My homesteading squirrell

[Old Vet]

For the last fwe days I was siting on the back porch and watching when a Squirrell came out of the guarden with a green tomato. At first I didn't belive what I saw but today I saw the same thing. A squirrell came out of the guarden with a big ol green tomato in his mouth. He ran to the plum thicket and when he was almost there he bit a chunk out of it. He ate the chunk and then picked up the rest of the tomato and ran off with it. I watched for a little while and he ate the whole thing. I was realy suprised. Then I went to my water mellon patch to see how they were doing and while their I found a squirell nibiling on my water mellion He had eat a lot and then I found thet that was not the first time they have been their for a while and have desamated my mellion patch. I guess it is time to go squirrel hunting.

[patnewmex]

so THAT's what has been nibbling on my stuff! We have ground squirrels here. My dog got three of them 2 weeks ago.

pat

[TedH71]

I read something in a newspaper down in Oklahoma that the drought and other things have caused the squirrels' normal foods to drop right thru the floor so they're eating bark off trees and such. Maybe that's also happening in your neck of the woods?

[rkintn]

LOL! I haven't had a ripe tomato all summer from my garden cause the dang squirrels keep eating my green tomatoes! These are the fattest, shinest, sleekest squirrels I have ever seen lol Payback is gonna be rough this fall lol!

[Old Vet]

We have had rain all year but the late frost in April got all the fruit they usualy engoy. I realy don't mind about the tomatoes(I have more than enough) but the water mellions is going too far. Yes pay back will be grate this fall. LOL

[tamsam]

HAHAHA here is a couple pics of our homesteading squirrels. These 2 guys are afraid of the outside and 1 of them is almost blind. They are our kids and a lot of fun and company. Sam]

[pancho]

Many times squirrels will eat vegetables more for their moisture content than the food value. Might be worth making sure there is water available for them when it begins to dry up.

[tamsam]

Here is the othr little guy sam

[Danaus29]

Saw them run off with my nearly ripe peaches 3 years straight. One year I picked off the peaches and threw them in the trash just to keep the squirrels from eating them. And we have a creek behind the house where there is PLENTY of water! Squirrels are largely vegetarians and will usually eat fruit and veggies. They especially like overripe zuchini and corn.

[debra in ks]

Originally Posted by pancho

Many times squirrels will eat vegetables more for their moisture content than the food value. Might be worth making sure there is water available for them when it begins to dry up.

The water thing is a myth as far as I know. I have a 6x8' fish pond, birdbath, and 2 coolers full of water for the dog who is rarely out there. All these are within several feet of the garden. The squirrels still ate every last tomato last year. I didn't even get one! They are eating the neighbors this year, but not mine, because I covered the tomato patch with bird netting completely and tacked it to the ground.

[Dente deLion]

Originally Posted by Old Vet

I watched for a little while and he ate the whole thing. I was realy suprised.

Yes, that IS surprising - mine prefer to take one bite out of every single one! I wouldn't mind so much if they would take a few whole ones and leave the rest intact!

[Ozarkquilter46]

My dad takes those dried corn on the cob you get for them and puts them in coffee cans full of water. The squirls pull them up and eat what they want and then let them drop back in the water. Funniest thing I have ever seen. But they tend to leave everything else alone when that is out there.

[Ernie]

I wish that I could explain to the squirrels that they are welcome to whatever lands in the compost heap (they can fight the goats for it) but the garden is off limits. I'm going to be getting my calories somehow from the garden, whether meat or vegetable.

[PinkBat]

I like squirrels. I keep water out for them and feed them corn and sunflower seeds every morning. They weren't even interested in our garden.

[Farmerwilly2]

Tree rat season opens next Saturday. I take my black walnuts serious. This time it's for real.