Squirrels are eating off my peony buds!

[Anonymous]

Probably 90% of my peony buds have been chewed off and I just witnessed the culprit- a squirrel! How do I keep them from eating the few remaining buds? Preferably with something I might already have in my house (just given the urgency)? Red pepper? Vinegar?

[Anonymous]

You must not have cicadas.

Birds and squirrels are ignoring my strawberries and other favorites in favor of the protein buffet.

[Anonymous]

Set out nuts and seeds.

You have to give them an alternative food source. If they are hungry pepper and vinegar are not much of a deterrent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Set out nuts and seeds.

You have to give them an alternative food source. If they are hungry pepper and vinegar are not much of a deterrent.

No, they will just bring friends to eat more of everything. Squirrels are the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set out nuts and seeds.

You have to give them an alternative food source. If they are hungry pepper and vinegar are not much of a deterrent.

No, they will just bring friends to eat more of everything. Squirrels are the worst.

Okay well good luck starving them out. That will not work. They stay close to their nest and will not be deterred unless there is something easier to obtain near by. They need water and a food source. They really do not travel in packs or call in 30 friends. At most it will be 4-6 squirrels which are likely related.

[Anonymous]

I have a group of about 4 squirrels that have claimed my yard. They eat the spillover from the bird feeder and I also have a water bath but I’ve never seen them at it. Anyway they leave my flowers and veg alone, except for sunflowers. A squirrel will often make off with the whole head.

[Anonymous]

Sunflowers are natural food source. It's one of their favorites. You can add that to the bird feeder too.

[Anonymous]

OP here- we have a bird feeder, with birdseed, and the squirrels do eat that. They also aren’t actually eating the peonies- just chewing them off and leaving them on the ground! I don’t mind feeding animals, but I am annoyed at animals being destructive for no reason!

[Anonymous]

(Sorry- that should have been a bird feeder, with sunflower seeds. Obviously it has bird seed)

[Anonymous]

I once read that squirrels will take one bite from a tomato because they are thirsty. With all this dry weather, maybe they need a bowl of water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- we have a bird feeder, with birdseed, and the squirrels do eat that. They also aren’t actually eating the peonies- just chewing them off and leaving them on the ground! I don’t mind feeding animals, but I am annoyed at animals being destructive for no reason!

Then I second another PP that said they might be doing this for the water. Those buds retain a heck ton of water and it was very dry this past week, until yesterday. Many now they're going to calm down.

You can have a birdbath outside for wildlife to drink at - just make sure you put a dunk of BT in it, to kill mosquito larvae.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set out nuts and seeds.

You have to give them an alternative food source. If they are hungry pepper and vinegar are not much of a deterrent.

No, they will just bring friends to eat more of everything. Squirrels are the worst.

Plus wouldn't that attract other vermin like rats?