The grey squirrel is a common inhabitant of most areas of North Carolina. Many people enjoy watching their antics in public places and in their own yards. On the negative side, tree squirrels damage personal property and cause millions of dollars in loss per year to public power facilities. Squirrels can also cause a lot of damage in the garden.
The eastern grey squirrel inhabits hardwood and coniferous forests as well as residential areas. Squirrels eat a wide variety of native foods and adapt quickly to unusual food sources.
During the winter, when stored food supplies run short, squirrels may eat tree bark and clipped twigs. In the spring, they prefer swelling tree buds. In summer months, normal fare includes fruits, berries, succulent plants, fungi, insects, animal matter and corn.
Squirrel populations frequently fluctuate and are affected by many diseases and parasites. Their home range depends on the season and the food available.
Squirrels’ teeth grow continuously like other rodents. They gnaw on wires, short out transformers, enter buildings, build nests in attics and eat bird food. In gardens, they may eat planted seeds, mature fruit or grain, such as corn.
Besides damaging trees, squirrels often eat tulip bulbs and crocus corms. They damage lawns when they store and dig for food.
Wildlife control officials consider tree squirrels a significant nuisance animal in the United States. Controlling them is difficult because of their athletic abilities. A grey squirrel can jump sideways 8 feet, straight up 4 feet and down 15 feet, then hang on where it lands. Control may include habitat modification, repellants, exclusion, trapping and shooting.
Tree habitats are difficult to modify to exclude squirrels. Plan to trim tree limbs at least 8 feet away from buildings to prevent squirrels from jumping to roofs. Plastic tubes on wires may prevent access to buildings.
Repellents are helpful but short-term solutions. Repellents must be renewed frequently and are not always effective. Naphthalene (moth balls), Ro-pel, capsaicin and polybutenes are registered for controlling tree squirrels.
Sheet metal bands may be installed on isolated trees to prevent damage to developing fruit and nuts. External openings to buildings should be closed to stop damage to building interiors.
A Wildlife Depredation Permit will be needed if trapping, transporting or killing wildlife is needed. Be aware that removing one squirrel will likely just make room for another, creating at best only a temporary solution.
An estimated season harvest by small game hunters numbers around 482,000 squirrels in North Carolina.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center. Reach her at Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.