The War on Tree Squirrels

Do you periodically rage at the neighborhood squirrels for eating in your fruit trees? Further down (#4) I describe what has worked for me.

The tree squirrels you see in Encino are most likely Western Gray Squirrels (Sciurus griseus) and here are a few things that might improve your opinion of them. Or not…

1. They are California natives and legally protected. You cannot kill them or poison them and if you trap them, you are supposed to get a permit from California Department of Fish and Game, as provided for in hunting regulations (Section 4181). Even then, rather than kill them, you may be directed to relocate them to a local park. Rest assured they will be replaced by others. Traps have never worked for me. Nor have foul sprays.

2. They are somewhat endangered in other states like Washington where habitat loss and species encroachment is massive. Most habitat loss in LA County is due to the invasion of the Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) which has more of a brownish-red color and which is not protected (i.e. a permit is not required to kill them). They still have tree squirrel-hunting season in most of California, by the way, but not in LA County! No BB guns.

3. They prefer acorns and pine nuts, fresh leaves and twigs on trees like elms (hey, it’s salad) before they tackle the fruit. But if those other things are out, they'll come for the fruit.

4. In the bad years I have had to borrow a trick from Israeli orchardists and - hilarious though it sounds - individually wrap the fruit in brown paper lunch bags from Smart & Final - the squirrels leave them alone because they cannot see or smell the fruit. See photo below. I also use plastic mesh nets from Home Depot and from online stores and home-made baffles (tall plastic or sheet-metal obstructions) but the squirrels have always found a way around them somehow.

5. Tree squirrels like these are not the ones to worry about when it comes to diseases like rabies – that’s ground squirrels, which you don’t see around here. However some tree squirrels can carry diseases and caution is appropriate.

A good overview from UC Davis: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74122.html

Upper photo credit: Aaron Jacobs/Wikipedia. Lower: mine - PD