Keeping Squirrels Away from Fruit

Squirrels are talented, persistent, and apparently very interested in sampling fruit one day before you planned to harvest it.

Why Squirrels Target Fruit

They may be seeking:

Damage often increases during hot dry weather.

Tomatoes can be picked at the breaker stage and ripened indoors.

Peaches and some other fruit can often be harvested as they approach maturity before wildlife gets them.

Bird netting can protect:

But loose netting can trap wildlife.

Secure it tightly.

Individual fruit can be protected with:

This works best for small numbers of high-value fruit.

Young dwarf trees may be enclosed in larger protective structures.

Prune branches away from:

when practical.

Squirrels can still jump impressive distances.

During drought, some squirrel damage may be driven partly by thirst.

Providing water away from the garden may reduce pressure in some situations, though it is not guaranteed.

Results vary.

Squirrels often become accustomed to scent or sound deterrents.

For squirrels, physical barriers and timely harvest usually work better than scare devices.