I've been dealing with a serious squirrel issue in my father's garden ever since their dog passed away. These pesky critters are ruining the garden by stealing unripe figs from the fig plant, devouring almost all the raspberries before they can ripen, and even pulling up all the bulbs and strawberry plants. My dad is getting older, and it's tough for him to keep up with everything, which is making him feel really defeated about his gardening hobby. I was thinking that reducing the squirrel population might be the way to go. Are there easy ways to effectively deal with them?
2 Answers
Honestly, I think you're going to find a bit of resistance here since most folks love nature and wildlife. But if you really want to tackle the squirrel issue, I'd suggest trying an air rifle. It can be pretty effective, but keep in mind that it requires some skill and patience. Just be sure to check the local laws. Another option might be to set out some bait—like peanut butter—to distract them from your dad's plants. But if they're already hanging around for the bird food, it may not be enough to stop them from wrecking everything.
I would recommend reaching out to a pest control service. It's completely legal to catch and manage grey squirrels, but they usually suggest trying some deterrent methods first. You might want to consider putting wire mesh over any flower or fruit beds and using squirrel-proof bird feeders to keep them at bay. Just a thought before going for the more drastic measures!
Yeah, I get that. It’s hard when you’ve been feeding birds for years and all it does is attract the squirrels. I totally understand wanting to give the air rifle a shot; it might be the most straightforward solution, especially if your dad can't manage the garden like he used to. Good luck, and those local foxes won't complain about the extra meal!