My Avocados are missing.......and Rocky's looking good...

[kaitsdad]

And I finally figured out it's frikkin' squirrels.

Now I've lived in this house for 26 years, and my three avocado trees have always produced well. Having three different varieties, they fruit at different times of the year which means I usually have guacamole about 6 months out of the year.

This past year, less than a dozen 'cados the entire time. WTF is happening?

Yesterday I'm rebuilding the fence from the garage to the west block wall, and my eye catches some movement. I look up, and sitting on top of the wall is a frikkin' squirrel. He mosey's to the end of the wall, jumps into a blue spruce growing there, and climbs out of sight.

And he was really round and shiny. Kind of like a peeled avocado. I wonder why. We've not had squirrels in the 'hood before. Perhaps this is a result of global warming.

Fook. I am not happy.

Hmmmm...... .22? Nope. Neighbors and the PoPo might not appreciate it. (That also applies for my 12 gauge.) I don't have an air rifle. Neighbors all have either dogs or small children or both - so poison is out of the question.

I'm considering the Rat-Zapper Ultra.

Anyone out there have experience with one?

And if there's a magic bullet out there, please let me know!!!

 

[juniorfjr]

Huh, Squirrels eat avacados. Who'd a thunked it. Must be a California thing. How about a live trap? Or call uncle Si from Duck Dynasty, he'll eat em. Good luck

 

[Chuck35]

I'd suggest a high power .22 cal air rifle with a good scope. You can drill a hole between their eyes at 30 yards.

DAMHIK

 

[Niehart]

22 Shorts are your friend, don't carry very far and are really quiet.

 

[majicmaker]

Air Rifle!!! Nothing better. You will achieve great pleasure while their numbers dwindle down to nothing.

 

[Dutch]

Live trap - I've removed 9 squirrels from my bird feeders in the last two months with the live trap.

Black oiler seeds and that's it - let loose five miles away.

 

[juniorfjr]

Live trap - I've removed 9 squirrels from my bird feeders in the last two months with the live trap.Black oiler seeds and that's it - let loose five miles away.

Or have you trapped the same squirrel 9 times?

 

[Roy Epperson]

Try https://squirrelinator.com/ I know several people who have had great success. We've had varied experience. Most people I have talked to have put some favorite food in the trap and tied the trap doors open so the get use to going in and out. Then they put more food in and un-tie the doors. The plastic tub that come with the cage is filled with water and the trap put into the tub drowning them.

Don't think avocados would be a good bait unless it is one they have freshly dropped. They'll want the good stuff.... The person that I know has had the most immediate success used candied popcorn as bait.

We have 300+ acres and yes squirrel love them.

As far as yield of your trees, highly dependent on the weather and temperature when the trees bloom, if there are bees around to help pollination and how much water and fertilizer they get. They need water but don't like wet feet. A tree can have several off years in a row. If the trees are not pruned, more energy goes to the wood verses fruit production. Fruit only grows in the canopy not inside. We have stumped 90+% of our orchard. Not all trees regenerate themselves, but within 3 to 4 years with proper pruning and watering, they will out produce 20 to 30 year old trees. In the past 40 years, a lot of lessons have learned about tree culturing and yields have gone up dramatically.

Your trees are getting up there in age depending on how they have been taken care of for fruit production.

 

[Chuck35]

Live trap - I've removed 9 squirrels from my bird feeders in the last two months with the live trap.Black oiler seeds and that's it - let loose five miles away.

If you were closer, I'd offer to come over and shoot them for you.

 

[Longrider]

Are they red or gray squirrels?

The red ones will eat almost anything while the grays favor nuts like walnuts.

Reds are a REAL pest as they have found out at the capital in Sacramento.

 

[majicmaker]

Live trap - I've removed 9 squirrels from my bird feeders in the last two months with the live trap.

Black oiler seeds and that's it - let loose five miles away.

If you were closer, I'd offer to come over and shoot them for you.

Yep! Shooting them is better, faster and more fun. They are nothing but rats with a great PR firm working on their behalf.

 

[Bugnatr]

Live trap - I've removed 9 squirrels from my bird feeders in the last two months with the live trap.Black oiler seeds and that's it - let loose five miles away.

Not in California, it is illegal to relocate animals.

Go with Roy's plan and drown the little varment. Bury them next to the tree, circle of life in reverse.

 

[HotRodZilla]

So...As much fun as shooting them is, it is time consuming and may not have the immediate result you want. A few live traps will work wonders. Squirrels LOVE peanut butter. If you have enough squirrels, you will catch one or more a day. Their greed overrides their fear of death.

I don't know how you feel about it, but killing the caught ones is the ONLY way to guarantee you are solving the problem. Assisinate them in the cage with a pellet gun, or drown them. My dad used to drop them in a bucket full of water and close it. He always swore that if one lived he'd let it go. 5-6 hours later he always checked and never had to release one. Drowning is easy, less messy and pretty humane. I drown all the ones I don't shoot.

Your county/city animal control office may have traps they'll loan you. Good luck. They are tenacious!

Oh...AND, that was good info on the care of fruit bearing trees. Stuff I never knew!!

 

[Bluestreek]

They are always after our walnuts and oranges

I've had good luck with traps and. I also shoot them when ever I see them

 

[2fjr]

Here ya go.........

 

[bluesdog]

Them squirrels make mighty fine eatin', too!

 

[BkerChuck]

.22 subsonic rounds with a suppressor. Friend of mine lives in a trailer park full of retired folks who feed the squirrels. He works nights so they run all over his trailer roof and keep him awake. Suppressed .22 rifle and some night vision goggles......Let's just say the what the neighbors don't know, doesn't hurt them.

 

[whataboutbob]

cci cb caps,final answer. no louder than an air rifle...simply amazing on avocado filled tree rats