Squirrel Damage Control
By Tom McCrumm
Editor of the Massachusetts Sugar Bush News

The Background
Squirrel damage is a long standing problem that our industry could use a good solution for. An animal damage study was done by Cornell about 1982, based on producer surveys in NY state in 1968 and 1980. Another study was done by the UVM Ag. Experiment Station, published June 1987. USDA, APHIS, Animal Damage Control, has the best published work on the squirrel problem. There is an excellent pamphlet they published titled "Prevention and Control of Animal Damage in Sugarbushes". There is no date on it, but I think it was published in the late 1980's. There is a follow up report, also by APHIS, titled "Strategies to Control Rodent Damage in Sugarbushes: An Update", published Nov. 1991.
These two publications offer the best advice on preventing rodent damage through management choices, traps, rodenticides, and other techniques. The USDA, APHIS, ADC office can be reached in Montpelier, Vermont at 802-828-4467, and in New Hampshire at Box 2398, Concord, 03302. They ought to be able to supply copies of these publications.

My own experiences: I have wrestled with this problem for 20 years, and have tried almost all of the recommendations.

The best: Wash pipeline with clear water only, no bleach solution. This change in cleaning practices reduced my overall squirrel damage by 90%.

Poison bait: I could never get the rodents to eat it.

Rat traps: The pesky critters kept eating off the apple and peanut butter bait without setting off the traps. I had a catch rate of less than 10%.

Shooting: This works, especially if you have a bird feeder that attracts squirrels. Be aware of regulations prohibiting discharge of firearms within 500 feet of a structure.

Forest Management: Remove trees such as hemlock and beech which provide cover and food sources for squirrels.