squirrels stealing tomatoes

[Gus]

What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from tomatoes?
It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some tomatoes, but the
squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And actually taunt. Taking
a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then leaving it.

Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can even
get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.

Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days
seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that was
not deterring them that well.

[David E. Ross]

I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
before eating them.


--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

[Higgs Boson]

Some people (not me) use a .22.

Some people use big black birds.

I'm just sayin'

HB

HB

[Gus]

"David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message
news:km0kti$tof$1...@news.albasani.net...

> I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
> urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
> before eating them.

I tried cayenne for a while and all it did was make the few tomatoes I got
before squirrels have a cayenne flavor. Didn't seem to faze the squirrels.

urine... hmmm.

[Frank]

Havahart trap and relocate to a more affluent neighborhood.

Largest rat traps will sometimes get them. Bait with peanut butter.

I laced bird feeder with gobs of hot pepper flakes and it would not
deter them.

Squirrels are not an endangered species and if you can't use a .22 you
might consider an air rifle.

[Gus]

"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:km0svm$u34$1...@dont-email.me...

Too many to get rid of them all; another will just take its place. They are
like the Chinese army.

[Frank]

I know. One summer I was trying to trap a groundhog and before I got
him I must have made a half dozen trips to the park to drop of squirrels
before I got the ground hog.

I would shoot them if my wife would permit it. One guy I know says he
has to shoot over a dozen before he sees a difference. I'm not sure
tomatoes are a favorite food for them and if it is just a few and you
get them it may cease. Squirrels can live a dozen years and do have
memories. Two months since I put away the bird feeder a squirrel will
come up on the deck looking for it. Since most of my property got
shaded in and deer became the big problem I've been growing my tomatoes
on the deck without squirrels bothering them. Racoons are more of a
problem and will sometimes just rip up a small plant.

You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

[Todd]

Hi Gus,

I have a customer/friend with a greenhouse. The resident
squirrels would dig under the walls and steal all his
tomatoes. He lives out in the boon docks and would shoot
at them when they ran away with a tomato in their mouths.

Nothing worked until he removed all his boxes, lined the
floor with pavers, and replaced his boxes. Now he brags
that he has to give away tomatoes. He chuckles about
all the head aches he is giving the squirrels when they
hit their heads on the pavers.

-T

[Todd]

On 05/03/2013 10:01 AM, Gus wrote:
> urine... hmmm.

Hi Gus,

Certain hunting supply stores sell animal scents
to covert the delightful smell of human. Maybe
coyote or mountain lion smell would work?

I don't know that this would apply for squirrels,
but my sister-in-law got rid of her gophers by
cramming cat pee pee and skat from their litter boxes
down their holes. Supposedly, it smells like their
predators.

It was our idea to have her do it. She didn't want to
use poison (her cats would eat the dead gophers and get
poisoned themselves) or explosives (my favorite).

Then after she did the deed, I apologized profusely
to her, saying I didn't think she would do it. It was
only a joke! And, yes, I laughed so hard I almost
puked. She is still getting even with me. Life is
good. It is good to be a Brother-In-Law.

-T

[Dan Espen]

That cat litter may turn into a sticky mess.
I suppose it depends on the brand, but I thought I'd save
some outdoors to use like sand after our cat died.

It got moist and turned into a paste.
10 years later I'm still trying to get all of it
out of the soil.

--
Dan Espen

[Todd]

Hi Dan,

YUK!

That is why you cram it about 2 feet down their holes!
Do squirrels have holes?

-T

[Dan Espen]

Yes, but not in the ground.

--
Dan Espen

[Gus]

"Todd" <To...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:km18id$fkc$2...@dont-email.me...

> That is why you cram it about 2 feet down their holes!
> Do squirrels have holes?

They are 'holes. Facade of cute bushy tails, but they are selfish
psychopathic bastards.

[Todd]

Hmmm. Will the tree forgive you?

[David E. Ross]

The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a
docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that
squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The
squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently, there
is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a buzz
(squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing out
because of the shoots being eaten.

This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told that a
mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been sprayed up into
the trees.

[David E. Ross]

On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:

>
> You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
> release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
> squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.

It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing
squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are
protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and
may be killed.

[David Hare-Scott]

David E. Ross wrote:
> On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:
>>
>> You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap
>> and release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I
>> released a squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.
>
> It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding
> killing squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California
> and are protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced
> species and may be killed.

In either case if there is a large breeding colony both T & R and killing a
few are a waste of time. They will breed up and replace all you can remove.
In such a case you need an effective repellent or physical barrier.

D

[Gus]

"David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message

news:km1gi9$n7r$1...@news.albasani.net...

> The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a
> docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that
> squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The
> squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently, there
> is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a buzz
> (squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing out
> because of the shoots being eaten.
>
> This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told that a
> mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been sprayed up into
> the trees.

might I inquire, who's urine?

[Gus]

"David Hare-Scott" <sec...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:km1im1$qni$1...@news.albasani.net...

Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a flower
and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish to flower when
so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown plants about 3 or 4
times and don't remember them flowering when so small.

[David Hare-Scott]

Any

D

[David Hare-Scott]

This is quite common.

D

[Todd]

Hi Gus,

I would have to concur with David. I use to work at a greenhouse.
The potted tomato plant they sold to transplant all had flowers
on them.

-T

[Gus]

"David Hare-Scott" <sec...@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:km1rkv$ggp$1...@news.albasani.net...

>> Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a
>> flower and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish
>> to flower when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown
>> plants about 3 or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so
>> small.
>
> This is quite common.

okay. Thought maybe there was something in the air this year. I've not
really raise many vegetables.

[Todd]

On 05/03/2013 05:25 AM, Gus wrote:

Dogs?

[gregz]

"David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:
> On 5/3/13 5:25 AM, Gus wrote:
>> What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from tomatoes?
>> It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some tomatoes, but the
>> squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And actually taunt. Taking
>> a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then leaving it.
>>
>> Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can even
>> get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.
>>
>> Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days
>> seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that was
>> not deterring them that well.
>
> I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
> urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
> before eating them.
>

Habanero and fox urine will work much better, just don't put fox urine on
the plants.

Greg

[gregz]

"David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:

> On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:
>>
>> You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
>> release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
>> squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.
>
> It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing
> squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are
> protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and
> may be killed.

That's not fair.

Greg

[David Hare-Scott]

There are plenty of foxes round here how do I collect the repellent?

D

[Gus]

"gregz" <ze...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:2127673697389329539.0...@news.eternal-september.org...

> Habanero and fox urine will work much better, just don't put fox urine on
> the plants.
>
> Greg

How do I get a fox to pee in cup?

I tried some stuff from the vegetable stand nearby that was some sort of
repellent but didn't have any effect. And oddly, I had left some on a table
out by the garage and it had fallen off. The package was open and there
was a little chipmunk next to the opened package, dead. I assume it ate the
repellent? Weird. The clerk at the vegetable stand swore the stuff worked,
but I won't be buying anymore.

[songbird]

Frank wrote:
...

> Racoons are more of a
> problem and will sometimes just rip up a small plant.

they often are smelling the fertilizer (that usually
has fish parts or ...) in the potting mix.


songbird

[Frank]

Encounter last year was a half dozen hydrangeas in small pots.
Racoons, I assume, tore everything apart. May have smelled but there
was no fertilizer.

It is not possible to rid the area of wildlife but I do think it is a
few individuals that start coming around and keep repeating and if you
can get rid of those maybe it will keep damage down.

One of the squirrels that was hitting my bird feeder put away a couple
of months ago was searching around the deck this morning and used a pot
full of dirt as his bathroom. Wife thought he was cute.

[Natural Girl]

My husband calls them 'tree rats'!

--
Natural Girl

[Natural Girl]

On 5/3/2013 6:23 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
> On 5/3/13 12:15 PM, Frank wrote [in part]:
>>
>> You need know laws where you live. Some places like here make trap and
>> release illegal but you can trap and kill the animal. I released a
>> squirrel right in front of a cop once but he said nothing.
>
> It's not merely trap-and-release. The laws also vary regarding killing
> squirrels. Gray squirrels are native to southern California and are
> protected by law. Red squirrels, however, are an introduced species and
> may be killed.
>

What do you kill if you're color blind? LOL

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

Color blind? No problem. They are black and white. No
colors to worry about. All black, except a long wide white
stripe that runs from head to their tail. They are not
very fast and have cute bushy tails. All other animals
keep clear of them. They are attracted to leftover dog
and cat food. Sneak up on them with a bat. Ignore the odor.

:-)

-T

With friends like these ...

[Natural Girl]

HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!

--
Natural Girl

[Farm1]

"Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote in message

> Speaking of the tomato plants, I noticed 4-5 of them already have a flower
> and they are only about 6 inches or less tall. Seems foolish to flower
> when so small yet, but they seem healthy. I've only grown plants about 3
> or 4 times and don't remember them flowering when so small.

Flowering when they are tiny is just what you want. In fact here in this
country a gardening guru says to stress them slightly whilst they are still
int he pot so they do flower and they tehn romp away when planted.

[Todd]

Had fun writing it. Part of me worried someone would take
me seriously, but I couldn't imagine -- there were too many
hints. And, it was way too corny to be taken seriously.

[Natural Girl]

A few years ago I was visiting some friends out of state and we were
enjoying their patio in the early evening shortly after dark. We were
chatting when a skunk decided to take a walk across their back yard and
it didn't seem to have a care in the world! My friend said to not make
any sudden moves! LOL

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

Oh my!

[Gus]

"Todd" <To...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:km4p50$u18$2...@dont-email.me...

Hopefully, this year I will not have: lions and tigers and bears...
Squirrels are bad enough.

[Todd]

I would love to know what finally works

[Gus]

"Todd" <To...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:km4tle$f9n$1...@dont-email.me...

> On 05/04/2013 10:27 PM, Gus wrote:
>> "Todd" <To...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

>>> Oh my!

>> Hopefully, this year I will not have: lions and tigers and bears...
>> Squirrels are bad enough.
>
>
> I would love to know what finally works

I did have some good luck with vinegar last year and will try that again
when the plants start to produce. Soaked some old socks every few days. No
one had mentioned vinegar, but accidently noticed on the bottle: "protect
garden from unwanted pests... soak rags every 7 to 10 days" on the back of
a Kroger bottle. I think it did work. I assume if it rains, soak the rags
more often. Not sure, but maybe the vinegar smells close to predator urine
to a squirrel, or just unpleasant?

Building a cage around the plants is probably the only sure fire thing to
do, but I went to do that at Home Depot last year and it started to get
kinda expensive to do it right. Last year, I did get quite a decent crop of
tomatoes; but the year before literally 2-3 puny tomatoes and then gave up
as the squirrels ruined all the rest. Ended up uprooting the plants...
Hopefully, vinegar will deter them this year at least so I get some fresh
tomatoes. Nothing better than fresh tomatoes. The ones in store here are
so bland, but garden ones full of flavor.

[David E. Ross]

On 5/3/13 4:17 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
> On 5/3/13 10:01 AM, Gus wrote:
>> "David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:km0kti$tof$1...@news.albasani.net...

>>
>>> I heard of spraying with a mixture of cayenne, animal repellant, and
>>> urine. Of course, you will then have to wash the tomatoes thoroughly
>>> before eating them.
>>

>> I tried cayenne for a while and all it did was make the few tomatoes I got
>> before squirrels have a cayenne flavor. Didn't seem to faze the squirrels.
>>
>> urine... hmmm.

>>
>
> The mixture was successfully used at a public garden where I am a
> docent. The garden has two white mulberry trees (Morus alba) that
> squirrel were killing by eating all the new shoots every spring. The
> squirrels were also eating the bark off the branches. Apparently, there
> is something in the shoots and bark that gives the squirrels a buzz
> (squirrel marijuana?). The trees were often 2-3 months leafing out
> because of the shoots being eaten.
>
> This year, the trees leafed out on schedule in April. I was told that a
> mixture of animal repellant, cayenne, and urine had been sprayed up into
> the trees.
>

Oops! Yesterday, I discovered that no animal repellant was used. The
mixture consisted of cayenne, liquid dish soap, and urine. No, I don't
know whose urine was used.

Two gardeners were assigned to the task. One was at the top of a
ladder, doing the spraying. The other was on the ground, holding the
ladder.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

[Gus]

"David E. Ross" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message

news:km5u56$v3s$1...@news.albasani.net...

hmmm... I wonder if pure urine works best, or from a drug addict? Or maybe
from an asparagus aficionado.

Why soap? Were the tree rats swearing and uncouth?

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <z...@fake.com> wrote in message
news:km3ni8$n89$3...@news.albasani.net...

> My husband calls them 'tree rats'!

After what happened two years ago, that is how I see them. One morning, I
opened my back door and there was a ripe tomato in front of the door, with
one bite out of it. I looked around and there was a squirrel looking at me.
Sitting on top the deck, smirking.

I live in the city and cannot shoot or trap tree rats. I would build a cage
but I'm not terribly good at building things. And to do it right, it was
more than I wanted to spend on supplies. After what happened two years ago,
I am willing to use biological or chemical warfare. I have tried cayenne
pepper and animal repellant from the vegetable stand, but it had no aeffect.
Vinegar soaked rags were somewhat successful last year, but I may need a two
or more pronged defense. Yond, this year the squirrels have look like
Cassius...

[David E. Ross]

Whenever I spray -- which is rarely -- I always pour some liquid soap
into my sprayer. It acts as a wetting agent so that the spray does not
bead and run off from waxy or fuzzy foliage.

[Natural Girl]

What kind of vinegar?

--
Natural Girl

[Natural Girl]

On 5/5/2013 11:23 AM, Gus wrote:
> "Natural Girl" <z...@fake.com> wrote in message
> news:km3ni8$n89$3...@news.albasani.net...
>
>> My husband calls them 'tree rats'!
>
> After what happened two years ago, that is how I see them. One morning,
> I opened my back door and there was a ripe tomato in front of the door,
> with one bite out of it. I looked around and there was a squirrel
> looking at me. Sitting on top the deck, smirking.

OMG!!!!!!!!!! That's histerical!!! smirking?? LOL

> I live in the city and cannot shoot or trap tree rats. I would build a
> cage but I'm not terribly good at building things. And to do it right,
> it was more than I wanted to spend on supplies. After what happened two
> years ago, I am willing to use biological or chemical warfare. I have
> tried cayenne pepper and animal repellant from the vegetable stand, but
> it had no aeffect. Vinegar soaked rags were somewhat successful last
> year, but I may need a two or more pronged defense. Yond, this year the
> squirrels have look like Cassius...

hahaaahaha I'm only laughing because I totally understand just how
frustrating those tree rats can be. One year I had some gorgeous
tomatoes that were nearly ready to pick. I told myself I'd pick them
tomorrow... when I went out to get the ... EVERY tomato was gone on that
bush!!!!!!!! I was livid. Now, I don't wait to pull them!
--
Natural Girl

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <z...@fake.com> wrote in message

news:km69pl$7hn$1...@news.albasani.net...

> What kind of vinegar?

White vinegar, gallon jug from Kroger.

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <z...@fake.com> wrote in message

news:km6a00$7hn$2...@news.albasani.net...

> hahaaahaha I'm only laughing because I totally understand just how
> frustrating those tree rats can be. One year I had some gorgeous tomatoes
> that were nearly ready to pick. I told myself I'd pick them tomorrow...
> when I went out to get the ... EVERY tomato was gone on that bush!!!!!!!!
> I was livid. Now, I don't wait to pull them!
> --
> Natural Girl

When I had the serious problem two years ago, I started started to pull
green ones, but they aren't as fun to pick. And then you have to wait for
them to ripen indoors, just sitting there. The squirrels starting biting
and taking the green ones on the plants, even small ones. They don't have
much sense. Or, maybe they are just very vindictive jerks. They may look
cute, but they are not good neighbors. I had a couple get into part of my
roof last year and had to get an exterminator. Cost a couple hundred
dollars to eradicate them.

[Natural Girl]

I just may try that! thanks.

--
Natural Girl

[Natural Girl]

I bet it was satisfying tho! 2 down ... a zillion to go! DIE TREE
RATS! DIE! :)

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

The animal supply stores have some really strong stuff

[Pat Kiewicz]

Gus said:
>
>
>What non-lethal methods work best to keep city squirrels away from
>tomatoes?
>It is a serious problem here. I wouldn't mind sharing some tomatoes, but
>the squirrels here are very rude and do not share. And actually taunt.
>Taking a bite out of a perfectly good tomato and then leaving it.
>
>Building a wire cage probably is the best method, but I hear they can even
>get through those. And I'm not all that handy at building things.
>
>Last year, putting soaking a rag with vinegar about every 3 or so days
>seemed to work for a while. Though at the end of the summer, even that
>was not deterring them that well.
>
Late to the party, but...

1) Provide a source of drinking water for the squirrels, birds, etc. They may
be going after the tomatoes mainly for the water content.

2) My daughter ran an experiment as an assignment for one of her zoology
classes. She offered various 'flavors' of peanuts to hungry winter squirrels,
including smoked, two levels of hot pepper seasoned and wasabi flavored
peanuts.

Their obvious preference was for plain or salted peanuts. They would eat
the hot pepper and smoked peanuts. They mainly ignored the wasabi
flavored. Which suggests that wasabi (similarly, horse radish or mustard oil)
could be worth looking into as a squirrel deterent.

3) When all else fails, a cage of 1" hex wire netting ("chicken wire") will
exclude squirrels. You need to bend the wire out at the bottom (to prevent
them going under) and either let the top flop outward or put a cap on the
cage (to prevent them going over). I've used panels of 48" chicken wire
stapled to 1" x 2" strapping. The panels can be moved around as needed.
Tie them using temporary stakes. You can make circles, triangles, etc. They
should be rolled up and stashed out of the weather when not needed .

4) A sturdy 4' fence which is lined with chicken wire (bent out or buried
several inches deep at the bottom) and topped with a shock wire or two will
keep out a whole lot of potential pests.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

email valid but not regularly monitored

[Gus]

"Pat Kiewicz" <pkie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:20130509-1...@Pat-Kiewicz.news.eternal-september.org...

Thanks Pat in Plymouth. Good suggestions. I had read they bite the
tomatoes for the water content, that they not intentionally trying to piss
off the gardener by only taking one bite... Not sure about water source.
There is a major problem with mosquitoes in the summer around here, so not
supposed to leave standing water around. I suppose I could use put
something out though and dump the water every 2-3 days. But I don't think
it's water that is a problem around here, but maybe they just prefer water
from tomatoes or are just lazy squirrels. They will bite even green ones
that aren't that watery. I think I will try leaving water out.

Are you suggesting leaving peanuts out, but away from the tomatoes? I don't
have a big yard, but could maybe put some at the other end. Or in the front
yard. How do you know if the squirrels have a peanut allergy. (Actually,
that might be a good thing!)

I didn't mess with chicken wire too much because to do it right was getting
kinda involved. I had read that cheap chicken wire with larger hole they
can still get through. Though I did have some lying around and I did kinda
lay it around the plants. I think it did dissuade them a bit but not too
much. I didn't stake it thinking maybe if it was flimsy and gave way some
when they stepped on it maybe they would be skittish?

My SMIL suggested plastic snakes. But those are worthless. I've seen the
squirrels step right over a couple on the deck railing. I tried to tie a
couple with string so they should move a bit but that didn't have any effect
either. Not on the squirrels. I also put out some tinfoil. That may have
kept away some birds, but not squirrels.

I don't like wasabi, so afraid that would get into the tomatoes, but maybe I
can try spreading some around one of the plants and experiment. Maybe in
conjunction with the white vinegar.... What do you mean by mustard oil? I
like mustard so would try that. Spicy mustard??

[Frank]

Someone sent me this this morning:

http://tinyurl.com/cgprqsp

[Smitty]

"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kmg5u3$1o1$1...@dont-email.me...

> Someone sent me this this morning:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cgprqsp

I feel happy and sad at the same time... emotional dissonance.

[Natural Girl]

ok .. I have to say that discussion is histerical!!!!!!!!

--
Natural Girl

[Billy]

In article <kmgjva$bsv$1...@news.albasani.net>,

And she can't spell either.

--
Remember Rachel Corrie
<http://www.rachelcorrie.org/>

Welcome to the New America.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA736oK9FPg>

[Natural Girl]

yeah .. you got me. {{hangs head in shame}}

--
Natural Girl

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <x...@fake.com> wrote in message
news:kmj2n3$v0c$1...@news.albasani.net...

>>>> Someone sent me this this morning:
>>>>
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/cgprqsp
>>>
>>> ok .. I have to say that discussion is histerical!!!!!!!!
>>
>> And she can't spell either.
>
> yeah .. you got me. {{hangs head in shame}}

I thought you misspelled it on porpoise. ("histerical" since a
male-oriented discussion. Like some say "herstory" when talking about women
in "history".)

[Natural Girl]

hahah Sometimes, my fingers do the spelling vs. my brain! It goes back to
my original typing class on that manual typewriter (a dinosaur now) in Jr
High school where we practiced certain letter combinations to gain speed. I
didn't type very fast back then, but when I hit the chat scene using
computer keyboards I jumped from 30wpm to about 70wpm and some of that was
typing in chat shorthand which had nothing to do with spelling correctly, so
I'm doubly disabled as a typist, now! {{smacks hands}}

I hit backspace or delete more than I care to admit! Sometimes, I hit send
before I see the errors. I'm bad.. I confess.. I need to join 'bad spellers
when typing' anonymous and improve my act. {kicks dirt}

--
Natural Girl

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <x...@fake.com> wrote in message

news:kmj7as$9mr$1...@news.albasani.net...

> Gus wrote:
>> "Natural Girl" <x...@fake.com> wrote in message
>> news:kmj2n3$v0c$1...@news.albasani.net...
>>>>>> Someone sent me this this morning:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/cgprqsp
>>>>>
>>>>> ok .. I have to say that discussion is histerical!!!!!!!!
>>>>
>>>> And she can't spell either.
>>>
>>> yeah .. you got me. {{hangs head in shame}}
>>
>>
>> I thought you misspelled it on porpoise. ("histerical" since a
>> male-oriented discussion. Like some say "herstory" when talking
>> about women in "history".)
>
> hahah Sometimes, my fingers do the spelling vs. my brain! It goes back
> to my original typing class on that manual typewriter (a dinosaur now) in
> Jr High school where we practiced certain letter combinations to gain
> speed.

I had typing in HS on a manual. Kids have it so easy today. I hated typing
though I did learn QWERTY which apparently is not going away until voice
recognition gets perfected, but looks like kb's will be around for a while
still... I hated manual typing and getting to the last line of the page and
screwing up and the teacher saying I had to start all over on a new page.
And there was still carbon paper around then. The original cc: Kids don't
know how easy they have it! Or, what it was like walking 5 miles to
school, in below zero weather, in a foot of snow, and being chased by wolves
on the way.

We had locks at work where you had to push in buttons with both hands in a
certain sequence. I did them so many times, I didn't have to look at the
numbers. Occasionally someone new would ask the combination and I couldn't
tell them. I would have to get up and go to the door and let my fingers so
it and decode what my fingers did. They say the body has memory that the
conscious mind isn't always conscious of.

[Todd]

On 05/10/2013 09:30 AM, Natural Girl wrote:
> I need to join 'bad spellers
> when typing' anonymous and improve my act.

No you don't. Then I'd have to improve mine too.
(I went to publik skool.)

[Pat Kiewicz]

Gus said:

>Are you suggesting leaving peanuts out, but away from the tomatoes? I
>don't have a big yard, but could maybe put some at the other end. Or in
>the front yard. How do you know if the squirrels have a peanut allergy.
>(Actually, that might be a good thing!)
>

No, just suggesting that her experiment showed that wasabi is more effective
deterent than the commonly recommended hot pepper.

>I didn't mess with chicken wire too much because to do it right was getting
>kinda involved. I had read that cheap chicken wire with larger hole they
>can still get through. Though I did have some lying around and I did
>kinda
>lay it around the plants. I think it did dissuade them a bit but not too
>much. I didn't stake it thinking maybe if it was flimsy and gave way some
>when they stepped on it maybe they would be skittish?

Yes, you need the wire netting with small (1") openings. But it's not so hard
to make panels by stapling the wire netting to wood strips. Then you can
put several panels together so that they stand up. Just untie them to get to
the tomatoes.

(I used to use chicken wire panels 8' tall and 4' wide to protect my block
plantings of sweet corn, before we put in the fence with the shock wire.)

>I don't like wasabi, so afraid that would get into the tomatoes, but maybe I
>can try spreading some around one of the plants and experiment. Maybe
>in conjunction with the white vinegar.... What do you mean by mustard
>oil? I like mustard so would try that. Spicy mustard??

Pure mustard oil is the hot, eye-watering agent in mustard seeds and other
pungeant cruciferous vegetables (like radishes, horseradish and wasabi).

I've some experience with it being used in Korean cuisine. A little goes a
long, long way when you are dining.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

[Frank]

billy should know that a good woman don't spell, don't smell and don't
swell.

[Gus]

"Pat Kiewicz" <pkie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:20130510-2...@Pat-Kiewicz.news.eternal-september.org...

> Pure mustard oil is the hot, eye-watering agent in mustard seeds and other
> pungeant cruciferous vegetables (like radishes, horseradish and wasabi).
>
> I've some experience with it being used in Korean cuisine. A little goes
> a
> long, long way when you are dining.

Where does one procure it? If I ask at Kroger will they look at me askance?

[Natural Girl]

haha! chased by wolves? You had it worse than me, then! We didn't have
wolves chasing us. We had coyotes!

> We had locks at work where you had to push in buttons with both hands in
> a certain sequence. I did them so many times, I didn't have to look at
> the numbers. Occasionally someone new would ask the combination and I
> couldn't tell them. I would have to get up and go to the door and let
> my fingers so it and decode what my fingers did. They say the body has
> memory that the conscious mind isn't always conscious of.

Did you ever see the movie "The Apple Dumpling Gang"?

Does this bring back memories, "I'm-a teachin' my fanger to read!"

I always laughed at that line.
--
Natural Girl

[Natural Girl]

me too.. or is it to .. or two? I fergit.

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

I don't get it. Sentence seems perfectly fine two me.

:-)

-T

Friendship always trumps spelling.

[Natural Girl]

goot! {looks up in dicktionery} no I meen, good!

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

I am always typing "you" for "your", "lamp" for "lamb",
"lose" for "loose", "steel" for "steal", yada, yada.
Even when I know the difference, I still mess them up!

[Natural Girl]

maybe I'm normal then? I mess up words like that all the time and hit
send and realize I just screwed up some words. I feel like Garfield ..
"I MEANT to do that!!"

--
Natural Girl

[Todd]

Hi Natural,

Yes, we are normal. The rest of thems is the weird ones!

I think I see what I see until I hit send. Then I see them all.
Stinkin' typos. Mumble, mumble.

By the way, the more you write, especially in a safe forum like
this, the better you get. My wife had to teach me writing
when I got to college. And, I graduated A- with honors from
publik hi skool. When I hit college, it was like I had never
been to skool. (A- again from engineering school. This
time it was real. About killed me. My wife was the only reason
I got through it. I put myself through college.)

I think your problem may be the same as mine. I think faster
than I can type. I had typing in hi skool too. And, took
classical piano as a kid. I am still hell on keyboards!

-T

[Todd]

On 05/10/2013 09:50 PM, Todd wrote:
> I think I see what I see until I hit send. Then I see them all.
> Stinkin' typos. Mumble, mumble.

And I still can spell "squirrel" without a spell checker.

[Natural Girl]

Engineers are kool. Do you like driving trains? <smile>

--
Natural Girl

[Natural Girl]

sorry, but I stared at that sentence 'til I nearly fell asleep I was so
impressed by it!

--
Natural Girl

[dr-...@wi.rr.com]

I had a family of squirrels ate their way into the porch roof of the house next door.
When the house was rehabbed the porch was torn off for a couple months the squirrels
lost their home so they came to our house and ate their way into the soffet and
eaves. We tried nearly everything, rebuilding, even metal wrapping where they were
getting in. Nothing worked. I had to get rid of every single one of them before there
were none left with the "memory" of eating into and living in the house.

I trap them in a havahart baited with peanut butter. When they are trapped I
submerge the cage in a full 40 gallon fish tank. It is fast and doesnt stink up the
trap for the next squirrel. The same works for squirrels eating fruit. If you get the
ones have figured it out it takes time for another to figure out the fruit is good.

Ingrid
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere between zone 5 and 6 tucked along the shore of Lake Michigan
on the council grounds of the Fox, Mascouten, Potawatomi, and Winnebago

[Natural Girl]

dr-...@wi.rr.com wrote:
> I had a family of squirrels ate their way into the porch roof of the
> house next door. When the house was rehabbed the porch was torn off
> for a couple months the squirrels lost their home so they came to our
> house and ate their way into the soffet and eaves. We tried nearly
> everything, rebuilding, even metal wrapping where they were getting
> in. Nothing worked. I had to get rid of every single one of them
> before there were none left with the "memory" of eating into and
> living in the house.
>
> I trap them in a havahart baited with peanut butter. When they are
> trapped I submerge the cage in a full 40 gallon fish tank. It is fast
> and doesnt stink up the trap for the next squirrel. The same works
> for squirrels eating fruit. If you get the ones have figured it out
> it takes time for another to figure out the fruit is good.
>
> Ingrid

I once caught a mole digging through my garden. I could see it digging so I
got a shovel and dug it up and caught it in a jar. Creepy looking critters,
too. I didn't want to set it free so it could harass some other person and
dig up their yard, so I kind of did what you did with the squirrel, only in
the jar. When it had expired I just poured out the water, put the lid back
on, and put it in the trash can... It's been years since that happened,
though. Haven't caught another one going through my garden since.

--
Natural Girl

[David E. Ross]

On 5/14/13 6:10 AM, dr-...@wi.rr.com wrote:
> I had a family of squirrels ate their way into the porch roof of the house next door.
> When the house was rehabbed the porch was torn off for a couple months the squirrels
> lost their home so they came to our house and ate their way into the soffet and
> eaves. We tried nearly everything, rebuilding, even metal wrapping where they were
> getting in. Nothing worked. I had to get rid of every single one of them before there
> were none left with the "memory" of eating into and living in the house.
>
> I trap them in a havahart baited with peanut butter. When they are trapped I
> submerge the cage in a full 40 gallon fish tank. It is fast and doesnt stink up the
> trap for the next squirrel. The same works for squirrels eating fruit. If you get the
> ones have figured it out it takes time for another to figure out the fruit is good.

I too use a Havahart trap for squirrels. When I catch a squirrel, I
place the trap on several layers of newspaper in my car. Then I drive
about 5 miles across a nearby freeway (10 lanes) to a national park and
turn it loose. There are pleanty of hungry owls, hawks, and coyotes in
the park. (The newspaper is in case the squirrel finds the trip so
exciting that it has an "accident" in my car.)

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

[Billy]

In article <wildbilly-73A84...@nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net>,

Orthography aside, I find it odd that I feed our local squirrels, and
have never had a tomato stolen by them. I feed the birds, and they don't
dig up my seedlings, and the raccoons, who graze the compost pile, only
do minimal damage. Today I enjoyed the insects dancing inthe sunlight,
the pas de deux by a pair of monarch butterflies, the birds at the
feeder, and the grey squirrel who looked for errant seed under the
feeder. I enjoy my gardening breaks.

[Frank]

When I was a kid, I had this friend, Billy, who was deathly afraid of
snakes.

I caught a small garter snake, put it in an empty bag of M&M's and
offered the candy to Billy.

[Frank]

On 5/14/2013 7:15 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
> On 5/14/13 6:10 AM, dr-...@wi.rr.com wrote:
>> I had a family of squirrels ate their way into the porch roof of the house next door.
>> When the house was rehabbed the porch was torn off for a couple months the squirrels
>> lost their home so they came to our house and ate their way into the soffet and
>> eaves. We tried nearly everything, rebuilding, even metal wrapping where they were
>> getting in. Nothing worked. I had to get rid of every single one of them before there
>> were none left with the "memory" of eating into and living in the house.
>>
>> I trap them in a havahart baited with peanut butter. When they are trapped I
>> submerge the cage in a full 40 gallon fish tank. It is fast and doesnt stink up the
>> trap for the next squirrel. The same works for squirrels eating fruit. If you get the
>> ones have figured it out it takes time for another to figure out the fruit is good.
>
> I too use a Havahart trap for squirrels. When I catch a squirrel, I
> place the trap on several layers of newspaper in my car. Then I drive
> about 5 miles across a nearby freeway (10 lanes) to a national park and
> turn it loose. There are pleanty of hungry owls, hawks, and coyotes in
> the park. (The newspaper is in case the squirrel finds the trip so
> exciting that it has an "accident" in my car.)
>

Some places, catch and release is not allowed.
Here in Delaware, you can catch and drown them but not release them.
I've done it anyway, once right in front of a county cop at police
substation in local park. He said nothing. In fact, when he looked
over at me, I told him I had come to release a prisoner and let the
squirrel out right in front of him. Would have been better to be
surreptitious.

[Natural Girl]

ACKKKKK!!!!!!! LOL The stuff boys do to each other!!

An aside ... some time ago a friend of mine went to open a sealed package
of microwave oatmeal for her breakfast. A petrified dead mouse was in the
package instead of oatmeal. The oatmeal company said they'd give her a new
box of oatmeal for her problem. She doesn't buy packaged oatmeal anymore!

A funny ... my friends husband was out in the yard raking leaves to prepare
the garden for it's final spring clean up from winter when she said he
started shouting and doing a bit of a dance. She came running over and he
was shouting something about a snake! She wasn't too scared of snakes and
more curious, so she was looking to see what sort of a snake it was and took
the rake to sift about through the leaves. It turnes out that it was a
fairly large night crawler that was wiggling around because it had been
disturbed! Her husband wasn't amused despite she nearly fell down laughing
at him! <smile>


--
Natural Girl

[Frank]

Good idea to look at what you eat. I once munched a stink bug.
I quit growing leaf lettuce after a creepy crawler came out if it when
on my plate. Same for broccoli with big green worms that are hard to see.

Snakes don't bother me but my wife is deathly afraid of them. I remove
them from property if I catch them. Think I mentioned I've caught a few
large black snakes in deer netting.

Me. I don't like spiders but they do not bother my wife.
Strange, isn't it?

[Gus]

"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kn01d0$l4o$1...@dont-email.me...

> Some places, catch and release is not allowed.
> Here in Delaware, you can catch and drown them but not release them.
> I've done it anyway, once right in front of a county cop at police
> substation in local park. He said nothing. In fact, when he looked over
> at me, I told him I had come to release a prisoner and let the squirrel
> out right in front of him. Would have been better to be surreptitious.

You can catch and release but it has to be pretty far away or they come
back. And if it far away, well then they are in unfamiliar territory and in
an area likely already occupied. So it may be less cruel to euthanize...
But if the damn things could just live in harmony with my me and leave most
my tomatoes alone, then I would not have ill feelings for them. They are
not good neighbors!

[Gus]

"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:kn0pg6$5ld$1...@dont-email.me...

> Good idea to look at what you eat. I once munched a stink bug.
> I quit growing leaf lettuce after a creepy crawler came out if it when on
> my plate. Same for broccoli with big green worms that are hard to see.

When I was young, a friend bit into an apple. And after chewing a bit
noticed a worm in the apple... half a worm.

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <z...@fake.com> wrote in message
news:kn0a32$uao$1...@news.albasani.net...

> An aside ... some time ago a friend of mine went to open a sealed package
> of microwave oatmeal for her breakfast. A petrified dead mouse was in the
> package instead of oatmeal. The oatmeal company said they'd give her a
> new box of oatmeal for her problem. She doesn't buy packaged oatmeal
> anymore!

My mom used to get Mrs Grasse soup when I was young. One day I open the box
(it was dehydrated noodles with a flavor packet). I poured out the box into
a bowl and there was an empty locust shell... I never ate that brand
again.

[Natural Girl]

yuk .. I don't blamer her.

--
Natural Girl

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <x...@fake.com> wrote in message

news:kn1ke7$2pg$1...@news.albasani.net...

> yuk .. I don't blamer her.
>
> --
> Natural Girl

I once got food poisoning from a Wendy's salad bar (back when they had salad
bars in the 80s). I was on a trip with my parents to my brother's
graduation at Penn State and famished. The salad dressing tasted a little
funny but I was so hungry I ate it and didn't think of it. That night and
the next afternoon I threw up more times than I could count. After I passed
out from being dehydrated and throwing up so much, they took the situation
more serious and took me to a health clinic. (Where I went to sleep on
Saturday afternoon and when I woke up it was Sunday night.)... I didn't eat
blue cheese dressing for over 10 years. But one day, I did. I still am a
bit leery of it but like it on salad now and then.

[Frank]

I'm stymied by squirrels as there does not appear to be a natural
balance with them as they can escape predators by climbing trees.
When something like the rabbit population increases, the foxes move in
and wipe them out and when the rabbits are gone the foxes leave and
cycle repeats.

Squirrels and deer are constant invaders with out predators where I
live. I like to tell my wife that I have the cure but she won't have it.

[Billy]

In article <kn1c41$jlj$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,

"Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>
> You can catch and release but it has to be pretty far away or they come
> back. And if it far away, well then they are in unfamiliar territory and in
> an area likely already occupied. So it may be less cruel to euthanize...
> But if the damn things could just live in harmony with my me and leave most
> my tomatoes alone, then I would not have ill feelings for them. They are
> not good neighbors!

I have many squirrels, and the worst that they have done is tip over
seedlings that have been set out to catch some sun. Maybe I'm just crazy
lucky. I'm curious though. Are there any oak trees around you, or other
trees that would provide nourishment for the squirrels?

[Gus]

"Billy" <wild...@withouta.net> wrote in message
news:wildbilly-7504C...@nnrp-virt.nntp.sonic.net...

> In article <kn1c41$jlj$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
> "Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> You can catch and release but it has to be pretty far away or they come
>> back. And if it far away, well then they are in unfamiliar territory and
>> in
>> an area likely already occupied. So it may be less cruel to euthanize...
>> But if the damn things could just live in harmony with my me and leave
>> most
>> my tomatoes alone, then I would not have ill feelings for them. They are
>> not good neighbors!
>
> I have many squirrels, and the worst that they have done is tip over
> seedlings that have been set out to catch some sun. Maybe I'm just crazy
> lucky. I'm curious though. Are there any oak trees around you, or other
> trees that would provide nourishment for the squirrels?

Lots of trees around here. Though some streets don't have any, but in
general lots around. No oaks on the block but some mighty ones a few blocks
away.

I have a maple in the front yard about two stories high. There is a
squirrel that appears to own it and chases away any squirrels that
encroach... I had a problem with some getting into a section of my roof
last year, piece of soffit was missing I found out later and a couple
squirrels discovered it and thought it was a dandy place to move in to. The
exterminator said even if you cover up where they were getting in, they will
come back and do whatever they can to get back in. So his company
euthanizes any caught. Though he said they could also catch and release
down state about 30 miles. But after reading what happens to a squirrel
released into unfamiliar territory where squirrels already live, decided it
was more humane to euthanize.

[Billy]

In article <kn3dlh$qo1$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,

Oh, little mysteries of life.

[Gus]

"Natural Girl" <x...@fake.com> wrote in message
news:kn1ke7$2pg$1...@news.albasani.net...

Yet, on BBC Overnight, the other days was a story about using insects for
food. Many children die of malnutrition in this world we live in, but
insects provide a good source of protein and sustenance. The interviewee
suggested that it would be worthwhile to set up insect farms to raise
insects for food. Approximately 1/2 of children under 5 that die, die of
malnutrition related problems.

People eat some disgusting looking things such as lobsters, crawfish and
crabs-- why not insects? Is a lobster that much different than a giant
cockroach? Some societies eat insects. And don't chimps consider ants a
delicacy? Though I can't imagine eating an insect and find it completely
repulsive. Why is that?

I was thinking someone should come up with something to do with all the
cicadas. Migrant workers could travel around capturing the different broods
that appear in different years. You have to remove the shells and scratchy
parts, and ground them up. But we already do that with many meats. Hamburger
looks nothing like Betsy the cow (or the 100 different Betsys it may be
from.) You know, if the locust shell in the box I saw had been ground up, I
am pretty sure I never would have known the difference and ate the soup none
the worse for wear.

[Frank]

From someone that's squirrely ;)

[dr-...@wi.rr.com]

There is no shortage of food. But war displaces farmers, lack of roads and
transportation minimizes the movement of food to where the hungry people are making
the people have to move to where the food and water is, which usually means
abandoning their farms. And then there is just poverty, the inability to pay for food
especially if somebody upchain is hoarding food and selling it too high.

Animal food from the ocean is ideal for brain development, high in cholesterol as
well as protein. Thinking is human brains developed/evolved in conjunction with sea
food diet.

Ingrid

On Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:01 -0400, "Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote:
>Yet, on BBC Overnight, the other days was a story about using insects for
>food.

>People eat some disgusting looking things such as lobsters, crawfish and
>crabs-- why not insects?

[dr-...@wi.rr.com]

Predators with wings.
Predators that catch them on the ground. Both dogs and cats do so regularly.
Then there are those who crash to ground, get run over by cars, and.... starve to
death in winter.
Ingrid

On Thu, 16 May 2013 09:07:40 -0400, Frank <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote:
>I'm stymied by squirrels as there does not appear to be a natural
>balance with them as they can escape predators by climbing trees.

[dr-...@wi.rr.com]

Yup. They will chew thru solid steel to get back in.
Ingrid

On Thu, 16 May 2013 15:57:47 -0400, "Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote:
I had a problem with some getting into a section of my roof
>last year, piece of soffit was missing I found out later and a couple
>squirrels discovered it and thought it was a dandy place to move in to. The
>exterminator said even if you cover up where they were getting in, they will
>come back and do whatever they can to get back in. So his company
>euthanizes any caught. Though he said they could also catch and release
>down state about 30 miles. But after reading what happens to a squirrel
>released into unfamiliar territory where squirrels already live, decided it
>was more humane to euthanize.
>

[David Hare-Scott]

dr-...@wi.rr.com wrote:
> Yup. They will chew thru solid steel to get back in.
> Ingrid
>

Watch out! Squirrels with angle grinders! The worst sort.

D

[Billy]

In article <cdcpq8ddaofl5vmon...@4ax.com>,

dr-...@wi.rr.com wrote:

> There is no shortage of food. But war displaces farmers, lack of roads and
> transportation minimizes the movement of food to where the hungry people are
> making
> the people have to move to where the food and water is, which usually means
> abandoning their farms. And then there is just poverty, the inability to pay
> for food
> especially if somebody upchain is hoarding food and selling it too high.
>
> Animal food from the ocean is ideal for brain development,

At least it was before we started using the ocean as a toxic waste dump
for mercury, Chlorinated Dioxin, PBDEs, DDT, petroleum, Arsenic, and
PCBs. This doesn't include the melamine that has been added to fish from
China.

If you eat fish, you should check with a guide first.

<http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch/web/sfw_regional.aspx

> high in
> cholesterol as
> well as protein. Thinking is human brains developed/evolved in conjunction
> with sea
> food diet.
>
> Ingrid
>
> On Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:01 -0400, "Gus" <gus.o...@geemail.com> wrote:
> >Yet, on BBC Overnight, the other days was a story about using insects for
> >food.
> >People eat some disgusting looking things such as lobsters, crawfish and
> >crabs-- why not insects?
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Somewhere between zone 5 and 6 tucked along the shore of Lake Michigan
> on the council grounds of the Fox, Mascouten, Potawatomi, and Winnebago

>