I have a soft heart for animals, too. As far as the lightning goes, I don't think the squirrels would be struck even if the tree was. Maybe someone who knows more about lightning can answer this. If lightning strikes a tree, I think it travels down the tree to the ground. I'm not really sure about this, but I think the squirrels would be more at risk if they were on the ground at the base of the tree. That's why people are always told not to seek shelter under a tall tree in a thunderstorm. If lightning strikes the tree, it will go to the ground and then up through the person's feet.

I looked up Animal B-Gon. I had never heard of it. It sounds pretty gentle as far as that type of product goes. It's made of essential oils and is supposed to repel the animals because they won't like the scent.

I wonder why your landlord is using it? Does he have flowers or vegetables that he's worried animals will eat?

It can be hard to live somewhere where someone else owns the property and you can't do much about what they decide to do.