Don,

What do the bonbons do? It sounds like they would turn into cement in the squirrels guts. I'm not sure that it would pass muster as a "humane" method of extermination in the eyes of law enforcement if it ever came to it, but it might work better than poisons if you live in an area where scavengers might come across a squirrel carcass.

There was a discussion between more learned posters than I which concluded that the peanut-butter/plaster of paris treats caused a calcium/magnesium imbalance in the furry little critters that caused them to expire of heart attack, and not from cementing their insides.

~Chills

I've used the PB/PoP bonbons, and they work.
An added 'plus' is that there's really no danger of secondary poisoning for predators - like owls, hawks, foxes, etc. that might happen upon a dead or dying PB/PoP squirrel, as opposed to the potential poisoning that could occur if one were using the anticoagulant rodent baits.

Thanks, Jellyman, for another good idea.

Perhaps it's time to let this thread die a natural death, OTHER THAN practical posts like the above. But, no more of the philosophical and political discussion. Just simple suggestions about saving our orchards from the critters.

Thanks for the reasoning, chills. Otherwise it didn't make sense to me because I would think it either wouldn't set up or it would already be set up.

Chills - Thanks for the explanation. The bonbons sound like a good option for someone like Lycheeluva in an urban environment where traps/weapons aren't the ticket and there aren't too many other animals that might get hold of one.

Lucky - The danger to other animals was exactly my concern. I've had squirrel carcasses disappear from my yard and didn't want to end up poisoning possums or raccoons or whatever.

Denninmi - Agreed. While it was fairly entertaining to read, the psycho-political tone on the other thread was a bit off topic.

I've read other threads where the bonbon method works well. One person said it causes a calcium overdose, one person said the plaster blocks them up internally. I didn't try it because I know my dog likes peanut butter, but that's a topic for a completely different forum.

No more bodies in the bucket in 2 days but I have seen some squirrel activity. I think I may have to change the water.

To anyone who has used the squirrel bonbon method:

Have you ever had any trouble with other animals eating them? We have raccoons and possums that travel through our yard occasionally and I'd rather leave them alone. Not that I particularly *like* them any more than the tree rats, they just haven't made any trouble yet and I don't see any reason to go to war with them until they do.

Spazboy:

If you are concerned about nocturnal animals like possums and raccoons eating the bonbons, put them out early in the morning, and take them in at night. If your squirrels are like mine, the bonbons will only be out there a short time before they find them.

I feel fortunate not to have any raccoons right now, since I am growing sweet corn.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

spaz,
I couldn't say whether a raccoon or 'possum would be bothered by a bonbon, or whether you'd ever know if they were.
Over several years of periodically using them, I've only seen one dead squirrel - and had no way of knowing whether or not he was a PB/PoP casualty(I didn't perform a postmortem examination). But, when I've put them out, they disappear and squirrel depredation ceases.
I will say that I've only used them when I was having problems with the bushy-tailed tree rats digging up oak/pecan seedlings to get at the remaining nutmeats. Whether or not they'll take care of them stripping fruit trees, you'll have to assess for yourself.

I always caution folks to put them in sites where they are unlikely to be eaten by pets or small children.

Thanks for the added info, Don & Lucky. I have one squirrel that seems a lot smarter than all the rest. He only travels along the top of my neighbor's fence and goes straight to one of my black walnut trees. There's not enough behind him that I feel safe taking a shot and there is no way to balance a trap up there, but I'm thinking that a collection of "treats" on top of the fence posts would work just fine.

Thanks- Jellyman. I will give it a try and report.

first, I have to laugh because I first read this as bourbon not bonbon. Get 'em drunk, now that's the ticket!
My misread aside, I'm wondering, do you think this would work on rats? I bait my rat traps with peanut butter and they go for it. and rats are rodents too.
Think it would work?

Softmentor:

We don't even know for sure why it works on squirrels, but, as far as I can tell, it works fine.

There seems to be little risk in trying it on your rats, since the ingredients are inexpensive and readily available. PoP is available at any craft store, and I believe is still used to set broken bones, though there are newer methods too. Peanut butter is sold at the peanut butter store.

I am still interested to see if the bonbons work for Lychee, when she gets to it.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Don:

I am a guy. As for the Bonbons, I have not had a chance to buy some POP yet and so have not tried it out. I think I actually got most of the squirrels when I was fighting them for the nectarines, between the trapping and the poison. So for the first time ever, I am managing to get some peaches from my peach tree before the squirrels. They are still around, just far fewer and they seem to be visiting my yard less often. Unfortunately, my partial victory over the squirrels came too late for my nectarines, but at least i will finally get to taste what a ripe peach from my peach tree tastes like.

Next year, I will definitly try a multi-faceted defense, consisting of poison, multiple traps, PB Bonbons, and a bucket of water hidden by sunflower seeds. hopefully that will kill enough of my squirrels so that I can harvest a handful of nectarines.

Lychee:

Sorry about changing your gender. I hope it is not permanent. I can usually identify gender by writing style, but in your case I missed it completely.

No need to respond to my question on bonbons in a parallel thread. I still think if you ever give the bonbons a fair trial, you can leave trapping, shooting and poisoning behind.

I have some creeping returnees from neighboring yards and a tree full of nearly ripe peaches. Will be mixing up some more bonbons this afternoon.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I will have to try the bonbons again but they did not work for me last year. When the peaches are out all they want to eat is peaches. I even put out some sunflowers to see if that would at least distract them and it didn't.

Scott