On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing
squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are
protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and
may be killed.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

David E. Ross wrote:
On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap
and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I
released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding
killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California
and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced
species and may be killed.

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and killing a
few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace all you can remove.
In such a case you need an effective repellent or physical barrier.

D

"David E. Ross" wrote in message
...

The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a
docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that
squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The
squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently, there
is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a buzz
(squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing out
because of the shoots being eaten.

This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told that a
mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been sprayed up into
the trees.

might I inquire, who's urine?

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
David E. Ross wrote:
On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap
and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I
released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding
killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California
and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced
species and may be killed.

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and killing
a few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace all you can
remove. In such a case you need an effective repellent or physical
barrier.

D


Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a flower
and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish to flower when
so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown plants about 3 or 4
times and don't remember them flowering when so small.

Gus wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote in message
...

The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a
docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that
squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The
squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently,
there is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a
buzz (squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing
out because of the shoots being eaten.

This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told
that a mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been
sprayed up into the trees.

might I inquire, who's urine?

Any

D

Gus wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
David E. Ross wrote:
On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap
and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I
released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said
nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding
killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California
and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced
species and may be killed.

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and
killing a few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace
all you can remove. In such a case you need an effective repellent
or physical barrier.

D


Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a
flower and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish
to flower when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown
plants about 3 or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so
small.

This is quite common.

D

On 05/03/2013 07:26 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Gus wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
David E. Ross wrote:
On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap
and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I
released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said
nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding
killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California
and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced
species and may be killed.

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and
killing a few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace
all you can remove. In such a case you need an effective repellent
or physical barrier.

D


Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a
flower and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish
to flower when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown
plants about 3 or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so
small.

This is quite common.

D

Hi Gus,

I would have to concur with David. I use to work at a greenhouse.
The potted tomato plant they sold to transplant all had flowers
on them.

-T

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...

Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a
flower and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish
to flower when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown
plants about 3 or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so
small.

This is quite common.

okay. Thought maybe there was something in the air this year. I've not
really raise many vegetables.

On 05/03/2013 05:25 AM, Gus wrote:
What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from
tomatoes? It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some
tomatoes, but the squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And
actually taunt. Taking a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then
leaving it.

Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can
even get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.

Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days
seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that
was not deterring them that well.


Dogs?

"David E. Ross" wrote:
On 5/3/13 5:25 AM, Gus wrote:
What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from tomatoes?
It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some tomatoes, but the
squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And actually taunt. Taking
a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then leaving it.

Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can even
get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.

Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days
seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that was
not deterring them that well.

I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
before eating them.



Habanero and fox urine will work much better, just don't put fox urine on
the plants.

Greg

"David E. Ross" wrote:
On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing
squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are
protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and
may be killed.


That's not fair.

Greg

gregz wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote:
On 5/3/13 5:25 AM, Gus wrote:
What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from
tomatoes? It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing
some tomatoes, but the squirrels here are very rude and do not
share. And actually taunt. Taking a bite out of a perfectly good
tomato and then leaving it.

Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they
can even get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building
things.

Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so
days seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer,
even that was not deterring them that well.

I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
before eating them.



Habanero and fox urine will work much better, just don't put fox
urine on the plants.

Greg

There are plenty of foxes round here how do I collect the repellent?

D

"gregz" wrote in message
...
Habanero and fox urine will work much better, just don't put fox urine on
the plants.

Greg


How do I get a fox to pee in cup?

I tried some stuff from the vegetable stand nearby that was some sort of
repellent but didn't have any effect. And oddly, I had left some on a table
out by the garage and it had fallen off. The package was open and there
was a little chipmunk next to the opened package, dead. I assume it ate the
repellent? Weird. The clerk at the vegetable stand swore the stuff worked,
but I won't be buying anymore.

Frank wrote:
....
Racoons are more of a
problem and will sometimes just rip up a small plant.

they often are smelling the fertilizer (that usually
has fish parts or ...) in the potting mix.


songbird

On 5/4/2013 3:21 AM, songbird wrote:
Frank wrote:
...
Racoons are more of a
problem and will sometimes just rip up a small plant.

they often are smelling the fertilizer (that usually
has fish parts or ...) in the potting mix.


songbird


Encounter last year was a half dozen hydrangeas in small pots.
Racoons, I assume, tore everything apart. May have smelled but there
was no fertilizer.

It is not possible to rid the area of wildlife but I do think it is a
few individuals that start coming around and keep repeating and if you
can get rid of those maybe it will keep damage down.

One of the squirrels that was hitting my bird feeder put away a couple
of months ago was searching around the deck this morning and used a pot
full of dirt as his bathroom. Wife thought he was cute.