How to Stop Squirrels From Stripping Your Willow Furniture
If you live in an area where you see foxes regularly, you may be wondering how to stop squirrels from stripping your willow furniture. Luckily, there are a number of ways to discourage them. You can try fox urine, salt blocks, motion activated devices, and plants. If none of these methods work, consider these natural and effective methods. We hope you find them useful!
Fox urine
Squirrels are not afraid of many predators, but they do fear predators that eat them. A common fox, for instance, is a squirrel’s number one fear, so it’s worth trying to scare them off with fox urine. Fox urine mimics the territorial marking habits of foxes in the wild, and it triggers an instinctive response in prey.
Another way to deter squirrels is by spraying repellents. Fox and coyote urine are natural repellents that deter squirrels, but they shouldn’t be sprayed on your patio furniture. Another natural deterrent is apple cider vinegar. Spray it all around your patio and on the deck posts. If the squirrels still persist, try spraying apple cider vinegar on the squirrel’s favorite hiding spot, too.
Salt blocks
If you’re looking for a simple solution for squirrels stripping your willow furniture, consider enforcing a squirrel-proofing policy. Squirrels will chew through anything that they can find and use this debris to build their nests. However, you shouldn’t be surprised when they tear apart your expensive furniture. These animals can also be difficult to trap. In fact, they can even cause serious damage if they’re left unchecked.
Motion activated devices
One of the most effective ways to protect your garden from a squirrel invasion is to install a motion-activated sprinkler. These sprinklers will turn on automatically whenever a small animal runs by. If this doesn’t work, you can try motion-activated strobe lights or even chicken wire. The strobe lights are very bright and can scare squirrels away. Also, installing a fence around the garden will keep squirrels away from newly planted bulbs or trees.
Squirrels are expert climbers and will often scurry across power lines and bury food. When this happens, they can cause a lot of problems for humans. This is because they spend most of their time foraging for food. During the day, they can be extremely frenzied, which means your backyard may become a hotspot for their activity.
Plants
If you want to keep squirrels from destroying your willow furniture, there are a few ways to keep them away. You can use hot sauce to repel them. Mix one tablespoon of hot sauce in a gallon of water, then spray plants with this mixture. Reapply it periodically to keep the squirrels away. If hot sauce isn’t an option, you can also use garlic, water, and vinegar to repel them. Apply this solution to fences, vegetable garden stakes, and other structures they might use to access the furniture.
Another effective method of repelling these creatures is to use peppermint. Peppermint, black pepper, and garlic smell bad to the squirrels. You can also spray pepper on plants and flowers to repel the squirrels. Peppermint is very repellent to woodpeckers, which will pull the wood back in their search for insects. Once the peppermint scent has gotten the squirrels away, you can put them into live traps and relocate them to safe areas.
Repellant scents
You can use animal urine, repellant scents, or a combination of these items to keep squirrels away from your willow furniture. You can buy repellent scents online or in the hunting section of sporting goods stores. These products must be reapplied after rain or snow to remain effective. Adding repellent scents to your furniture is an excellent way to protect it from squirrels and prevent them from scratching your prized possessions.
For an organic solution, consider predator urine. This substance mimics the territorial marking habits of foxes in the wild and will cause a predatory response in prey. Repellant scents can also be found in apple cider vinegar or pepper. You may want to mix them with water and apply to certain points of your furniture. If these methods don’t work, you can also use predator urine to deter squirrels.
Metal flashing
One way to protect your willow furniture from squirrel damage is to put up a barrier. This can be as simple as reflective discs or gopher wire. Like chicken wire, gopher wire is smaller, but it will prevent squirrels from chewing or removing large pieces. For best results, exclusion is the best method. The barrier must extend at least 4 to 5 feet up the tree without impeding its growth. Another method is to cover the entire tree with smooth metal so that the squirrels cannot access the tree from the ground.
Why do squirrels strip the bark off of willow trees?
One reason squirrels strip the bark off of willow trees is to sharpen their teeth.
What kind of damage can stripping willow bark cause?
If the squirrel strips all of the bark off of the tree it can kill the tree.
How can I tell if a squirrel is stripping my willow tree?
Look for long strips of bark that are peeled away from the tree.
The strips of bark will be about the width of the squirrel’s body.
What can I do to discourage squirrels from stripping my willow tree?
You can try wrapping the trunk of the tree with chicken wire or hardware cloth.
Make sure the wrapping is tight against the trunk so the squirrel can’t slip through.
Will spraying the tree with a repellent help to keep squirrels away?
Maybe.
There are commercially available repellents that contain ingredients like capsaicin or naphthalene.
You can also make your own repellent by mixing 1 part garlic powder with 10 parts water.
Spray the mixture onto the tree trunk.
I’ve heard that mothballs will keep squirrels away.
Is this true?
Mothballs contain naphthalene which can repel squirrels.
Place mothballs around the base of the tree being careful not to let them touch the tree trunk.
How often do I need to reapply the repellent?
Reapply the repellent every few weeks or after a rainstorm.
What else can I do to keep squirrels away from my willow tree?
You can try planting other trees or shrubs nearby that squirrels like to eat such as oak hickory or chestnut.
The squirrels will be attracted to these trees and will leave your willow tree alone.
Will a squirrel eventually strip all the bark off of my willow tree if I do nothing to stop it?
Yes if the squirrel continues to strip the bark it will eventually kill the tree.
Is it better to remove the squirrel or to just let it strip the bark off of the tree?
If you can remove the squirrel that is probably the best option.
If you can’t then you can try one of the repellents or deterrents mentioned above.
Do other animals strip the bark off of willow trees?
Yes beavers and rabbits also strip the bark off of willow trees.
How can I tell if a beaver is stripping my willow tree?
Look for large chunks of bark that have been gnawed off of the tree.
The gnaw marks will be about 2-3 inches wide.
How can I tell if a rabbit is stripping my willow tree?
Look for small strips of bark that have been peeled away from the tree.
The strips of bark will be about the width of the rabbit’s body.
What can I do to keep beavers away from my willow tree?
You can try keeping the area around the tree free of fallen branches and other debris that the beaver can use to build its dam.
You can also try installing a mesh fence around the tree.
What can I do to keep rabbits away from my willow tree?
You can try planting other trees or shrubs nearby that rabbits like to eat such as maple birch or dogwood.
The rabbits will be attracted to these trees and will leave your willow tree alone.
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.
