Squirrels! Digging holes, planting nuts everywhere, stealing bird food and destroying our chances of viewing those beautiful birds. In Minnesota we have 5 types of squirrels, one of which is named the Thirteen-lined ground squirrel aka Minnesota Gopher.
About:
- The Gray squirrel is the most common of the 5 types and of all our local wildlife. That’s likely no surprise to gardeners and birders! They mate twice a year having 2 to 4 babies per litter. Black or Albino squirrels are variations of gray squirrels. Minnesota hunters harvest about 150,000 gray squirrels per year. Check with local law enforcement before hunting them!
- “Fun” fact, a gray squirrel can hide 25 nuts in half an hour and find 80% of them later.
- Red squirrels come next in terms of range. There’s just a small portion of southwestern Minnesota where they don’t roam. Smaller yet way more vocal, these little critters also love to dig and bury their food in your landscape! Red squirrels are also hunted but there’s not much to eat.
- Fox squirrels are the largest tree squirrel in Minnesota. It’s orange and gray and not very agile! Weighing about 3 pounds at maturity, the fox squirrel enjoys nuts most of all but will also eat corn in fields and corn cribs, some seeds and even garbage. They mate twice a year having 2 to 3 babies per litter. Hunters harvest about 160,000 per year.
- Flying squirrels! We have 2 kinds, the Northern and the Southern. They’re small and very often not seen by people. They eat a variety of fruits and nuts, insects, small birds, and meat scraps. Frequent visitors at bird feeders, some people have lights at the feeders so they can watch the flying squirrel's antics at night.
What to do organically:
- Get yourself a good bird feeder. While nothing is really “squirrel proof”, the Yankee Droll Whipper is highly recommended by our birding expert, Bonni.
- Install a baffle on your feeder.
- Plant deterrents include mint.
- Consider motion sensors, Apple Cider vinegar spray on your plants.
Repelling them with organic compounds:
- Plantskydd comes in liquid, powder or granules. It is 100% dried blood (porcine and/or bovine). No animal parts. It is not harmful but “smells” like a predator. The granules can last up to 3 months, even in rain.
- Shake-Away coyote and fox urine.
- We carry several products with capsaicin. There is a warning from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology regarding its use on and near bird feed. It is fine to use on and near plants.
- Bonide Repels-All works 3 ways: touch, taste and smell. It’s made with all natural ingredients: Garlic, dried blood, whole egg solids, clove, fish oil, onion, wintergreen.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!