I have a situation where what I believe is squirrels or some type of critter eating the deck. The posts holding the roof up appear to be cedar, the handrail is pressure treated.
Something is eating the top of the posts and the tops of the handrail.
If it matters my location is coastal NC. Are there any products out there to stop this issue? The only thing I can think of is maybe a windchime, but with an almost constant breeze from the sound this could potential cause problems with the neigbors.
Anyone ever run into this situation?
John
Replies
I had this problem with squirrels or groundhogs (never found out which) eating my wood window frames. I painted some Tabasco sauce into the chew marks, and the problem went away.
Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before
SPICEY
Tabasco sauce is what i recommend my clients to do when the dogs start eating the corner of the wooden decks. That sounds funny but it really works :-)
Porcupines will eat any wood they consider to be salty--like axe handles and toilet seats in privies. Myabe they are gnawing on the handrail because people have touched it with sweaty hands? Who knows. I have heard tha hot sauce or jalapeno (sp?) juice is supposed to keep critters from eating things.
I sprinkle hot pepper flakes around my plants here. But, those ground squirrels must like hot stuff because they eat it anyway! We set out humane traps for the little critters and then take them out into the desert. Wanna talk about packrats?
I don't mean to offend anyone by the following remark: Maybe the squirrels are Mexican squirrels or have otherwise developed a taste for spicy food! Maybe provide them with some margaritas and a designated driver and drive them off to someplace else after they've had their fill of tequila? (I was very careful not to say anything that could be construed as racist, hope I succeeded!)
Nope, they're just little squirrels who live in the desert and we have invaded their habitat. That said, when we go to Nogales, Mexico, we always have a designated driver and we take turns. I try not to go when it's my turn as designated driver....:) Just kidding. Seriously, a lot of critters will not eat a plant if there is hot pepper flakes around it. Cayenne works well, too.
allright, 2 post and nobody said it yet
eat the squirrels!
It is not my deck or yard. Otherwise it would have been solved by now.
I did a search and it appears this is a seasonal thing. I read that females ready to give birth will do this. Although I don't know what time of year squirrels are spittin' out yungins'
John
allright, 2 post and nobody said it yet
eat the squirrels!
Kinda makes you wonder just how many proper rednecks hang out here....doesn't it.
I've been known to eat Chicken of the tree.
I quit eating squirrels Clark...................the doctor says they're high in Cholesterol.
Those things are little! You'd have to eat a 6 pack of em to get the cholerterol of a single big mac!
Porcupines are known to do this in NE. Don't know why the attraction.
Frankie
Flay your Suffolk bought-this-morning sole with organic hand-cracked pepper and blasted salt.
Thrill each side for four minutes at torchmark haut. Interrogate a lemon.
Embarrass any tough roots from the samphire. Then bamboozle till it's al dente with that certain je ne sais quoi.
Arabella Weir as Minty Marchmont - Posh Nosh
Tobasco washes off with the rain, we're not shooting him, who do you contact to catch and release them? It is a squirrel, I've watched him do it! (not a porcupine or other creature)