As a passionate nature lover with several years of experience observing and interacting with squirrels all around the world, I can answer your question: do squirrels eat blackberries? Yes, they do! But if you want to keep these furry critters away from your garden, there are certain steps you can take. In this post, I will share my knowledge on how to avoid having uninvited guests eating up your precious blackberries.
Squirrels love to eat blackberries! They are an important part of a squirrel’s diet, providing vitamins and minerals. Squirrels will usually enjoy eating both the ripe and unripe varieties of this tasty fruit. Additionally, squirrels may also go for the bramble leaves in order to get extra nutrients from them.
Do Squirrels Eat Blackberries?
Squirrels love snacks! Wild blackberries are one of their favorite treats! These tasty morsels come with plenty benefits too – blackberries contain tons of Vitamin C which boost immunity. Plus they’re high fiber too! Not only do these juicy fruits make for some delicious snacks but they’re super healthy toof! It’s no wonder why squirrels go crazy over blackberries! But do you know how they get access to these sweet treats? Here we’ll take a look at how squirrels successfully find and devour them every season.
10 Tips to Keep Squirrels Away From Your Garden
Squirrels may be fluffy and cute, but they can wreak havoc on gardens. In their efforts to forage and survive, they can quickly turn your garden into a buffet by devouring fruits, nuts and vegetables with equal enthusiasm. To protect your plants from squirrel damage and harvest loss it’s important to understand how to keep them away.
There are several ways you can deter squirrels from raiding your garden. The first step is understanding the natural behavior of these rodents so you can better combat them. Sciuridae (squirrel family) includes more than 200 species around the world; some common behaviors include foraging, burrowing and nesting in trees or plants.
1. Bird netting
Protect your garden from pesky squirrels with bird netting! Install the netting over your garden or specific plants, as squirrels won’t be able to get through. Choose high-quality nets that are designed for critters like squirrels to ensure they don’t gnaw their way in. Be sure to install it securely so no animals can squeeze under or through the netting. With proper installation and maintenance, this strategy is an effective solution for keeping out invading wildlife!
2. Trap Them
If you’re having trouble keeping squirrels away from your garden, trapping them is an effective way to get rid of the problem. To do this, set up a live or humane animal trap near areas where they congregate and fill it with nuts, grains, or fruits that they like. Make sure to check the trap frequently and release the animals at least 5 miles away. You can also try using repellents such as strong smells, noise-makers, or motion-activated sprinklers to deter them.
3. Don’t Feed the Squirrels
One of the best ways to keep squirrels away from your garden is to not feed them in the first place. If you have bird feeders or pet food outside, consider moving them further away from your plants and vegetables. This will discourage squirrels from gathering near your garden and make it less attractive for them.
If you are going to have animal-based food sources in your yard, try to make sure that they are far enough away so that squirrels won’t be able to reach them any more easily then other creatures like birds or raccoons.
4. Scare Them Away with Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinklers are a great way to frighten off pesky animals, including squirrels. When these devices sense movement they release a short spray of water that startles any nearby creature and sends it scurrying away! These devices can be quite effective in keeping hungry squirrels out of gardens, but do require care: some types of motion-activated sprinkler systems may harm beneficial wildlife such as birds or bees without deterring larger pests like rodents.
If using motion-activated sprinklers as part of your strategy for managing garden pests, consider setting up multiple units around different parts of the garden. Make sure to position each unit at an angle facing the area most likely to be home for unwanted visitors!
5. Ultrasonic Motion Detectors
Ultrasonic motion detectors emit a high frequency sound that humans cannot hear, but most animals can – including rodents such as squirrels! These are another type of device used by homeowners looking to repel unwelcome critters from their property.
- To protect specific areas in your yard or garden, consider mounting one or two ultrasonic motion detectors on a post near where you suspect pests might enter.
- When activated by nearby movement (such as those caused by a passing rodent), these systems will produce an unpleasant noise intended scare away the intruder.
6. Train Them Away with Animal Repellent
When applied liberally around vulnerable parts of a garden – like flower bulbs protected by mulch – this mixture is reported by some users to work very well at keeping curious critters such as
7. Protect Flower Bulbs from Squirrels
Protecting flower bulbs from squirrels is essential for your garden’s success. Follow these tips to keep them away:
- Install a miniature fence around your bulb bed.
- Sprinkle coyote or fox urine around the perimeter of your garden.
- Trap any squirrels that may be in your area with humane traps and safely release them elsewhere.
- Construct scarecrows or other forms of visual barriers around the perimeter of your garden.
- Place a bowl of water and birdseed near the edge of your yard to distract squirrels and attract birds.
- Hang aluminum pie tins and wind chimes close to where you have planted bulbs; their noise will help ward off hungry critters.
8. Offer a Food Source Far Away from Your Vegetables
Give squirrels what they want – a food source far from your vegetables! Plant trees, shrubs and other plants away from your vegetables that will provide nuts and berries as an alternative food source for the squirrels. This way, you can drive them away from feasting on your precious veggies!
9. Buy a Dog or Cat
Pets can be a great way to deter squirrels from coming into your garden. Dogs and cats are natural predators of small animals like squirrels, so getting one may help prevent the pesky critters from visiting your yard. If you have enough space and the responsibility of a pet fits within your lifestyle, adding a canine or feline companion can be an effective way to drive away any unwelcome guests.
As an alternative, you can instead buy a decoy predator, like this owl:
10. Grow Plants That Deter Rodents
Grow plants that deter rodents. Certain herbs and vegetables, such as rosemary and onions, can act as natural repellents for squirrels.
Conclusion
So, do squirrels eat blackberries? The answer is yes, but it can be difficult to keep them away from your garden. However, with a few simple strategies like the ones mentioned in this article, you can drastically reduce the amount of blackberry consumption by squirrels and protect your precious plants.
By understanding what to do and arming yourself with the right knowledge, you’ll have all the tools necessary to discourage those pesky squirrels from eating too many of your delicious blackberries. So don’t wait; start protecting your garden today!
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