Protecting my Fruit Trees from Squirrels
Post contains Walmart affiliate links.
Squirrels have been decimating my fruit trees despite all my previous attempts at squirrel deterrents. They ate all my cherries, all but 1 apricot, are ravaging my plum tree and recently started attacking my apple trees. It started with one squirrel, then its buddy showed up. Now… there are at least 4 of them🤪
Scrambling for effective squirrel deterrents to protect my orchard, I put twirling mirrors in the trees. The squirrels threw them to the ground. I put net bags on all the apricots and sprayed the bags with pepper spray. The squirrels took the bags off and threw them to the ground. You can see the bags all over the ground in the reel below. Decoy owl on the fence? Ground. Let my labrador retriever out to chase them out of the yard? They paid her off with a half eaten plum. My corgi? Still learning what to chase.
Tired of chasing them out of my orchard, I used my Walmart+ membership, ordered up the XSHOT Water Hydra Pulse Motor Soaker and had it delivered in an hour. (Highly recommend Walmart+ if you don’t have it)
I’m actually really pleased with my Motor Soaker. It’s easy to refill. Just flip open the large lid on the end and fill from a hose or sink. The lid closes water tight. It’s battery operated, so when I pull the trigger and hold it, the water gun continues to shoot pulses of water while making a noise the furry little demons detest. With fresh batteries it easily shoots 20 feet. Batteries are easy to replace too.
If I’m being honest, it is pretty fun to shoot the Motor Soaker. I’ve had friends over for a barbecue and they enjoyed shooting it too.
Don’t worry. Shooting water at the squirrels doesn’t harm them. The goal is to train them with an adverse reenforcement. Does it seem to be an effective squirrel deterrent? Yes, when I go outside now, they run. Are my crops disappearing at the same rate? NOPE!! Whoo hoo. That’s a win for sure.
Now most mornings you can find me drinking my morning coffee under the fruit trees dressed in my pajamas, while chasing off squirrels with my water gun.
