North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <list@ginda.us>]

My gray squirrels took all the apples off my trees this year.  So your squirrels might be better behaved than they could be.

I had bagged about 2/3 of the apples.  The squirrels didn't leave any debris taking the unbagged ones, and I hadn't noticed they were going away until I started finding bagged apples and chewed-up bags on the ground, and looked to find that there were no unbagged apples left on the tree.  I never actually saw a squirrel with an apple, but I did see:

Squirrel-sized tooth marks in the bags

Bags left at the base of oak trees

Apples dropping out of oak trees that I heard squirrels in.

Yes, when I startled the squirrels by checking out "their" apple tree, they dropped apples on my head.

I have always enjoyed watching squirrels, and don't think I have the heart to kill them.  I am very sad about the apples, though.

Ginda

eastern MA, zone 6

On Aug 25, 2010, at 10:44 PM, Caren Kirk wrote:

Hi Ethan and everyone else that responded,

 

I guess you're right they are laughing at me. I think I knew it probably was the squirrels but I was bit surprised - they don't seem to be stealing anything else (apples, cherries blueberries, plums, etc) and I expected to find some debris.

 

We've had other problems with certain animals (raccoons and groundhogs) and have live trapped them with peanut butter for bait. Haven't tried squirrels though yet, however my in-laws are experts at this (my mother makes interesting headwear out of their tails!).

 

I have to say I might have trouble killing off the local squirrel family, They're a special black variety, quite rare and I like that they are trying to keep the fatter, bossier greys away.  They were here long before we built our house, so I feel like we took over THEIR neighbourhood. Silly I know.

 

I'll get the hubby on it, I'm sure he'll have no qualms with pest control!

 

Thanks to all,

 

Caren.

----- Original Message -----

From: Natelson, Ethan, M.D.

To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'

Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 2:22 PM

Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Pear Thief

The squirrels are laughing as you wrote this letter.  I have had them carry off more than 100 full-size pears in a few days without leaving behind even a whisker or a toenail.  The same with peaches.   When I have a new pear I would like to be sure I can taste, I build a pouch to cover it  when it is still small with fine aluminum window screening.  If it looks to be maturing, I may cover it with a second layer of stiffer metal screening such as chicken wire.  Even then, the enterprising squirrel may bite off a small branch to get my cage to drop to the ground so they can do some safe-cracking at leisure.

 

From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Caren Kirk
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 1:09 PM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: [NAFEX] Pear Thief

 

Out of interest, could anyone suggest what would be stealing small pears off my Flemish Beaty in July before they've fully grown and ripened? It's a small, young tree that I planyed last year that set about 8-10 small fruit. However something came and took them at the beginning of July. There were absolutely no signs of damage to the tree and absolutely no trace of the pears.

 

Animalwise we have quite a family of squirrels in the area but it seems to me that they would be too big for a squirrel to carry off. We have the odd raccoon, but the tree is too spindly to hold that kind of weight without branch damage. My kids show no interest in my fruit until it's on a plate in front of them, and they know better. As do the neighbours.

 

Any ideas so I can work out a strategy to protect them for next year?

 

Caren Kirk

St. Jerome, QC

Methodist. Leading Medicine.

Recognized by U.S.News & World Report as one of America's "Best Hospitals" in 13 specialties. Named to FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list five years in a row Designated as a Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing Visit us at methodisthealth.com Follow us at twitter.com/MethodistHosp and www.facebook.com/MethodistHospital

***CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*** This e-mail is the property of The Methodist Hospital and/or its relevant affiliates and may contain restricted and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient (or authorized to receive for the recipient), please contact the sender and delete all copies of the message. Thank you.

---

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions.
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions.
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/