I have a young peach tree in the back yard. Last year was the first year for it to have fruit, and it was loaded down with about 25 nice looking peaches. I had some Japanese Beetles (not that there's anything wrong with being Japanese) and solved that problem quickly with Seven powder. I thought I was set for some nice peaches.

Just before they were ripe for best flavor, the dang squirrels stripped them all out of the tree.

Is there anything that can be done to protect peach tree fruit from squirrels? I'd like to shoot all the squirrels but that would be just about impossible because the population comes from a large expanse of woods.

I think I have seen paper bags put over fruit somewhere and wonder if anyone has tried that with success on peaches?

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

My dad has a bunch of fruit trees, and he heaps mesh netting around the base of each tree. There is a nice, fluffy, two foot high and two foot wide ring around each of them and it keeps squirrels off remarkably well. When they encounter the tangled mesh they totally freak out and don't come back.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K

Netting over the tree. Personally, I would take the opportunity to relax with a lawn chair and a 22. MMMMM, squirrel stew with cooked peaches.

Tom

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1993 300TE
1984 300D
1984 300SD
1976 BMW R90S

Isn't it always the case - the animals come take all your fruit just when it's perfectly ripe! I have cherry trees and it seems like they all wait for the exact second it's perfect then it's a feeding frenzy and it's stripped in a matter of hours...

Anyway, is the tree under other trees that they can jump from? If not, squirrels can do about a 4' vertical leap and if there's no branches lower than 4', you can put a metal shield around the tree and they won't be able to climb up the trunk.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

"Squirell Cam." Or maybe a sign that reads "Kaufman Furs we're looking for a few good squirells."

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Leash dog to tree.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Interesting that you should mention "leash dog to tree". I also have a nice hickory nut tree in the back yard that is within the domain of my 100-lb German Shepherd. Not that this is a particularly desireable nut for human consumption, but the squirrels love them. The dog certainly protects the tree and chases away the squirrels attempting to approach it. That works until nap time. Squirrels seem to be able to stay awake longer than dogs.

The peach tree is away from other trees and the squirrels have to approach it across the ground and jump up into it, so I'll try the mesh or netting or razor wire or something like that. I understand the netting over the tree, but I'm not quite sure I know what is meant by "tangled mesh" and would appreciate a link or picture.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Tie a dog to the tree.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200