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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Birds, squirrels and possums, oh my
 
 


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jeffpas

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

What I'm reading as far as someone new to fig growing is that unripe figs taste terrible, and can even burn... figs can't ripen off the tree, so they must be left on and that typically you'll know when they're ripe when a squirrel or bird grabs it.


I understand there's a little sarcasm there but how much of a problem are birds and squirrels normally?   The fig tree I have has about 6 figlets on it this year, so I don't really have a whole lot to spare lol.    I have a cherry tree in the yard that I've yet to see cherries on- it seems the birds eat them before they even appear.

So I gave up on my plan to grow them indoors, and moved them outside.. and now I have to worry about birds getting them at the end after many months?   And what about ants.

Do people normally use nets?    What is reasonable protection, and what is going overboard.....

 

 
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Use organza bags over just the figs.
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RegencyLass

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Quote:
Originally Posted by figpig_66
Use organza bags over just the figs.


And that's enough to deter your squirrels?  Ants and birds maybe...but squirrels? :)  
We had our windows replaced recently and a squirrel tore a hole in the brand new window screen to get to a bowl of Cap'n Crunch cereal my teenager had left inside his room on the window ledge one afternoon.  But maybe the squirrels you have are a much kinder, gentler breed. Ours are the brassy Eastern Grey squirrels that will whisk away anything they can carry, drag or roll away that is not bolted down. One year I even caught a squirrel in the act of carting an egg out of the chicken house, and all along here I was thinking we had a snake that was coming in eating the eggs.  I'm counting on our Main Coon cat, the Jack Russell, the Beagle, and the Dachshund to help keep the squirrels at bay when it comes to protecting my figs (fingers crossed).
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Pana13

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Jeffpas I had a lot of problems with birds every year. This year when I pulled out my trees within two days all the brebas were practically gone. I hung cds after words on all my trees. Since then not one has been missing. Coincidence? I don't know but it seems to been working. I've attached a picture. Even if there is no wind at all they spin a little causing a glare which I think is what helps. I hang them with fishing string and suspend clear from hitting other branches. What works for me might not work for others but seems to be working since spring.

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jeffpas

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 

We've definitely got squirrels here.    Someone mentioned cayenne pepper or bone meal in pots would deter them.    Though I wonder if the pepper would affect the taste of the figs?

http://www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/2013/05/5-tricks-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-your.html

I like the idea of organza bags, especially if you just have a potted plant with a few figs.    I imagine you could just put them on the week they start to go ripe and re-use them.   

It seems likely once they 'taste the fruit' once there will be no getting rid of them. 

Not sure about the other approach mentioned of having a squirrel/bird feeder nearby to give them an alternative.   I think that might just attract more regular guests.

 
E30

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Jeff,

The only success I had was in staving the problem by using bird netting and trapping them live and relocating them.  Look up your local laws, you may not be allowed to relocate nusaince squirrel species. For example in our area we can kill a fox squirel but can get into trouble for relocating it.   I cought 6 squirels in one day.  I didnt have the heart to kill the buggers.

This slowed down the onslought for a few months, till the next squirel moved in on the territory. 

Good luck!

tk
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Tonycm

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
I had a problem with chipmunks this year. I tried using organza bags but it turned out to be a waste of time and money. Figs and bags were taken off the tree and ripped open with partially eaten figs still in the bag. Out of 4 dozen breba on one tree and only got to eat 8 figs. I used a live trap and caught the theives and released them about 2.5 miles away. So far so good. For protection against birds I use netting with good results. You may get an occasional bird in through a gap but overall it really does the trick. So far I haven't had too much trouble with ants. If there is a few ants in the fig I just flick them off and eat it. If they become a major problem then I'll try tanglefoot. It's a sticky paste you spread around the base of the tree to keep ants from climbing up to get the figs.
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Welcome to the club!
Squirrels, coons and possums are my eternal enemies.
So far, I am loosing. Only a fine metal cage will help for a 100% protections, with everything else, the animals figure out how to get around.
Stray cats help too, sometimes dogs.
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APORTO

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I just updated my older post with something similar.  I bought 2 products:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EMK49DC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019FAMT4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I put them out, forgot about them, and they startled me the next day.  Pretty life-like.  Hope they work.  I think the discs are similar to Pana's Cd's.  They spin and look like much bigger movement out of the corner of your eye.
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ljmiller3440

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Also, you have to make sure your dogs don't get a taste for them! Potty time is closely monitored here in Central PA because my bastard wiener dog is the biggest threat to my figs. Last year he ate my first ripe Col de Dame Grise ORGANZA BAG and and all and proceeded to vomit it all up on the couch half a day later.

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RegencyLass

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljmiller3440
Also, you have to make sure your dogs don't get a taste for them!


Great advice! Not had ripe figs yet, but my little neuro-deficit beagle loves ripe peaches. They are too high off the ground for her to reach, but she torments the squirrels and they inadvertently end up dropping her a few. Nothing worse than a beagle full of peaches, except maybe a doxie full of fig and organza, LOL.   Your little doxie is adorable, by the way.
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Windowsill_Gardens

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I cover all my potted figs with bird netting. It keeps away the birds, squirrels, groundhog, rabbit, and neighborhood skunk. Of them all the squirrels are the most dreaded here. They discovered the trees last year and pulled off all the unripe brebas during their investigations. Now the netting goes on at the first signs of figlets. The neighborhood has tons of berry bushes, birdfeeders, and at least one neighbor who used to feed the squirrels specifically. They have become a plague.
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Smyfigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljmiller3440
Also, you have to make sure your dogs don't get a taste for them! Potty time is closely monitored here in Central PA because my bastard wiener dog is the biggest threat to my figs. Last year he ate my first ripe Col de Dame Grise ORGANZA BAG and and all and proceeded to vomit it all up on the couch half a day later.


Yup, dogs love them!  My Dalmation used to eat carrots, apples, watermelon, tomatoes...and even a rock once in a while...lol
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GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pana13
Jeffpas I had a lot of problems with birds every year. This year when I pulled out my trees within two days all the brebas were practically gone. I hung cds after words on all my trees. Since then not one has been missing. Coincidence? I don't know but it seems to been working. I've attached a picture. Even if there is no wind at all they spin a little causing a glare which I think is what helps. I hang them with fishing string and suspend clear from hitting other branches. What works for me might not work for others but seems to be working since spring.


I used CDs hanging on stiff wires last year. They both flash and make a screeching noise. They seemed to work really good on blueberries and figs. This year I have been too lazy to put the CDs back out. I'm losing a few to birds, but not too bad.
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SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 


It might be a good idea to wait until the fig begins to ripen. Then hang the shiny object.
The flashing being new to the birds may keep them away long enough
for you to pick a ripe fig.

Doug
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jeffpas

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 

I went and got bone meal on a suggestion to keep the squirrels away and found out after it rains, it stinks like poop!   At least the meal I bought does.   What is worse now I'm reading that it actually attracts animals like possums and even my dog is trying to lick up the stuff.

I think this advice may have backfired :/   I'm thinking of scooping what I can of this stuff out and looking for some other 'topping' to detract fig feasters.   Someone on another forum suggested pecan shells, and one of the trees I bought online actually had them.  But where in the world do you buy those? 

I'm interested in the CDs I might try them if it ever comes to it.   

 

 
jeffpas

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 

I kept thinking the last couple days "Wow I never realized fig trees stink so bad" lol.   I finally figured it out.    I got most of it into a bag and sure enough, its like whiffing an outhouse.    And the dog isn't getting near this stuff I'm not dealing with that breath in the house haha.

I've only got a few figlets on this little tree, maybe I'll get lucky and no one will 'discover' them this year.   Bummer that you can't pick them early and ripen them like bananas.   That really kinda makes it a challenge....
Avery_Rose

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
I have just one medium fig tree (probably about like an 8-foot sphere in size) and the squirrels love it. About 2 years ago I put netting over the tree and a squirrel found his way in and was eating away and didn't notice me come outside. At first I didn't see him either and then all of the sudden it was like one of those arcade ping-pong ball games inside the netting. I guess he couldn't remember in a split second how he got in so he was just bouncing all around, but then after about maybe 15 seconds he found his way out and dashed to another tree in the yard (not a fig tree). This year I remember a squirrel just sat in a middle branch literally just beyond my reach and waited for me to lean in and shoo him away before begrudgingly leaving his post. Birds love them to, for sure. I haven't had any trouble with ants or possums.
CliffH

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
My biggest problem this year, my first growing figs, was possums. I was blaming squirrels and even thinking raccoons. Then I found 4 half-grown possums in our large tree in 3 nights. Two the first night, and one each of the following two nights. By then there were very few figs of any ripeness left on the tree. The final figs were eaten during the next week (never saw that one). They clean us out of every last fig in a little over a week! They were carrying off the little bags and all, if when I tried to use them.

CliffH
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nhardy

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
I have a possum this year. He has not found my figs yet. They are close to my pole light.
 
I bought shade cloth for the birds. What they can't see they won't eat.  It is super easy to put on and tack off too. I have indoor cats. So get out door dogs is out for me. Next best thing is to buy pee. Try fox pee for squirrels or coyote pee for possums. Local hardware stores have some varieties of pee or outdoor sporting goods stores too. Otherwise order online.

We have had tons of squirrels. The neighbor behind me was feeding them. So this year she must have stopped. I was able to pick my first apples. Every other year the squirrels got every apple. I got 1/2 bushel of apples. I was even proactive and built a tomato coop. They stole most of the tomatoes until I built it with thing I mostly had. Cloths line supports poles, electrical conduit pipe for the framing and nylon rope cut to length. I had to buy 2 rolls of chicken wire. But I can assemble it by myself each year. I get 99% of my tomatoes. I'd had to spray for the stink bugs to get that last 1%. So far I tired of spraying for the season.

From my $4.39 Jerry Baker book. A recipe from Jerry Baker to teach squirrels a lesson.
2 tablespoon cayenne pepper, extra fine
2 tablespoon chili powder, extra fine
2 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon Murphy's oil soap
1 quart of water
Use with a hand held sprayer to spray. Note you will have to wash anything you eat after using this spray. 
Jerry Baker had no recipe for opossum. He said get out your twinkle Christmas lights and put them on your edibles plants. The brighter and flashier the better. Opossum love the darkness and hate the day time. You can even check out solar motion sensor lights on Amazon like this one. The more lumens the better.
https://smile.amazon.com/GUARDIAN-Solar-Light-Brightness-Standalone/dp/B00TN5EQ8K/ref=pd_sim_60_8?ie=UTF8&dpID=41bai13tYcL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=H531A1JCS94QNQ961F0P
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SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
I've not yet lost a fig to squirrels,, birds, or any other critter this year.
You just have to make them want to live elsewhere.

Doug
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nas33

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
If squirrels want your figs they will get them. Actually any fruit. They can chew through aluminum so good luck. The best luck ive had is keeping them away as much as possible by
Cat stays outside in yard
Bird netting dropped all over the tree without a spot to get within two feet of the trunk
Scare them any time you see them in your yard. Don't let them get comfortable in your garden.
Motion sensor sprinkler.
Move them into my Greenhouse when they are close to ripening :-)
Grow so many that you don't mind sharing a few with the buggers.

I hate them. Good luck.
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SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
I made them afraid of a 22 pellet.
No more problem.

Doug
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