How do I discourage, or preferably, eradicate these menacing rodents entirely?
I've had it with the one (or more) squirrels that are regularly digging up potted plants and destroying smaller ones I'm growing from cuttings. Strategic placement of pots has proven to be anything but. Nowhere is safe. I've placed rocks, flagstone, etc. on the soil surface of potted plants and that has worked well -- up until today, when I found a rock dislodged, spilled soil, and a hole dug in my prized Royal Poinciana that I sprouted from a seed 15 months ago. This is war.
At this point, I'm not opposed to using bait. The cats around here are all well fed, and the two males that come around courting my girl couldn't care less about checking out her food dish on the side porch. If I owned a pellet gun, I'd be lying in wait and taking care of business, or at the very least, scaring them off with something more than chasing and yelling. They are persistent little devils and have been on a destructive tear since spring.
Like Rich stated in a recent post, something needs to be done about protected wildlife that have become an urban gardener's worst enemy. The population needs a serious reduction. I've never had this much trouble in any other part of town I've lived before. The peregrine falcons that nest atop a nearby office building prefer easy prey like pigeons. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I've had it with the one (or more) squirrels that are regularly digging up potted plants and destroying smaller ones I'm growing from cuttings. Strategic placement of pots has proven to be anything but. Nowhere is safe. I've placed rocks, flagstone, etc. on the soil surface of potted plants and that has worked well -- up until today, when I found a rock dislodged, spilled soil, and a hole dug in my prized Royal Poinciana that I sprouted from a seed 15 months ago. This is war.
At this point, I'm not opposed to using bait. The cats around here are all well fed, and the two males that come around courting my girl couldn't care less about checking out her food dish on the side porch. If I owned a pellet gun, I'd be lying in wait and taking care of business, or at the very least, scaring them off with something more than chasing and yelling. They are persistent little devils and have been on a destructive tear since spring.
Like Rich stated in a recent post, something needs to be done about protected wildlife that have become an urban gardener's worst enemy. The population needs a serious reduction. I've never had this much trouble in any other part of town I've lived before. The peregrine falcons that nest atop a nearby office building prefer easy prey like pigeons. Any suggestions would be appreciated.