Need help The squirrels are attacking....(pecan tree related)
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Need help The squirrels are attacking....(pecan tree related)
Kittee3 | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 12:40 pm     Just kidding -- but they can be a nuisance and my back yard it a mess. Anyhow, we have a great big pecan tree in our back yard that produces lots of pecans but I havn't figured out how to get them before the squirrels do.... How does one harvest (?) pecans? can you pick them? Do they need to dry first? They have a "fleshy" green outer shell and they squirrels are eating them (and spitting the shells all over our back yard) before they seem to be ready (the nuts are still soft and a little green). Any suggestions, wisdom, ideas would be greatly appreciated. p.s. I don't mind sharing with the squirrels but it would be nice to have some pecans too for a change!!! |
Draheid | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 01:13 pm     Kittee3: In a quick search of the web, I didn't find any specific information on dettering the squirrels, however, the following link has a lot of information on the tree itself and harvesting. Hope this helps. Texas A&M University Information on Pecan Trees Excerpt from (near the bottom of) the above page: Harvesting and Storage Pecans are mature and ready to harvest anytime after the shuck begins to open. It is easier to wait and harvest nuts by shaking or thrashing branches after shucks are wide open and partially dried. However, the longer you wait, the more pecans that may be lost to predators. Squirrels, crows, bluejays, wild turkeys, raccoons and deer all can cause serious yield reduction. Nuts harvested early in the season have a high moisture content and need to be dried before storage. Dry them in the shell in thin layers on elevated screens or hang them in small mesh bags in a well-ventilated area at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Within 2 weeks the nut meats should be dry enough to snap when bent, an indication they are ready for storage or immediate use. To retain nut meat quality, store pecans in the freezer. Pecans retain good quality for up to 6 months in the refrigerator, but the freezer ensures much better quality when storing shelled pecans. Pecans readily absorb odors from almost any material, including other fruits and vegetables, so be careful to protect them from possible contaminating odors. |
Kittee3 | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 01:26 pm     Thank you!!! Now I remember finding that a while ago but squirrels are driving me nuts (pi).... Maybe I can try the "early season" havest method... btw.. does anyone have any experience with the "ultrasonic pest deterants"? Would it work to keep the squirrels away without hurting my kitty? |
Draheid | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 01:35 pm     Kittee3: I don't have any personal experience with them (my hearing is good, but not THAT good! ) but I would speculate that you'd have to actually put them IN the tree. The range on those devices appear to be limited and the foliage from the tree might deter the sound waves from having any effect on the squirrels directly. Hope this also helps. |
Rissa | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 01:39 pm     Kittee3, I have an ultrasonic repeller plugged in my garage because we live in the country and don't want mice getting into the house. I can't tell you how well it works because I have never seen a mouse in our garage (it was for prevention) and we don't seem to have any squirrel's. But I can tell you that it does NOT seem to bother our cat at all, or our dog. Madison (our cat) is strictly indoors, but if I am working in the garage for an extended period.. she comes out there with me. The repeller is plugged in and all doors shut, so she is never more than 15 feet from it. If it bothered her at all I would know (G). |
Kittee3 | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 01:45 pm     Thanks Draheid and Rissa!!!! I knew I could count on a quick response on my favorite board!!!! The Pecan tree is right next to the garage so pehaps if I get one of those and plug it in the squirrels will stay away.... at least during pecan season... otherwise these rodents are cute and provide visual entertainment to my kitty.... |
Zed | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 03:39 pm     Kitee3 I also have a pecan tree in my front yard that is home to what appears to be hundreds of squirrels. They have spent the entire summer digging holes in my sod looking for last seasons nuts. I was told that red fox urine will deter squirrels in the mistaken belief that foxes are in the area. I bought a spray bottle in a hunting store(hunters use it to mask human scent). You can purchase powder online at the following address: http://www.predator-products.com/popups/pop_squirrels.html Good luck on your mission! |
Kittee3 | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 05:51 pm     Hi Zed -- Have you used this product? Does it work? I love the tree (wonderful shade in the summer) but it would be nice to enjoy some of the pecans. |
Sia | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 05:51 pm     Can you put a baffle on the tree the way people put them on their bird feeder posts? Squirrels can jump really far, too, so if there is any way one can jump from the garage roof to the tree or from another tree to the pecan tree, it would be hard to keep them away from your goodies. We used to have a lot of adorable, entertaining squirrels in our front yard and I watched them from my kitchen window, but they've all disappeared. My cats are good hunters, & I'm afraid they caught and ate the squirrels!  |
Zed | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 05:55 pm     Yes Kittee3, it does appear to work. Rain will eventually wash away the scent, so you need to reapply every few weeks. |
Sia | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 07:10 pm     .  |
Kittee3 | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 07:45 pm     I have a large net over my raised vegetable garden and dwarf nectarine tree but the pecan tree is huge (about 75 years old) and right next to the garage so there is no way to keep the squirresl away.... anyhow, I don't want to hurt them or banish them -- just keep them away for a little bit.... They are soooo cute, especially in pairs when they chase each other up and down around the tree trunk |
Juju2bigdog | Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 08:50 pm     Kittee3, we have a squirrel expert on this board. Her name is Wink, and she has many years of experience in the squirrel arena. She sometimes keeps a rather low profile, but I am truly surprised that nobody has mentioned her name in this thread yet. |
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