I saw a red squirrel in my yard about a week ago. Luckily I saw it sneaking up into the pecan tree this morning and I am squirrel free again now. I suspect this squirrel is what ate the leaves off of one of my mulberry grafts.
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Our electricity flickered off for a few seconds a few days ago while it was clear and calm outside. My thought at the time was, āI hope that was a squirrel using the electric lines to recycle itself.ā
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My aprium tree is loaded and the fruits are almost ripe. Saw a few squirrel damaged fruits so I put out the Havahart traps, caught 3 in 2 days, and then a whole day passed with no squirrel activity. I thought I had won! Went out this morning to find FIVE squirrels in the tree and the ground littered with fruit. I put a bunch of half eaten fruit in the traps and immediately caught one. Out of anger, I left the corpse under the tree as a warning. Came back a few hours later, the ground littered with fruit AGAIN. They were totally unfazed by their dead comrade. Iām about ready to hire a security guard to stand by the tree.
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Joe,
I thought I got rid of them all, too. Found out later that new ones will move into an empty territory/space when the original owners meet their demise. It will be an on- going battle for all of us.
I stop feeding bird feeders during a fruit growing season. Make my yard less attractive to squirrels. Donāt think they will leave your fruit alone if you feed the birds. These animals finish eating bird food and still take my fruit.
A squirrel will climb over its motherās corpse to take what itās after - āundeterredā is an understatement
I mounted my tube trap to a board and strapped it to the top on my garden fence yesterday. Since doing that Iāve dispatched two thieves! Guess place ent matters.
Hey Scott. Where is the plate joint? Is it the little metal clip that holds the trigger in place? Im gonna use your suggestion and lube mine up.
Basically any moving parts involved in a catch could use a lube, except the spring bar. The plate joint is a bolt that attaches the plate (the thing the squirrel steps on to trigger the trap) to the main trap. You may not need to lube that, but it doesnāt hurt. It was very stiff on my old trap. The main spot that could help on a newer trap is where the trigger goes in the back of the plate - the spot that needs to move to cause the trap to fire. I put some lube both on the pin and on the underside of the plate where it contacts. You need to be careful in setting it right after lubing, its more slippery so easier to have it fire as you are setting it.
I wonder if the type of oil makes a difference? Something that doesnāt smell so much like Vaseline might be better, but not sure if they care.
I doubt they notice as there is so little. I use bike chain oil, it is designed to stay on through rains. Its also in the same cupboard as my orchard supplies 
I donāt know but peanut oil sounds good.
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Buy netting from American Nettings, its a less expensive way to go.
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Youāve mentioned that netting outfit, mrsg, but I note they donāt list their prices
Yes they do, and you can order right from their site. I just ordered three new nets last week.
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I just spent $104 on netting there.
If Iām going to spend $$$ for netting, Iād like it 1/4" mesh to keep out JBs and cicadas, too
Of course last year I did spend $$$ for netting from Gurneyās, but when I tried to put it over the tree, the weight was too much for it
Lois,
I showed this pic a couple of times. American netting on duty. It is not cheap but easy to put on/off, does little tanglng but not as bad as the chaep ones.
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mamuang, do birds get stuck in it? Where can it be purchased and waht size do you use?
Birds did get stuck in it but it is easier to get them out as the material is very stretchy.
I bought it directly from Americannettings website. The size, i needed to asked hubby. Will tell you later. i like the product but it is pricey.
I bought some big bug netting there too. The wasps ate my nectarines and some plums last year. I had to bag them.