In this article, we will talk about how to identify and get rid of squirrels in your suburban area, because they can bring a lot of problems. Seemingly cute and harmless animals often turn out to be a real misfortune.

Why you should worry about proteins

With its passion for fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers, the common gray squirrel causes a lot of inconvenience to amateur gardeners. Across the US, these treacherous creatures are pulling geraniums from window boxes, plucking cherry tomatoes from their vines, and nibbling at apple trees like real fruit pickers. Although they are active at any time of the year, the autumn raids of squirrels can drive you crazy.

During this period of time, it is especially activated. Animals do not hibernate, so their underground stores are vital winter storages. Squirrels have developed a stockpiling instinct that helps them survive. Little scoundrels hide food by burying it everywhere in their territory.

Although in North America there are several types of squirrels, it is the gray squirrel that brings gardeners (and people who breed birds) so much trouble. How do these resourceful pests find bulbs? Why do they terrorize some areas and not touch others? What are they eating?

Usually squirrels collect nuts, acorns, pine cones, bark, fruits, berries, mushrooms and insects, but not bird eggs and bulbs. Sometimes they spoil flowers just for fun. Keep an eye out for these unexpected guests and try some of our tips to get rid of them.

How to identify a squirrel in the garden

Most often, it is the gray squirrel that messes up in your garden. It weighs about half a kilo, and the color of the coat varies from gray to dark brown and black. The fur on the chest is light. The body length reaches 25 cm, the same is occupied by a fluffy tail - a famous feature of the squirrel. A luxurious layer of fur is used for warmth, communication and balance.

Squirrels have a very keen sense of smell, which allows them to unmistakably dig up bulbs. The nose of these experienced thieves is a very small but extremely powerful tool for finding nuts and berries. Gardeners aren't sure if squirrels are purposefully digging up onions, but the problem is real and widespread.

As we mentioned, if you find that the spring bulbs are torn open, you are dealing with squirrels or chipmunks. They like to do this during their autumn feeding time by eating onions and using the holes to store their nuts.

Squirrels also empty bird feeders. If you notice that the food is disappearing too quickly, it is likely that furry rodents have made their way to your site.

How to get rid of protein

Try to save orange and lemon peels through the winter. Put them in the freezer, and in the spring, dig into the ground in the right places. This will discourage pests from excavating.

You can scatter dog hair or human hair around the garden. One farmer shared his experience: “I used to have a problem with squirrels digging up my bulbs. Now once in the spring and once in the fall I ask my hairdresser to put together a big bag of hair for me and then I mix the hair with the earth. Squirrels cannot stand the human smell and go to feed on other territories.”

Blood meal scattered over the beds is also an effective way to fight. The same action has coffee grounds, discouraging the desire of pests to dig the ground.

Do not try to catch and take the squirrels away to be released away. This is a deliberately losing method, since the population of furry nut eaters is extremely large. In addition, if the animal is a female, there is a possibility that you will remove it from the cubs, whose survival is completely dependent on the mother.

Preventive measures

Don't draw attention to newly buried bulbs by leaving skin residue on the surface. Clean up after yourself completely, and also don't put the bow on the ground while digging the planting holes. Squirrels will smell their favorite smell from afar and immediately rush in.

Bury a few cloves of garlic near the spring bulbs. You can also work the ground around the plantings with garlic powder or cayenne when the plants enter the flowering phase. The smell should repel squirrels.

Loose earth is tempting to dig it up, so tamp the soil down well when you're done.

Wire mesh is another effective method. Surround the onion plantings with this protection. Plants can easily grow through the wire, but the squirrels won't reach the bulbs. Also, consider planting crops that pests don't like: daffodils, muscari, allium, and snowdrops.

Squirrels love tulips and crocuses, so it is better not to plant these flowers, knowing that fluffy animals have appeared in the garden.

Now you know that cute animals, which we love to feed in the park with our hands, can be a real scourge in summer cottages. Following our advice, you can get rid of them, or coexist side by side and be calm about your landings.

Squirrel in the country - video

). But why, for example, not get a squirrel at home? She is the same rodent, besides appearance hers is more attractive than, for example, a rat's. Let's see if it is possible to keep a squirrel as a pet.

Description and photo

The common squirrel lives in the forest and forest-steppe zone. It has a long body, oblong ears, sometimes with tassels, a fluffy tail. The length of the tail is about the same as the length of the body. The weight of a squirrel is basically equal to no more than 1 kg.

This animal has very powerful legs, which allows it to easily move through the trees. AT summer time the fur has a red color, and with the advent of winter it becomes light gray and thicker, which protects them from frost. Squirrels are very active, inquisitive and trusting. Perhaps this is one of the most graceful inhabitants of the forest.

Squirrel and apartment (house)

Squirrels are very mobile animals., not for nothing there is such an expression: "like a squirrel in a wheel." If you get such a pet at home, then it will always jump, run, jump on all the items that are in the room. You will watch for hours how she gnaws a nut, how she sharpens her teeth or claws. It will be especially interesting to watch for small children, because they are almost as active.

This rodent definitely needs space, you should not imprison it in a cage, as this can lead to not very good consequences. Most importantly, remove all unnecessary items from the apartment that the animal can gnaw or spoil. But after all, there is nothing complicated in this, besides, there will be an extra reason to clean the house.

Another argument in favor of a squirrel is that it is only awake during the day and will not bother you while you are resting. But it is worth paying attention to some inconvenience:

• The squirrel gets up very early, around 5-6 o'clock in the morning and you will not be able to sleep peacefully after she wakes up.
• A cage or a squirrel's house will have a specific smell, even if you clean it every day.
• This rodent does not particularly like tenderness, and if it is not in the mood, it may even bite.
• For food, you may need unusual products: cones, acorns or pine branches.
• In addition to buying a squirrel, you still have to spend money on arranging her home.

After you have weighed all the pros and cons, you can make a purchase decision. If the answer is yes and you want to purchase this small, graceful creature, then in that case, let's move on to keeping the protein at home.

We create conditions

Before you buy a squirrel, you need to prepare for it all the conditions for a comfortable stay.

Climate for a forest rodent

We all know that these animals tolerate both heat and cold well. To do this, they constantly change their fur. Therefore, in an apartment or house they will be very comfortable. However, small squirrels do not know how to maintain their body temperature on their own and they need help with this. In nature, this function is performed by the squirrel mother.

Well, at home, you yourself need to monitor the temperature of the baby. Install a heating pad on one side of the cage, but do not touch the other side. It will come in handy for the squirrel in case he gets hot. Most importantly, remember that the body temperature of a squirrel is slightly higher than ours, approximately 38 ° C.

Important! If there are any suspicions about the well-being of the rodent, then it is better to visit a veterinary clinic.

The size and arrangement of the cell

The first thing you need to purchase is either an aviary. It is best to buy a spacious home right away, even if you have a small squirrel. This way you will save money, because you will not have to buy another cage when the animal grows up. The cage for the squirrel should be about 1.5 m high and 60x80 cm wide. It is desirable that the cage was with a pallet. Cleaning in this case will take less time.
However, one cell will not be enough. Inside it, you still need to install a drinking bowl and a bowl for food, and place a filler for rodents on the bottom of the cage. You can also buy a house that resembles natural environment squirrel habitat, that is, similar to a hollow or nest. Inside it you can put hay, pieces of cloth or fur. In such a home, your pet will feel as comfortable as possible.

Important! It is worth noting that the squirrel needs constant grinding of teeth and claws. Therefore, in her housing there should be some kind of branch or snag. Otherwise, it may lead to health problems.

Even in the dwelling, the installation of additional elements will not hurt so that the animal leads an active lifestyle. This, for example, is a wheel, a hammock, a ladder or a bathing suit. However, please note that the wheel should be purchased without an axle and all fasteners should be well hidden.

Did you know? The smallest squirrels on the planet are 2.5 cm in size. They live on the African continent.

Interesting home improvement options domestic squirrel shown in the photo.

How to take care of squirrels?

Caring for these rodents is not difficult, it includes occasional bathing and haircuts if needed. And the rest of the squirrel independently maintains the purity of its fur with the help of the tongue, the way cats do.

More significant are the conditions in which the animal is located. The cage should be cleaned 1-2 times a week, and during molting, this procedure should be carried out more often. Do not forget about the feeder with a drinker, they also need to be washed regularly. Squirrels are very clean animals and can be stressed by dirty environments.

Also, do not lock your pet in a cage. This will not do him any good, as he is used to an active life. Remove all unnecessary items that can be chewed on and release the rodent to explore the area. With comfortable living conditions and good nutrition A squirrel can live with you for about 10-12 years. By the way, in wild nature they may not live to be 4.

The diet of the animal

Let's move on to an equally important part of caring for a red rodent - its diet and find out what else squirrels eat besides nuts.

Squirrel nutrition

If you picked up a squirrel on the street, you should first determine its age. After all, if you feed him with inappropriate products, then there is a risk of death of the animal. If the baby does not have upper incisors, then this means that he needs only milk. If the squirrel has a full-fledged coat, eyes are well open and incisors are formed, then this means that solid food should be given to him.

Let's figure it out how to feed squirrels depending on their age:

• Up to two weeks- feed every 2 hours with 2 ml of milk.
• Three weeks- feed every 3-4 hours with 4 ml of milk.
• five weeks- give milk every 4-5 hours for 4-6 ml, start adding solid food to the diet: pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, low-fat cottage cheese and dried fruits.

Important! In no case should you feed 5-week-old baby squirrels with fruits and vegetables, since fructose and lactose combined in their stomach will not be digested.

When the squirrel reaches the age of two months, it can already be fed only solid food.

Solid food for adults

Now let's find out how to feed adult squirrels at home. In principle, there is nothing special in their diet. It includes the same foods that they eat in nature.

• nuts;
• berries;
• fruit;
• eggs.

You should also include tree buds, acorns, and cones in your diet. These are unusual foods for us, but they are essential for proteins. In addition, it would be nice to feed the rodent with cereals, for example, oats, and you can also give boiled peas. Such food will be especially useful for young individuals, since thanks to it they will quickly get stronger. They also need enough phosphorus and calcium. To do this, add chopped bones or mealworms to the menu.

Food should be given twice a day. You need to drink fresh water, sometimes you can give milk.

Important! In no case should you give almonds to an animal, because it contains substances that are dangerous to health. Fried, sweet, salty and smoked are also prohibited.

You may need quite a long time, but do not despair and be patient. Professional trainers advise to starve the animal. In this case, it will more willingly take food from your hands, since it will have no other choice. But this method is too radical, there is a more humane way out.

You can properly feed your pet by regularly feeding him food and pouring water into a bowl. But this food should not be as tasty as the one you give from your own hands. If you feed your pet in this way, then over time he will get used to the fact that you always give him something tasty and do not pose any danger.

So we learned about what squirrels eat, how they behave at home, and also how to properly care for and tame them. Now you are completely ready to keep a cute red rodent at home.

It is one of the cutest representatives of the animal world, gaining popularity as a pet. Until recently, it was believed that it was very difficult to tame such a pretty creature, because a wild inhabitant of the forest is unlikely to allow himself to be picked up and allowed to stroke his red fur.

And yet, why not try to make friends with this shy animal if he settled in the neighborhood in the nearest park or became an inhabitant of your home? How to tame a squirrel that has in the wild a large number of enemies and not trusting anyone, including a person?

Getting Started

The beginning of acquaintance and, possibly, close friendship in the future with a new pet is recommended to start with the arrangement of the house, which can be used as a large cage or a spacious aviary. It is advisable to cover the floor with sawdust, a couple of snags, twigs and small tree trunks for climbing should also be placed there. After all, the animal is very mobile and needs constant grinding of rapidly growing claws.

The house itself must be installed in a place where the squirrel would be most comfortable: away from prying eyes, in some secluded corner with the exception of direct sunlight.

In order for the animal to stop being afraid, at first it does not need to be disturbed, giving time to get used to the environment and new smells. You should know that for a squirrel, the location of surrounding objects plays a significant role. Changing the location of the cage can become stressful for the red creature, which will negatively affect its behavior.

How to behave with a new pet? How to tame a squirrel? During the first week, it is recommended to be in the field of view of the animal more often, letting him know that there is no threat from the owner.

What to feed protein?

All the time should be monitored so that the pet is fed. According to the prevailing opinion of many people, as well as illustrations from children's books, the squirrel prefers to eat nuts: forest, cedar, walnuts. other than nuts? In the diet of a pet, you can include seeds of pine, spruce, sunflower, dry and fresh mushrooms, acorns, apples, pears, carrots, white crackers.

Of the berries, the squirrel will gladly treat itself to blueberries, raspberries, viburnum, mountain ash, blueberries, currants, and cherries. It will be happy to gnaw on the buds, shoots and bark of shrubs and tree species. AT winter period the animal will not refuse dried fruits. The recommended number of feedings is 2 times a day; serving size is 50 grams. Ordinary water is suitable for drinking; You can also try giving your pet iced tea without sugar.

One of the elements of taming a forest dweller is hand feeding. First, the squirrel must remember who puts food in its cage. Over time, when the animal ceases to be frightened, you can try to bring an open hand with nuts or other food closer to it, while affectionately addressing the pet by name. Hands should not smell of perfumes, detergents and other fragrances that are not found in nature.

Name for a squirrel

It is recommended that the squirrel be given a name to which it should be accustomed from the very first days of being in the house. It should be easy to remember and clearly pronounced. You need to address the pet by name when communicating with him, feeding, stroking. Over time, the squirrel will learn its name and even begin to respond to it: turn its head when it is addressed.

In keeping, squirrels are very neat animals, they are unpretentious in care. During the day they are awake. Living in spacious enclosures, they are able to bring offspring. Pregnancy lasts approximately 35 days. It is better to accustom a forest animal to the home lifestyle from an early age, therefore it is better to start a small squirrel at home as a pet, which can forget about its former lifestyle in just a few days. Adults brought from the forest get used very hard and can even die from boredom. Average duration life in captivity - about 11 years.

The squirrel got used to it. Further actions

When the squirrel gets used to home environment, you can try to release it. The animal must leave the cage on its own, without coercion. Also, he must return to his house on his own. You should know that any taming and teaching something to a squirrel should always be accompanied by a delicious treat.

The most difficult event in the process of taming is stroking the animal. The first attempts to touch the fur can be made after a long time of acquaintance with the animal, which at that time is already completely used to the owner. You can do this while eating. For the first time, 1-2 strokes will be enough, over time, their number can be increased. Subsequently, she will begin to get used to being touched and may even let you scratch her behind the ear and stroke her head.

How to tame a squirrel in the country?

How to make friends with a squirrel that lives in a nearby park, in a country house or on the territory of a private house, planted coniferous trees? The principle of operation is the same as when establishing contact with a pet. A delicious treat is a great stimulus for establishing communication. For a long time, it is recommended to put nuts in the same place.

What do squirrels eat besides nuts? You can lure a forest dweller with seeds or cones, and be yourself near this place with treats, in the field of view of squirrels. At this time, cute animals can be invited to dinner.

A few tricks

How to call a squirrel? You can, for example, take 2-3 nuts and start clicking them loudly against each other. Gradually, the animals will get used to such feeding and will calmly perceive the person who brings them treats. At this moment, when contact is practically established, part of the food can be left in the outstretched palm. With a high probability, the red-haired creature will dare to climb down from the tree on his hand to treat himself to his portion of food. This is most likely if the principle is applied separate power supply: you can put ordinary food in the cage, and stretch out some goodies in the palm of your hand.

It should be understood that not every squirrel can be tamed enough to be stroked and picked up. Some individuals, if handled carelessly and for protection purposes, may even bite.

To on suburban area settled squirrel; you don’t need much: a small forest or a grove, and birdhouses that you hospitably hung for the birds. Then a squirrel will appear and make a big scandal!

The first time I met squirrels while walking in a large old park. These animals we have here are tame, if you're lucky, you can even touch them. Feeding little fluffy beauties is a great joy for visitors.

We walked around and had a picnic. We sat down on the shore of the pond, took out a thermos with tea, sandwiches ... And suddenly, from somewhere above: “Tsok-tsok-tsok!” And soon a red-haired miracle appeared, stopped in front of us in indecision, shifting with
paws to paws. We rushed to look: who is the camera - to capture the moment, who is the nuts - to regale the guest. At first, the squirrel was embarrassed and wanted to run away, but curiosity overpowered (what curious squirrels are!).

The little animal picked up the nut thrown to her, took it aside and hid it in fallen leaves, returned for a new one. Soon all our supplies migrated to the guest. The squirrel got a taste and didn’t take the next nut, but right out of his hands with force!

Then the squirrel completely got used to it: she liked carrying nuts so much that she climbed onto my jacket along my legs, like on a tree, and - you won’t believe it - in search of treats, like a real policeman, she searched my pockets! And then the real fun began! The squirrel examined our clothes, sniffed the tea, tasted a piece of sandwich. But she did not like bread and sausage. Realizing that there was nothing more to take from us, the squirrel ran away. But we still remember that red-haired cunning with a smile.

Bird communal apartment

And soon we had a dacha surrounded by a small forest, a few trees were left on the site itself. I hung two birdhouses for tits and sparrows. And life began to boil in them: someone moves in, someone flies away. But one day I look - it’s not a bird sitting in the birdhouse, but an impudent squirrel’s muzzle peeps out. Why cheeky? Because the squirrel unceremoniously kicks birds out of the houses, and does it with a big scandal.

I went to look at the guest closer, then she turned away and plugged the bird's window with her red tail. There is nothing, they say, to invade private territory. Then the birds flew in and began to resent noisily, because there were already supplies in the house. But, alas, the apartment is occupied!

Generally speaking, a squirrel is not the best animal to give: it destroys bird nests, which means that birds will not live with you, and, as a result, there will be more insects.

But my love for squirrels has overpowered me, I just can’t drive out this cunning animal. Therefore, I console myself with the fact that the squirrel will drive away the starlings, and they, in turn, will not peck at my cherry!

If you, too, cannot resist the charm of a red-haired beauty, then my tips on how to lure the animal will come in handy.

• The main thing is that the forest is somewhere nearby. The squirrels must come from somewhere.
• There should be tall trees on the site, at least one (pine, birch, spruce) so that the animal can hide and feel safe.
• Arriving at the dacha in winter and early spring, under
• Feed your protein. Build a large feeder and pour nuts, seeds (not fried!), Pieces of dried vegetables into it.
• Hang on in early spring tall tree squirrel. This is an ordinary birdhouse, but it should hang much higher, somewhere in the middle or closer to the top of the tree.
• In the season when you visit the dacha often, feed the squirrels regularly. Before you put a nut in the feeder, first knock it on wood. This sound attracts the squirrel.

So that the squirrel does not offend the birds and does not drive them out of the house, hang additional birdhouses with a small notch (so that the squirrel does not crawl through) and upholstered with tin on the outside (so that it does not gnaw through them).

Last summer, the walnuts on my two trees growing in the country house were eaten by a squirrel. I saw her once on the branches and even drove her away. But you won't be on guard all the time! And having arrived once again for the weekend, I found that not a single nut was left on the trees, and empty shells were lying below. Tell us how to get rid of this animal or at least protect the crop.

Oleg Ivanovich DENISENKO, Brest region, Malorita

Squirrels eat and ruin everything

These are only funny animals in the pictures - squirrels look quite good-natured. Despite their external attractiveness, they have long gained a reputation as malicious pests that spoil literally everything that comes their way. The main part of the diet of squirrels is made up of various nuts - hazelnuts, cedar and walnuts, peach pits. There is a known case when a squirrel plucked the most beautiful fruits of a pear and gnawed seeds out of them. It was also noted that in the absence of their favorite food, they are not averse to feasting on bulbs of vegetable and flower crops (especially tulips), berries, buds and bark of fruit and berry crops.

And they can also be predators: squirrels often eat chicks and eggs of useful birds, lizards and frogs. Titmouse, which are expelled from their houses, suffer the most from them. There are cases when squirrels "sharpened" their teeth on wooden furniture and electrical wires.

Farewell, dacha!

Animals with sharp teeth feel great in foreign territory all year round. Not only do they manage the garden, but they turn everything upside down in the attic if they get there.

A pair of squirrels in love is able to “equip” an entire army of rodents and occupy your home for a long time. A squirrel brings a couple of litters per year

3-10 squirrels, and in a year the squirrel population will be enough for a whole fur coat, but before that, the rodents will eat everything that is in the country, along with a wooden house.

Therefore, let's face it: such a cute little animal has no place in summer cottages and household plots. It follows from this that keeping them in the garden, or at least feeding them, is by no means worth it.

sound and light

Fighting squirrels is not a one day task, it takes time and patience. These creatures are quite smart, and it is very difficult to beat them. High intelligence and agility allow them to reach any feeder or get deep-planted bulbs out of the ground. The insidious plans of the animal are brought to life with the help of strong paws: they easily jump from branch to branch, cling to wires and dig entire holes.

by the most in a simple way combat is a method of avoidance. Instead of feeding animals, you need to remove everything that a squirrel can eat: collect nuts, acorns, fruits from the ground, buy airtight trash cans with tight lids and always keep them closed. Get special bird feeders - they come in a variety of models and types. Do not put them close to trees and the house, keep the area under them clean.

If nothing stops the jumpers and they continue to visit guests, try to scare them away with sound, leaving the radio or music player on the roof. Squirrels will constantly hear human voices, and they are unlikely to like it. Leave flashing lights right on the site and attic. They can make the animal run away and leave the venture to settle there.

On a note

Constant light in the attic can cause squirrels to leave. In especially difficult situations, a pulsating light beam can scare away rodents. For this, flashing strobe lights are used.

Repellents

You can repel squirrels with repellents. Today, the market offers many such drugs to choose from. All of them have a deterrent and are available in any form: sprays, liquids, oil, granules or powder.

Repellents are easy to use and economical. They allow you to save bird feeders, flower beds, shrubs, ornamental plants from protein breakdown. It is enough to spray a spray, sprinkle granules, powder or oil a place around the perimeter - and the smell will scare away the animals for up to 30 days.

Electronics

Electronic squirrel repellers are environmentally friendly and safe devices. They are different types: ultrasonic, light, water, etc.

Ultrasonic devices emit sound vibrations that only animals are sensitive to. They make the squirrels uncomfortable and force them to stay away from the device. The high decibels of ultrasonic repellant noise can make an area of ​​interest unbearable for individuals who only plan to occupy it.

If the previous methods turned out to be powerless, and predators made a real mess - they gnaw wires and multiply uncontrollably, then use traps for squirrels. Outwitting and catching a squirrel is not as easy as it seems, because you are dealing with an intelligent creature. There are several types of traps on the market that are used according to the instructions.

The single automatic trap cage (pictured) is the most common squirrel trap. It is a solid metal trap cage with a special door slamming mechanism. When an animal comes in to feast on something tasty, the mechanism works, and the squirrel is inside - closed, alive and unharmed. A number of cages are made from hard plastic, metal rods and other materials. Squirrel cages should be large enough and strong enough to hold a rodent. As practice has shown, the optimal size is 15.25 × 15.25 × 45.75 cm.

Make sure the bait is far inside so the squirrel can't reach it from the side. The ideal bait is nuts, crackers, apple pieces, peanut butter, bread crusts.

It is best to take the caught squirrel to the forest, located 20-25 km from its habitat. It is believed that in this case she will not find her way home.

Be careful with poisons!

It is undesirable to use poisons for squirrels, because after all, these are living beings that have their own life, flowing according to rules other than those of humans. This is probably why there are no officially registered squirrel poisons on the market. In addition, it is unlikely that such a smart animal can be "persuaded" to eat poison. So it is better not to experiment in this direction.

Precautionary measures

Squirrels still belong to the wild, they can scratch and bite a person, especially if he is aggressive against them. At the same time, there is a risk of contracting rabies and some other infectious diseases. Therefore, you need to be careful, and if the animal nevertheless attacked you, you should immediately contact a medical facility.

Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Alexander Vladimirovich GORNY answered the reader's question