Squirrels are giving me fits. I planted 15 American Chestnuts. They dug up every one. I planted pawpaw seeds and I had to cover them because they were digging them up.
Then a friend sent me two Sudachi seedlings. I planted them in two pots.
One day I notice that one of the Sudachi pots had nothing in it. In fact the dirt was smooth as if I had just filled it with dirt and smoothed it over. I dug into the dirt and found a squirrel’s pinecone. It was not a good trade.

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Looking around I found the cut off Sudachi seedling. I put it in water and rounded up a seedling Trifoliate. Grafting soon took place.
I’m happy to say the graft looks good. I still have two Sudachi seedlings.
Terry
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I have the same trouble in the summer months when my trees are out on the deck. You could try a product called "Deer Away" you spray on, its not cheap but it works. The smell is not the best, smells of chili's and other stuff but it helped! Good Luck

Terry, another way to keep squirrels out of pots (or ground) is to cut a firm peice of screen to cover soil in pot or ground, leaving hole for plant to come up. Anchor it in around edges with sticks or small stakes. Cover it lightly with soil...squirrel will give up. And, while they are there trying to dig, get your gun ready!
Something is wrong with my pellet gun - air leaks out when pumped. I might invest in a trap --it will catch that possum I saw last fall too!
Anyone know what could be wrong w/ my pellet gun? I see squirrels EVERYWHERE in my yard. There will be a serious WAR!

Terry, This won't do you much good, but it is sure to raise the spirits of all who are having trouble with pesky squirrels.

link

I haven't seen the hawk since summer, but we have several cats (I call them nursery cats, because they are stay outside at the nursery). They love to stalk squirrels, even though I have not seen them catch one yet. I think the presence of the cats unnerves the squirrels. Squirrels have be scarce since my wife started looking after the cats.

Ned

pellet, 22 Cal or 12 gauge... Thats all there is to it !

Patty, your pellet gun must have a leaky seal. It could have some dirt or trash under the seal, but it could be old and getting hard. They can be replaced at the factory if it is worth sending back. I had a Benjamin that I sent back and they completely rebilt it for $20-- but that was a while ago.

As for squirrels around here, Ivan did a number on them and then opened up the canopy enough to let the hawks keep them in check. Before Ivan I had seen as many as 20 in my back yard at the same time, now I rarely even see 1. That was one of the few positive effects of Ivan though, so I don't want to see another hurricane just to keep the squirrels in check.

Skeet

Rats and squirrels, they're absolutely equivalent for me!

At least with Rats, your neighbors are your allies, but with squirrels, some neighbors will think they are wildlife and report any of your squirrel harassment.

Folks that are planting American chestnuts in large numbers usually use flashing (roofing,etc.), I believe. A member of the PA chapter of TACF is an employee of Alcoa and I believe they donate it for their chapter. Anyways, I believe they roll it into a tube and push it into the ground around the nut. I believe they have used flashing about 12" wide and rolled into a tube about 3" in diameter and just held it together with duct tape (the soil will hold it together once it's in the ground. Frequently they will not plant nuts in the ground where rodents are a problem and instead plant them in pots and place the plants in the field once they are established.

Good luck!

Thanks Skeet. Mine's a Benjamine too & it came with the house looking brand new..wrapped up with a new fishing pole & hidden in attic rafters.
I will let my brother take a look at it as he knows & has guns -being a great hunter. This is the time to get it fixed so I can shoot while neighbors windows are closed.
My dog used to keep them away -- even CAUGHT (& killed) a few. Doesn't every dog WISH they could catch a squirrel?? LOL.
I can tell this will be a bad yr for them. I may have to order another "Scarecrow" sprinkler. It is a motion detector activated sprinkler that keeps anything away, from birds to deer... scares the hell out of me too when I walk in it's path forgetting it's set! Runs on 9 volt battery & hose hook up. If anyone's interested, let me know. They retail for almost $80.00 but I can get them cheaper (wholesale).

Hi Patty,
My Lab gives them a run for their life, chases them up a tree (which thanks to Ivan are now far enough apart that they can't jump from tree to tree) and then barks until I come out with the pellet gun-- then she retrieves them when they fall. I only got a few this last year, but before Ivan I have gotten over 50 in traps in a year.-- I hate bushy tailed rats!

Skeet

Here in the country, we have no problem with squirrels as there are no trees. However in town (Denver) it is against the law to kill squirrels. Killing squirrels can result in a large fine. For that matter it is against the law to even fire a gun within the city. I'm betting in Milwaukee it is also against the law to shoot squirrels -Millet

That's true. There are so many laws here in the US that if you obey them all you'll be is reduce to but exists and not living.
As for me I take my chances. If I get caught so be it. I'll pay the fine and forget about it.
I many times go over the speed limit. And I kill squirels and rats and mice and deer and fish you name it. I even go over the fish kill limit sometimes.
But that's just me.
I respect others point of view.
For years my wife was telling me to use seat belt but being as 'macho' as I am I did not listen to her until I got a ticket.

Benny, you are living on the edge LOL.
It's not illegal here to have a pellet gun, but I guess I could get fined for killing a squirrel...even though cops I know shoot them too! But, if a neighbor complains,...cops have to answer call. That's why I shoot from inside house. I could also load up a ph book with shots & say I was target practicing in house. I don't think that's illegal with a PELLET gun.
There were times I shot & wounded squirrel, & then let dog out to finish it. He was so proud (like he did it all), it was like his trophy. Cops can't do anything if the dog kills it in yard.
Skeet, you can send next hurricane this way. We have TOO MANY trees!
I will fix my gun & also get a live trap. I'll take the critters to someone's house that no one likes LOL. Maybe a rat trap too, since they are TREE rats!! Hey, how was I s'posed to know a squirrel would get in it?
OH YEAH, there is a fishing goods store up north that buys squirrel tails for fishing lures LOL.

Hey, I used to pick up road kills from the road, ie, squirrels, and then hang their bodies on the tree branch, overhanging a creek. Maggots would then feast on the carcass and they fall to the creek below. I would then go fishing on that spot using maggot baits and seem to limit out... At least I can use the squirrels meat one way or another.

Some say squirrel meat is delicious, but it would be a Fear Factor food for me since I equate them with rats.

When I was stationed in Memphis,Tennessee (Navy days), we used to hunt squirrels. I never experienced hunting them until then. So I got a few and my ex tried to boil them first but the taste was so awful. I didn't know that you had to remove the scent glands behind their legs. I tried frying them but the taste was still awul.
But these are mountain squirrels, had to travel over a hundred miles over hills and streams to reach the destination.