Squirrels
Bushy-tailed rodents that dig up bulbs and seeds, strip bark, and eat fruit, nuts and sweetcorn.
Also known as: Grey squirrels, Tree squirrels
Symptoms and identification
Small holes appear in beds and pots where bulbs and seeds have been dug up. Bark is stripped from branches, ripening fruit and nuts are eaten or taken, and corn cobs are stripped. Unripe tomatoes may be bitten and dropped.
Causes
Squirrels are active in the daytime and are drawn to easy food. They bury nuts and dig them up later, and may investigate freshly turned soil and bulbs.
Organic treatment
Scatter chilli powder, or use rustling or flashing deterrents, though squirrels get used to them. Use humane live traps only where the law allows and release rules permit.
Prevention
Plant bulbs with a layer of chicken wire or mesh over the soil and cover it with mulch, and plant them deeper than usual. Protect ripening fruit with netting and harvest crops promptly.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
No chemical control is recommended. Poisons are dangerous to pets and wildlife, and in many places not permitted for squirrels.