Damn Squirrels! Anyone have leftover seeds/nuts?

[williams111]

I had about 25 bur/gambel oaks germinated and potted up on a table on my patio. I have been growing trees in the same location for 3 years now and never had anything raid my pots. Does anyone happen to have any leftover/extra seeds or nuts? I am looking preferably for bur/gambel oak, concordia, pawpaw, peach, persimmon, allegheny chinkapin or any other odd/hybrid nuts/seeds. Only need about 25 and ill gladly compensate for time/shipping. Just want to fill the pots with something for the year.
Thanks!

 

[yoderjac]

Sorry, no nuts. I typically start my squirrel eradication program a year in advance. I've tried everything, including conibear traps on ramps to box traps with peanut butter. I'll catch one or two, but they catch on quickly. I've found nothing better than a Benjamin air gun. Fortunately, my state passed a law prohibiting localities from regulating air guns. I keep it pretty low profile in the development, but I solved my squirrel problem. Unfortunately, we are too close to moving and retirement to continue growing trees.

 

[williams111]

Yoder,
I guess that's what I'm going to have to do!

 

[The Fishman]

Air guns work, but the squirrels always keep coming back. I have a pecan tree in the backyard and the squirrels will literally run down the neighborhood fence line for a couple hundred yards to get into the pecans in September. Dogs help also.

I cannot help you with any of your requested species, but I do have some swamp chestnut oak and white oak acorns still sitting in the fridge. I cannot guarantee germination, but they are yours for the cost of shipping if you want them. Note that these trees are from the deep south and you look like you are in the north from your avatar photo with snow. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[yoderjac]

Air guns work, but the squirrels always keep coming back. I have a pecan tree in the backyard and the squirrels will literally run down the neighborhood fence line for a couple hundred yards to get into the pecans in September. Dogs help also.

I cannot help you with any of your requested species, but I do have some swamp chestnut oak and white oak acorns still sitting in the fridge. I cannot guarantee germination, but they are yours for the cost of shipping if you want them. Note that these trees are from the deep south and you look like you are in the north from your avatar photo with snow. Let me know if you are interested.

They are territorial so once you eliminate them, they are usually gone until the next breeding cycle redistributes young squirrels. You would be surprised how many squirrels can be in a locality. After taking 20, I still see one now and then. I used to see 3 or 4 at a time. If I don't keep at it, it wont' be long before numbers go up. I had an oak tree which died a few years ago and we had removed. I also had an omental apple that they would hammer. It died as well. Unfortunately the neighbors on 2 sides have several big mature oaks.

Killing my trees was bad, but one year they got under my sheathing and nested in our bedroom wall. We had to have the roof replaced but we had to wait until the young left the next and I killed them all and we had no more noise in the wall before they could re-roof. I did not want to have the smell of dead squirrels in the wall.

I love to see squirrels in the woods, but they can be quite destructive in a subdivision. Lots of food and limited predators make for an overpopulation.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[williams111]

Fishman,
I greatly appreciate the offer and would most certainly take the swamp chestnut acorns, but I’m in zone 5 and based on what I’ve seen it would be a stretch for them here. I’ve got a fair number of white oaks planted so I am going to pass. I’ve got a lab, but his invisible fence doesn’t reach the patio. Looks like I’ll have to get the pellet gun sighted in.

 

[The Fishman]

Like Jack stated you can control them, but you have to remain vigilant. If you can take out the 5-10 resident squirrels, you should be fine for 2-3 months. I actually killed a young one yesterday that was in the yard. I have seedlings growing and apples that will be ripe in a month. I used to share, but when they don’t share and you don’t get a single apple or any pecans, you tend to lose patience quick.