How to Prevent Squirrel to Eat Your Fruit in Fruit Tree 
Protecting your fruit trees from squirrels can be a tricky battle. You may think you’re fighting a losing battle, but there are some easy ways to keep squirrels away from your fruit. Bird netting, baffles, and decoys can all help. Below are a few suggestions. Try one, or combine several, to protect your fruit. It may take some time to make a difference, but the results will be worth the effort.
Bird netting
You can use bird netting to protect your fruit trees and shrubs from critters such as squirrels. The netting is made of fine mesh to deter small birds. It can be either heavy or light. Using heavy netting is more effective because it will deter larger birds. Be sure to wrap the netting around the frame of the tree to prevent damage.
You can also use a repellent to deter squirrels from climbing up your fruit trees. The scent of peppermint and spearmint are good repellents for squirrels. You can also use essential oils such as peppermint and mustard to repel the rodents. If these methods don’t work, you can try netting on one fruit tree. Adding bird netting to your fruit trees is a sure-fire way to keep out squirrels and other animals.
Natural scarecrow
One way to keep a squirrel from eating your fruit is to put up a scarecrow or owl near your tree. The owl’s appearance is frightening enough to scare away the squirrel, and a rubber snake can also keep them from eating fruit. If a real owl or hawk is not available, consider buying a fake one, or even a rubber snake. You can place them near the fruit tree, or even put one in the tree itself.
Another effective way to deter squirrels from eating your fruit is to install a barrier around the base of the tree. You can use barbed wire or any other barrier, but this will only work if the tree is far enough from your neighbors. A better option is netting, which can be purchased at any garden center. This will deter the squirrel from climbing up the tree and destroying your fruit.
Decoys
A simple way to keep squirrels from eating your fruit is to place traps. If you are not very careful, they will find another source of food – and then you will have to keep putting traps everywhere! If you are very determined to protect your fruit, you can try using a squirrel water jet. These water jets have motion sensors and will shoot water at the rodents if they try to climb. If you are unable to use a water jet, you can also place traps on your fruit tree. Finally, you can try poison as a last resort.
You can also place a bird feeder nearby your fruit tree. Squirrels are attracted to bird feeder seeds and will eat them more than fruit if they are able to get access to it. To deter them from your fruit, put the feeders away from the fruit tree. Alternatively, you can use plastic netting on the tree’s top. While these methods might seem a bit extreme, they do work. Just keep in mind that squirrels are able to chew through plastic netting, so you will need to make sure you have them out of reach of your children.
Baffles
You have probably wondered, “How to prevent squirrel to eat fruit in my apple tree?” Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to prevent squirrels from eating your fruit. You can put up a squirrel repellent (you can buy it at amazon or in some hardware stores), use a water jet or a motion sensor-activated spray bottle, or set up a squirrel baffle. And if that doesn’t work, you can always use a squirrel trap!
If you have several apple or pear trees in your yard, you can use a metal ducting as a barrier between the trunk and the branches of your fruit tree. Place a metal collar around the tree trunk, which will make it difficult for raccoons to access your fruit. Another way to discourage squirrels is to place fake predators around your fruit trees. Plastic owls, hawks, scarecrows and snakes are all effective.
Traps
There are many ways to keep squirrels from eating fruit from your fruit trees, but a few are more effective than others. One of the best ways is to build a barrier around the base of the tree, such as barbed wire. While this method works best if the tree is far away from neighboring homes, it also discourages flying fruit-stealers. For even better results, install several barriers around the tree, such as a small mesh fence.
Creating a decoy or fake snake is another effective way to keep squirrels away from your fruit tree. Unlike owls, snakes are cheaper and do not hurt the squirrels. However, they do attract birds and squirrels to trees, and they will eventually damage them. To keep squirrels away from your fruit tree, you can use a plastic snake or a life-size owl.
What is the best way to prevent squirrels from eating fruit from a fruit tree?
The best way to prevent squirrels from eating fruit from a fruit tree is to use a squirrel guard or netting around the tree.
What kind of squirrels are most likely to eat fruit from a fruit tree?
The most common type of squirrels that eat fruit from trees are red and gray squirrels.
What time of year do squirrels typically eat fruit from fruit trees?
Squirrels typically eat fruit from fruit trees in the fall when the fruit is ripe.
What other types of food do squirrels eat besides fruit?
Squirrels also eat nuts seeds and insects.
Do squirrels eat all types of fruit?
No squirrels typically only eat certain types of fruit such as apples pears and plums.
How can I tell if a squirrel has been eating my fruit?
You can tell if a squirrel has been eating your fruit if you find bite marks on the fruit or if the fruit is missing from the tree.
How can I keep squirrels away from my fruit tree?
To keep squirrels away from your fruit tree you can try using a squirrel guard or netting around the tree.
You can also try using a squirrel deterrent such as a loud noise or a spray made with chili peppers.
What will happen if I don’t prevent squirrels from eating my fruit?
If you don’t prevent squirrels from eating your fruit they will continue to eat the fruit which can ruin your crop.
Can squirrels damage fruit trees?
Yes squirrels can damage fruit trees by chewing on the bark or eating the fruit.
What other animals eat fruit from fruit trees?
Other animals that eat fruit from fruit trees include birds raccoons and opossums.
Do all animals eat the same types of fruit?
No different animals eat different types of fruit.
For example squirrels typically only eat certain types of fruit such as apples pears and plums.
How often do squirrels eat fruit?
Squirrels typically eat fruit once a day.
What is the best time of day to prevent squirrels from eating fruit?
The best time of day to prevent squirrels from eating fruit is in the morning before they wake up.
Can I use a trap to catch a squirrel that is eating my fruit?
Yes you can use a trap to catch a squirrel that is eating your fruit.
However you will need to check the trap regularly to make sure that the squirrel is not injured.
What should I do if I catch a squirrel in a trap?
If you catch a squirrel in a trap you should release it far away from your home to prevent it from coming back.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
