Some of you may not like this, but I declared war on my yard critters this summer. Last year they ate ALL my concord grapes & several citrus & fruits.
This year I set up a trap - when I was home & able to, since June 2.
So far I trapped 10 raccoons, 5 opossum and 44 squirrels. I also sprayed a hornet nest & beehive (I'm very allergic to them).
I just came home from 10 day trip & see the squirrels had a party. They ate 3 more limes (I only have 4 left!) & broke a few branches on other citrus trying to climb them. Pots are knocked over & some have holes from digging up soil. I saw 4 of them playing today so I set the trap & caught total of 3 more today!
At least I was able to pick 2 huge bowls of grapes- enough to make 12 jars of jelly. The ones I recently trapped were younger & didn't find the grapes yet. I'm sure the critters that ate them last year, I already trapped or grapes would be gone.
I bet I could trap another 44 squirrels & still see more...seems like a losing battle. But, then I think of them breeding next spring & how many more there'd be if these were still around!
This is a highly populated area & ppl keep it clean. No garbage around - we have big carts with lids, so where do they live & what do they eat? STUFF IN MY GARDEN!!! My fiance' lives 35 miles north in small town with lots of trees & I hardly see squirrels there. Go figure.
I'll keep setting trap till it gets too cold.
BTW, my yard has 6 ft stockade fence all around. I guess the opossum & raccoons burrow under &/or climb over. Hope I'm putting a dent in their population.

Critters that would eat even lime?

Perhaps time for some famous squirrel recipe, and I'll be over there along with loads of wine ...

I hate bushy tail rats! I have been trapping them for years--have eliminated over 50 in some years-- I also feed rat bait. The biggest reduction in the bushy tail rats here came from hurricane Ivan--with the subsequent tree thinning, including the canopies of the remaining trees, hawks had a field day and began feasting on bushy tail rats--Go Hawks!

Patty, What are you doing with the squirrels after you trap them?

My squirrels have never eaten any of my citrus that I know of, but that hasn't stopped them from doing things like picking grass green lemons then burying them in the pot media.

.....Alan.

Was hoping you wouldn't ask Skeet. I give them swimming lessons in my pond. - while in the trap.
I have a friend that tagged what he trapped & took them out over 20 miles away & let them loose. They were back with the tags on!!! I can't imagine making all those trips over 25 miles for each.
I used to shoot them with my pellet gun, but my lousy neighbor would call police. This is a more painless way to rid them. # 45 just had a swim lesson this am.
Joe, I don't think they ate the limes. They pick them off and carry them away & leave them. I find them later sometimes- unripe & teethmarks in them.

That works! A lot of mine die from a poison--like lead or the copper coating on BBs.

Glad you said that Laaz. I know I'm not the only one doing this. I love animals & I hope other animal lovers don't think I'm being crude. I just hate TREE RATS!!
We obviously have an over population of these critters. Drowning is often quicker & much less painful than a gunshot. There are always dead raccoons & squirrels on freeways & hyways here.
Hey Skeet, maybe I'll try rat poison Setting the trap & emptying it is getting to be work. They can eat the poison & go in my idiot neighbors yard to die - YEAH Then he can get rid of them LOL.

Opossum #6 is now going for a swimming lesson--& it's only 9pm. Wonder what will be in there tomorrow am after I reset w/ bait. I'm using peanut butter on old chunk of bread BTW.
Joe, want me to freeze the squirrels for ya? Hmmmm, what kind of wine would go well with them?

Oh me gosh. I dozed off & just now, before going to bed I looked out & there is a BIG raccoon in the trap. I don't like doing this but I gotta.
Oh Lordy, this isn't easy, but I gotta do it. It's almost 2 AM.
Raccoon # 11 is going for a swim lesson. This is getting to be work.
They (coons) hiss & fight a lot & it is scary every time. I wish Mike was here to do this job for me. I hate this!!!
He is a big one.

Oh YUK, no squirrel for me -- I'll just drink the wine

Since 11 days ago the count is now up to:
11 raccoons, 8 opossum & 52 squirrels. There is no fruits missing from my trees and I picked a whole bunch of grapes!

Patty
I can furnish Cajun recipes for the raccoons and Squirrels but not even Cajuns eat opossums.javascript:emoticon('')
Karl

Time for you guys to get some dogs!