I have never found that "magnet" species work for me. Sure, they will eat more of something they like, but that doesn't guarantee they will leave other things completely alone. There are always the outliers in any population, perhaps those with different tastes, or the weaker or less aggressive specimens that might be chased away from the preferred food source.

And, as you say, there is a never ending supply of critters out there.

Mechanical barriers and trapping seems to be the only thing I've ever found to be at all effective, and with those, you have to be on your toes and keep up at at. Funny, but I've found that my live traps just don't work very well when I leave them in the tool shed on the shelf.

For squirrels, Seems like in the fall - nut trees with sweet meats work pretty well... Hickory, pecan, filbert, and Chestnut.

For birds... In the summer - Sweet cherries get mobbed... Small, sweet, red berries seem to be bird magnets...

I think there's a fine line between drawing them away and feeding them so heavily that the local population explodes.... If food is plentiful and they do continue to eat it - then there will be more and more birds and squirrels to eat them..... and vice versa.... Those animals are pretty territorial - so for example... the stronger squirrels will run the other squirrels off of the Nut trees, corn feeders, and bird feeders - and straight into your fruit trees....

It seems like the most effective thing is preventing them from getting our fruit and nuts... This way - the population doesn't bloom and mob your trees....

For example... One place I rented had lots of Hawks living in the trees around it... Lots of tall nesting trees.... Hawks eat squirrels and small birds.... and you see a whole lot less squirrel and small bird activity when there are a few hawks flying around....

Another easier option would be a couple of feral "Barn" cats.. They are effective too...

Thanks

Another problem with magnets is harvest windows are pretty small and your desired fruit is not likely to exactly overlap with the distraction fruit and so they will eat them in turn. This on top of all the other shortcomings listed above means the trap crop idea is pretty much a no-go. I have turned myself into a reluctant squirrel trapper to make sure I get fruit. I was using two Kania traps and have recently upgraded to four, one at each corner of my yard.

Scott

Hehe. I didn't think about the harvest window. That's definitely a no-go.

I figured the birds would be especially attracted to little red fruit. I have landscaping bushes in the front of my yard that sprout some round red "berries" in the winter time. They were there when I moved in the house. I've seen a lot of bird activity in that particular area. I came outside one morning to a mass of bird droppings on my front steps. For this reason, I decided I'd be better off not even attempting a sour cherry tree.

Scottsfsmith, what do you do with the squirrels after you catch them? Gumbo?

I toss the squirrels in the woods and often the fox comes and gets them. We usually have a fox or two on nightly patrol around here. I tried to talk my wife into squirrel stew but she said too little meat for all the work.

For birds I have been doing well with hanging CDs in the trees a few days before they start to color. I have not tried it on cherries yet, just plums.

Scott

Darn, As some of you may know I have just started a very small orchard and never gave a thought to the squirrel.
I live in a wooded neighborhood with 2 acre lots. We have HUGE oaks and many Squirrels. I am afraid now that my orchard is doomed. There is no way that I can eliminate them all. I have stood inside the house and looked out the window and counted as many as 15 at the same time.

I may have to try electric fence but they'll just jump in from the top.

I have a significant ground squirrel issue, as right behind me is an 80 acre unmanaged orange orchard. It looks like a high-density ground squirrel cond complex out there there are so many holes. I have had to resort to setting out bait stations, which I would prefer NOT to do, but I'd not get one piece of fruit at all, between the ground squirrels and roof rats. I have about 8 bait stations set out along the back side of my yard, near all my fruit trees. That has worked pretty well for me.

Patty S.

The cat idea might work, except for the fact that the coyotes eat them. Too bad the coyotes don't keep the deer away. I do release my black lab when I plan to be home so he can keep both deer and rabbits out. If he is loose when I leave he tends to follow my car as long as he can keep me in sight.
Dan

I find Illinois Everbearing mulberry seems to function in this regard- especially if you plant it on the edge of the woods and the squirrels have to make a riskier journey to get into the orchard proper. Also, a squirrel eating mulberries can be oblivious to anything else in the world making them sitting ducks for my shotgun. I don't know it's affect on birds because it may bring more into the area.

did you know catch and release is against the law in most states? i've "relocated" over 40 squirrels in the past year and they keep coming..............

Mulberries are a disaster for me, they draw in the squirrels and when the mulberries dry up they switch to my peaches. I am very happy that one of the two mulberries on my neighbors got chopped down and I wish the other one would go as well.

Scott

Illinois Everbearing is called that for a reason. It will keep providing fruit half way through summer- at least up here. The squirrels are here anyway, so that seems to take care of their fruit habit for a while, but both Scott and I are only guessing. I believe it's what keeps them alive through winter that tends to increase their numbers and they do seem to scout for nuts. I'm not sure they travel for fruit- but who knows?

"Another easier option would be a couple of feral "Barn" cats.. They are effective too... "

I had 6 or 7 "barn" cats up until last year when a particularly bad winter of coyotes and road kills lowerered the population to only 3. last year for the 1st time my cherry trees were completely stripped by birds. Not certain of the connection but I will restock my cat supply this year and see what happens.

See... That's where the proper choice of feral/barn cat makes a difference....

House cat pound pickups are a poor choice.. They aren't aggressive or mean enough... They tend to hang around the house and beg for scraps, and they aren't strong hunters or fighters...

The ones I have had the best luck with were Bobcat/house cat crosses or Coon cat crosses... They tend to keep enough tame in them where they won't attack you for the sheer joy of it and they don't bite too much when you touch them... but they are wild enough and are strong hunters and fighters... Coyotes and local dogs don't mess with the bobcat crosses too much for good reason...

Thanks

I think I'm going to invite the squirrels and birds into my home and see if we can arrange a peace treaty. There doesn't seem like there is any other way for us to live together in harmony. I'm not sure what language they speak but I'll try English and see how far I get with that.

At least around here, the more you have for gray squirrels to eat, the more of them show up.

I have been successful to some degree with an electric fence but if they are going tree to tree, that want work of course.

Here is a link that might be useful: Georgia Home Orchard