In the southwestern Mojave Desert ground squirrels of various species and rabbits will eat a garden as soon as it sprouts. They will consume leaves and unripe fruit from orchard trees as well. This may seem unusual since the genus name for our ground squirrels is Spermophilus, meaning seed-loving. The climate is harsh in the Mojave Desert and resources are scarce so the squirrels have become very adaptable in their diet. Erin and I have seen ground squirrels (both small Antelope ground squirrels and the much larger Beechey Ground squirrels climb and denude a fruit tree of its leaves in a couple of days. We have seen them later come back for unripe fruit.
These suggestions may or may not work for you if you garden or have a small orchard in the southwestern Mojave. These rodents are voracious.
I mention cats because my kids who live at Rainshadow Farm are allergic to dogs. I do have friends who garden and farm/ranch in the area who have dogs who are outside much of the day. It seems that a family dog or two may help deter both squirrels and rabbits. Some friends say that pigs will frighten off these raiders.
- Coffee grounds around plants
- Human hair around plants
- Plants that seem to deter at RSF: rosemary, lavender
- Plants to try at RSF: bitter herbs and other bitter plants. See below!
- Try this:
- 1 gallon of water
- 6 capfuls of Murphy’s Oil Soap
- 2 Tbsp. of cayenne pepper
Spray onto plants. This does not harm the plants and WILL keep the squirrels away!
- They will not eat daffodil bulbs
- They may not eat garlic
- Sprinkle copious amounts of cayenne pepper around plants (be careful of eyes; wear gloves; can cause burns)
- Try deer repellant
- Sprinkle white vinegar around plants – doesn’t seem to work here
- Install a fence of 1-inch mesh wire at least 30 inches high. The fence should extend 6 inches below ground, with an additional 6 inches bent outward at a 90-degree angle to discourage burrowing. Set at least two electrified strands, one 2 to 6 inches above ground and the other at fence height, off the fence about 3 inches. Doesn’t work – they use the mesh to climb up and over. Works sometimes with individual plants like tomatoes and zucchini if the top is pressed together. They can still get at some vegetables.
- Protect trees by wrapping their trunks with metal sheeting or using baffles to keep the squirrels from climbing the tree. Remember to allow for tree growth when applying wrapping. Several friends do swear by this. This is one of our next projects.
***In the orchard to protect the trees. The ground and tree squirrels will climb and eat the blossoms in early spring and they will go after the fruit too: ***
- CATS – may keep them more cautious.
- Coffee grounds around plants – may work
- Tea leaves – may work
Both tea and coffee will improve the soil.
- Human hair around plants- unclear if this works (3/2013)
- Plants that seem to deter at RSF: rosemary, lavender (3/2013)
- Plants to try at RSF: bitter herbs and other bitter plants.
- Protect trees by wrapping their trunks with metal sheeting or baffles to keep the squirrels from climbing the tree. Remember to allow for tree growth when applying wrapping.
Finally, there is the thought that plants themselves may help in keeping desert-grown vegetables and fruit safe. So-called bitter herbs and plants may help deter squirrels. Mostly my experience has been that the squirrels will jump through the herbs (but often not eat them) and that the rabbits will wade into the midst of them to get at what they want. Sometimes the rabbits will try a new herb a few times but, disliking them, after that leave them alone. Rosemary is perhaps the best deterrent I have found. The squirrels have avoided a certain nectarine tree that has an extremely prolific rosemary plant around its base. Rosemary grows very well in the high desert with a bit of extra water.
Many of the following bitter herbs and culinary plants can be used on the home farm in cooking or as medicinal teas and extracts. We have planted many of these experimentally. We can get nearly all to grow in the hi