Protect Fruit Trees from Squirrels and Chipmunks

Trees and chipmunks will strip a tree of summer fruit, if food is scarce. You can protect fruit trees from squirrel and chipmunk damage through preventative maintenance, habitat modification and various control methods, according to the University of Missouri Extension. You will need to be observant because the active range of tree squirrels varies from a few hundred yards to 100 acres. Chipmunks stay within a half-acre range of the food stores in their burrows.

Plant fruit trees away from buildings and woodlands. Squirrels gain access to fruit trees by jumping from rooftops. Woodlands provide shelter for squirrels and chipmunks.

Place bands of sheet metal to the trunk of fruit trees to prevent squirrels from climbing the trees. Make sure the metal bands are at least 2 feet wide and fastened at a height of 6 to 8 feet above the ground. Allow the ends of the band to overlap to avoid girdling the tree.

Prune low-hanging limbs and branches on established fruit trees. Remove limbs growing within 6 feet of the ground. Trim back any branches within 10 to 12 feet from rooftops.

Remove any landscape features that provide cover for chipmunks. Woodpiles, groundcover and grass make it difficult to detect chipmunk burrows and travel routes.

Use cage or tunnel type traps to catch or kill squirrels and chipmunks. Set traps near the base of the tree or along travel routes. Use wire to fasten the trap to into position. The ideal squirrel bait includes fruit, nutmeats, rolled oats or sunflower seeds. Pre-bait the squirrel traps two to three days before setting the trap, so the squirrel or chipmunks assumes the bait is a new food source. Release or discard trapped animals.

Apply repellants to the base of the tree. Dried fox blood and coyote urine can repel pests but must be reapplied after rain, according to the University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program .

Provide an alternative food source for squirrels and chipmunks during the spring and fall. Hang birdfeeders or squirrel feeders around the yard in spring to discourage squirrels from eating tree buds. Consider planting hickory and oak trees for acorns or nuts in fall.

Do not use snap-back traps to kill squirrels. Snap-back traps work effectively on small rodents like chipmunks, but do not work well on larger rodents like squirrels.

Sources:

University of Missouri Extension

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=g9455

Pennsylvania State University: Wildlife Damage Control-Chipmunks

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uh119.pdf

University of Rhode Island: GreenShare Fact Sheet: Squirrels and Chipmunks

http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/squirrels.html