and how to protect fruit trees from squirrels, raccoons and birds, please check out some of the links under Resources, below.

Resources

• Garden and landscape information and ideas
• eHow Spring Guide
• Controlling bird damage