skip to main content

Squirrel damage

17 years ago

I posted a question about squirrel damage and was told they were probably stripping the bark for nests. Ok, I'm more than willing to share a bit of bark for the babies, but now I have lost 4 good size brances! I'm not sure what is causing the branches to break, my first hint that anything is wrong is when I notice all the dead leaves and then within a few days, the branch is just hanging there, broken. I probably wouldn't mind so much if this wasn't a really special maple tree...long story short, it's been in our family for over 50 years, migrating with my parents from Winnipeg, Canada where a cutting was taken from my sisters grave and has, over the years, left it's progeny at many homes. If this tree is going to die, could someone PLEASE tell me how to propagate it? When I got my "tree" it was a 5 foot tall stick that everyone laughed at. It's now a 60 foot beauty that is slowly being destroyed by Chip n Dale! Sorry for the rant, but every day when I go out there and rake up pounds and pounds of new strippings, I get heartsick. I don't have THAT many squirrels and just how big do thier nests have to be for crying out loud? They are also peeling my neighbors cedar tree to shreds! Somebody please help! Thanks

Greenlydia

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

myersphcf
17 years ago
You can try cuttings and rooting hormone but may not be successful ...you do not say what type of tree it is ...being a maple forum I guess maple but is it a japanese or other I suppose from the 60 ft size it is NOT a jm ...Anyway if you want a duplicate it will probably require grafting ... This can be done several periods throughout the year but is most successful in late winter ...If you go this route, keep an eye on undamaged branches and mark 'em then you'll need to tkae about a 4-6" viable smallish end branches with 3-4 viable buds ...I wouldn't do the actual grafting yourself ..I would see if someone here would be willing to graft it for you ...you would have to keep the scions in moist paper towels ( water and fungecide solution)in your fridge away from vegistables) and overnight 'em to whoever wants to do this for you ...or you can contact your local nurseries and or extension service and see if someone local will do it for you...remember if it is squirrels... this will not solve your problem...just give 'em more food ... you may have to wait til squirrel season to end this madness ;>) David
0
greenlydia
Original Author
17 years ago
Oh MY David..........this sounds like a project for Mr. Science, not me! How come when I was given my cutting, it was, as I described, just a 5'tall stick? Really, it just looked like a stick......no buds, no little bitty branches, no roots,nothing! I stuck it in the ground and it grew. I don't know what type of maple it is. I need to get a good book about trees and try to identify it, but it is NOT small and just looks like your garden variety maple to me. The bark the squirrels are peeling off is rather "greenish" if that possibly gives you any hint as to the type. Hey...if I were to send you a leaf and possible some bark, could YOU identify this for me? Are the squirrels eating something from the bark? If they are just stripping this for nesting material, they sure do waste a lot of it! I mean, I could have built a good size tee-pee just from the stuff I have already raked up and there seems to be no end in sight......there is a new pile everyday! And I'm going broke buying peanuts for the little pigs AND the blue jays who are just about as wiley as the squirrels! Once again I am crying out "HELP!" (and thanks!)
Greenlydia
0
Related Discussions
Squirrel damage
Q
Comments (3)
Spending 40 bucks on one of these and a jar of peanut butter might help. You don't necessarily have to dispatch them, but as LK says, you need to keep after them. Discretion advised. Here is a link that might be useful: Squirrel Magnet
...See More
Squirrel damaged my testudinaria elephantipes, will it heal?
Q
Comments (11)
I have had this for 3 years, and I believe the seller told me it was about 2 years when I bought it. It didn't do much the first two years, then this year I put it on top of my garage roof with a 30% shade cloth, and it has literally doubled in size. And it was actually the squirrel attack that prompted me to build boxes out of PVC pipes and shade cloth to protect my plants. So my plants get sun all day long. Some are in full sun, some get 30% shade. It has worked out great!! :) Can't wait until the winter is over to see all my plants THRIVE :)
...See More
squirrel damage?
Q
Comments (8)
well the live traps & my pellet rifle have been put back in service.. the chewing had begun on another house but is not too bad yet. I hung it on a longer hook so it's not as accessible ( for the squirrel ). Claire-thanks for the heads up on the metal. i'll replace that front panel & put that house back in service. it's 70 deg. here today. even my bees are flying. found these copper portals: http://www.naturehouseinc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9_42_122 This post was edited by rober49 on Mon, Mar 10, 14 at 18:02
...See More
Squirrel damage.
Q
Comments (8)
from firsthand experience once these rats decide to nest in your attic the only way to get them out is to have someone exterminate them. Squirrels tend to be territorial and don't "relocate" well, unless someone wants to trap them and drive some significant distance and release them back. If you only go a couple of miles they'll find there way back. They really like to nest where they were born so if they've had a chance to have a litter at your house the next generations will stay there too. I closed one out of the attic and you should have seen how maniacally this thing was attacking my house to get back in. They don't simply go away. The previous owners let the squirrels from the woods behind create winter nests in the attic. Over the years these things completely stripped the house of all insulation an stuffed it into the soffits where they nested. They chewed wires and made holes in the exterior. You could hear them running around at night while you were sleeping. From the attic they got into the walls and found their way into the house. Get rid of them now and DON'T ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME NEAR YOUR HOUSE. If you want to observe nature then set up some feeders in the woods. We have rather large soffits on our house
...See More

Related Stories

LIFE How to Outsmart Backyard Critters

By Tiffany Carboni

Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact

GREENHOUSES A Greenhouse Rises From Texas Tornado Wreckage

By Sarah Greenman

Barn damage became a blessing in disguise for a thrifty, creative couple with a hankering for more greenery

REMODELING GUIDES 8 Ecofriendly Roof Options for Low Budgets and Up

By Laura Gaskill

Save resources with a cooling or sustainable roof or add-on that looks great and fits your price range

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Beautiful Noise: How to Create a Symphony in Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Take your surroundings to another level by introducing the element of sound with ground covers, water features and wind catchers

CONTAINER GARDENS 7 Deer-Resistant Flowers for Your Summer Containers

Grow these as protection for edibles or just for their colorful beauty — deer might not like them, but everyone else will

FALL AND THANKSGIVING Simple Pleasures: A Cozy Home in Cold Weather

By Laura Gaskill

Stock up on these treats and essentials to make even blustery days and snowed-in time feel special

GARDENING GUIDES How to Install a Drip Irrigation System

By Marianne Lipanovich

Save time and water with a drip watering system in your vegetable garden — a little patience now will pay off later

EDIBLE GARDENS Garden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie

PETS Dealing With Pet Messes: An Animal Lover's Story

By Tiffany Carboni

Cat and dog hair, tracked-in mud, scratched floors ... see how one pet guardian learned to cope and to focus on the love

GARDENING GUIDES Small Carpenter Bees Are Looking for a Home in Your Plant Stems

By Pollination Press LLC

Provide flowers and nesting sites in your garden for this beautiful, tiny, metallic blue wild bee — your plants will thank you

Sponsored

Snider & Metcalf Interior Design, LTD

23 Reviews

Leading Interior Designers in Columbus, Ohio & Ponte Vedra, Florida

More Discussions

Usugumo HTF : Hard to Find

2

Acer First Flame

3

Nursery Container Mediums - Sand ?

0

Scion Height When Grafting

0