I need to squirrel proof a Gage tree

[fishpond]

I need to squirrel proof a Gage tree, last year I put small net bags over the gages and found the empty nets on the floor minus the gages.
Looking at the amount of fruit buds on the tree, this could be a bumper year for these and I would like some to eat myself.
Tree is approx 6 feet wide, 11 feet high and still growing strongly.
I did think of galvanized 1" x 0.5 " chicken mesh which I have, but needs to be on some sort of frame.
This is not a stupid squirrel.
Any suggestions, including any diagrams of how to make furry slippers, most welcome.

[Guest]

Love to see what responses you get. Unfortunately I have not come across a stupid squirrel and they seem to thrive on challenge when they want something it is fascinating to watch them but not at the expense of your crops

[fishpond]

The previous year (2016) it was wasps, I managed to salvage 1/2 of 1 ---there were originally 9 in total--a young tree.
Loads of apples & Pears--do they want apples & Pears---NO

[burnie]

Is it a tree rat(Grey Squirrel)? if so you could shoot it and eat it, tastes alright.

[cheops]

I don't don't what your immediate location is like but unless you are on the edge of a forest this might work - when I lived in London grey squirrels were a big problem with my plum trees in particuliar. I bought on the internet a humane squirrel trap and baited it with peanuts in their shells. Within hours I had caught one and off it went in the back of my car trap and all to a wooded park about two miles away where I released it. After catching eleven in total that seemed to be it - no more squirrels left in my vicinity. I expected in the near future new squirrels coming into the area but to my surprise not another squirrel was seen by me or my neighbours in our gardens. Two years later I left London and when I left our gardens were still squirrel free. Good luck.

[DannyK]

It's illegal to release non-native species in the wild.

I'm sure I've seen metal collars used on trunks, which they can't get a grip on. The tree needs to be out of jumping range.

[cheops]

Quite right DannyK the law is strange - whilst you can legally shoot a grey squirrel it is as you say illegal to release them in the wild. I suspect that law was made to prevent the spread of a non native animal. Not much use now -the grey squirrel is everywhere destroying clutches of song birds and of course routing the native red squirrel to near extinction in this country.

[Baldy]

Good luck with it.

Apparently "Scaring the heck out of them is a good way to reinforce the notion that your yard is not a good place to stay and live. Fluttering flags or streamers in the trees can be a preventive measure that is simple and not dangerous to other animals. Common squirrel deterrents for fruit trees include Ro-Pel, capsaicin or hot pepper oil and sticky topical applications for trunks and limbs. A simple metal collar 2 feet wide around the trunk of a tree prevents entry to the canopy of the fruit tree too.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Squirrels Fruit Tree Protection: Using Squirrel Deterrents For Fruit Trees https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/fegen/squirrel-proof-fruit-trees.htm"

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...ruit-trees.htm

[GBax]

I would familiarise yourself with the law and either buy yourself an air rifle or some traps. You will be doing the songbirds in your area a massive favour also.

It is an ongoing battle - in my garden i have got to the stage where it is now just the odd one turning up and i hope to keep it that way. I hope therefore to not have any chewed open bird boxes this year.

[BUFFS]

Try putting/hanging some soft fruit from the tree,having treated it with paprika first, a good dusting and stand back, I did this in my sweet cherry tree 3/4 yrs ago and we have had no losses since, mind you we will probably have to do it again , as usual, to deter any youngsters..