Protecting our lilies from Squirrels

I cover the ground with chicken wire! For all squirrel’s delights..!!!
Bulb+dirt+chicken wire+more dirt.
And so far so good!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

When the plants get up higher do you still surround them with the wire. Last year I had a plant with 3 luscious blooms and one by one they went. The last one I saw the suirrel climbimng uup the stem. Grrrr

-- Dahlitsa

Squirrels never bother my lilies…maybe its because there is plenty of food out back with the chickies :S

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Where is the wood … knock, knock, knock … but I have never had that issue either. Rabbits is another story, but pepper does the trick with them.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

No issues…got big dogs.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

They haven’t gone after the blooms! Just the bulbs!!

I seem to recall somebody mentioning moth ball for cats and squirrels!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

OHHHHHHH … well yes, they go after more than just Lily bulbs … any spring bulbs I put in the fall have NEVER come up …eaten by the squirrels.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Oh…I almost forgot…My mother had this motion sensor owl, the eyes glow in the dark, it turns its head and hoots when anything comes near…did an excellent job on rats and crows…Sais for squirrels too.

Here is one

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

and it’s only $20. cool

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Xploreorganics: Thanks I went to the site but was unable to find “country’ so I have e-mailed them. I see it must be popular as it is on backorder. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I did find an 800 #

-- Dahlitsa

There are other sites and stores that carry them…just look for “garden owl motion”. Be sure not to buy just a plain still standing owl…the critters catch on if it don’t move and hoot.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Thanks XO

-- Dahlitsa

rat traps work

-- Central northish Ontario

Agree on the rat traps, with the proviso that you’re not squeamish. And you need to secure the traps, so that they don’t run off.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

You can also get humane traps at Lee Valley. But I figure its best if they stay away in the first place (with the owl) rather than deeling with dead bodies or alive caged ones.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

I agree with X. They are a pain to deal with (drive hubby crazy) but I do not like to think of hurting an animal because of my flowers or something that “mundane”!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Problem with live traps is what to do with the catch. I’ve never enjoyed the idea of having to transport a caged critter across town to release to someone else.

As a kid, I made some decent scratch as a varmint bounty hunter. Chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, etc. These days, I have a “live and let live” perspective on life, and prefer to let the dogs establish the perimeter…

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Before you drop serious cash on a yard dog and yard dog food and vet bills, just try feeding your squirrels a good piece away from your bulbs.

A hungry animal with do almost anything to survive.
Spits(sunflower seeds) are pretty cheap and they love shellng them.
I put an almond or two in with the spits as a treat so they go back to look for them every day.

Cheers

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

I have found thae sam results Bob. I feed all of my wildlife. I use a compost “heap” in the back woods rather than a bin, as it feeds the rabbits and squirrels. I fed my little squirrel a nut every day, he would come and knock on the window in our french door at 8am for his nut and then would go on his merry way. Why bother digging and distroying if food is at hand. Although one accidently got trapped in my hen house once and chewed up the door tring to escape those big mean hens :)

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Same here. I keep my feeders full, year round, and haven’t lost any bulbs yet to a squirrel, though I did lose several fancy iris tubers to a neighborhood dog who just liked digging in any fresh-turned dirt (that was at the old place).

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.