[JoeS21]

I have a balcony and love seeing the squirrels who visit it. When I sit out there they come up to me, are so sweet and cute.... It's gotten to the point where I look forward all day to seeing them, can tell my favorite ones apart from the rest by behavior and by their face when they are up close, and I feel like they are my pets (very strong affection).

Unfortunately, my landlord lives downstairs and keeps putting Animal B-Gon in the yard, and may do worse if that's not effective in keeping them out (and it wont be because there is such a large population in the area). I am worried that Animal B-Gon might burn their paws and that they have to eat with their paws so it might get on their food and do worse...

I am also worried about them because they are nesting in a tree that is the tallest in the area and therefore possibly most likely to be struck by lightning....

I know this shouldn't get to me, but I feel helpless and am downright sad.

Has anyone else felt this way? Any advice?

[gayleggg]

It is kind of you to worry about the little squirrels. I'm not sure what effect Animal B-Gon has on wildlife as I've never used it but if you could find a container you could read the effects.

You might be able to talk to your landlord. See what animals he's trying to run off.

I don't know how to tell you to quit worrying because I worry a lot about things and can't seem to stop either. But I wish you and the squirrels well.

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.

[Thunder Bow]

The probability of lightning hitting the tree is nominal. If there are power lines around, they will get hit first for they are better conductors. Scent based repellents usually do not cause injury or burns. Predators such as Owls, Hawks, Cats, and dogs are a greater threat than lightning can ever be.

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by jo_thorne

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.

That's a great point about the path of the current. The peripheral branches may leave no way for the current to exit so they might not get zapped. I know squirrels have been killed by lightning per youtube but none of the videos show the actual lightning strike and pre-strike conditions so I don't know where on the tree those squirrels were.... I'm feeling a little better with the thought that there are several nests in the tree and chances are they wouldn't ALL get hit... Hopefully that tree isn't as much of a target as I think it is either.

Landlord is using Animal B Gon for a couple reasons, he has a garden, and squirrels were (past tense) nesting in the roof. They are not anymore. He blames it all on the squirrels, I think, but I don't believe that the squirrels are a problem anymore. I think the rabbits are what's eating his garden, and that the squirrels would leave the roof alone now that it's in good repair. My sense is that squirrels usually only nest in roofs that are in disrepair with holes or cracks they can enlarge and turn into nests.

Saying something about this, directly or indirectly, might help. Just not sure what to say...

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by Thunder Bow

The probability of lightning hitting the tree is nominal. If there are power lines around, they will get hit first for they are better conductors. Scent based repellents usually do not cause injury or burns. Predators such as Owls, Hawks, Cats, and dogs are a greater threat than lightning can ever be.

Why do you think Animal B Gon only repels based on scent? Ortho said that "animals must reenter the area at least once for the product to be effective." On Amazon.com someone thought it might burn their feet. I've tried asking Ortho but they either don't know or are being cryptic.

[divine1966]

You are so kind. I personally dislike squirrels and they creep me out but I certainly don't want then to get hurt like their paws being burned! That's not humane. I hope your landlord find other ways to help the cause without harming animals

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CopperStar]

Check out the reviews for it:

https://www.ortho.com/smg/goprod/ort...2#BVRRWidgetID

It looks like it's actually not a very potent or effective product. So hopefully your landlord stays fooled and you and the squirrels can keep chillin.

[Thunder Bow]

Originally Posted by JoeS21

Why do you think Animal B Gon only repels based on scent? Ortho said that "animals must reenter the area at least once for the product to be effective." On Amazon.com someone thought it might burn their feet. I've tried asking Ortho but they either don't know or are being cryptic.

I once worked as a Vertebrate Pest Control Adviser. It is a smell that keeps the animals away. That is how it works. They have to enter an area to smell the scent, of course. Scent repellents will not burn or injure an animal. Active Ingredients:

They are natural and organic: 1.15% Rosemary Oil, 0.31% Cinnamon Oil, 1.15% Peppermint Oil, 1.53% Putrescent Whole Egg Solids

You should be happy your landlord is using scent based repellents, instead of poison baits, such as rat poison! Scented repellents is a safe way to exclude rodents, with out harming them. The internet can also be a source of misinformation, use caution when quoting it.

[Fuzzybear]

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Check out the reviews for it:

https://www.ortho.com/smg/goprod/ort...2#BVRRWidgetID

It looks like it's actually not a very potent or effective product. So hopefully your landlord stays fooled and you and the squirrels can keep chillin.

I hope so and think there's a good chance of that! Just hope it doesn't poison them if they use their contaminated paws to pick up food and eat... That may be unlikely if no dead were found. I'm starting to feel a little better!

ROAD PROBLEM:
On the other hand, they've been spending time in the road lately, perhaps because of my landlord's putting Ortho in the yard. Anyone have ideas about keeping them off the road? Maybe putting deer or elk urine on the road to repel them off the road? Poor things have no where to go. I wish I could buy a house and transplant them into my new yard.... For now, I've been watching out my window or sitting on the step outside so that I can chase them off the street if a car comes, during the main time of day they are out. I guess this is partially why wildlife don't make good pets.

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by Thunder Bow

I once worked as a Vertebrate Pest Control Adviser. It is a smell that keeps the animals away. That is how it works. They have to enter an area to smell the scent, of course. Scent repellents will not burn or injure an animal. Active Ingredients:

They are natural and organic: 1.15% Rosemary Oil, 0.31% Cinnamon Oil, 1.15% Peppermint Oil, 1.53% Putrescent Whole Egg Solids

You should be happy your landlord is using scent based repellents, instead of poison baits, such as rat poison! Scented repellents is a safe way to exclude rodents, with out harming them. The internet can also be a source of misinformation, use caution when quoting it.

Wow, this is VERY HELPFUL. Thanks so much!

I read that on the Ortho site. It talked about the product "confusing" animals. I suppose they'd have to smell it for it to work? I don't know for sure, I was just telling you about what I read. The Ortho site said that there is a demand for this type of product - a relatively "kinder, gentler" one, I suppose.

Does the landlord just put the Animal B Gon around his garden or on the whole yard?

Do they get out of the road when a car comes? The urban squirrels I've seen are very car-savvy.

The only place I've ever seen them get hit very often was once when I lived in an area so remote that the squirrels almost never saw cars and weren't used to them.

I like squirrels, too. They can be a pain if you're trying to feed birds, but they are lots of fun to watch.

[Dog on a Tree]

It's totally understandable that you feel this way towards animals. But try your best not to allow it to upset you or get you down. Enjoy the positive moments you have with the animals each day.

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by jo_thorne

I read that on the Ortho site. It talked about the product "confusing" animals. I suppose they'd have to smell it for it to work? I don't know for sure, I was just telling you about what I read. The Ortho site said that there is a demand for this type of product - a relatively "kinder, gentler" one, I suppose.

Does the landlord just put the Animal B Gon around his garden or on the whole yard?

I think landlord is putting Ortho in the entire yard. I'll have to watch to be sure. He must have bought a case. A couple days ago there were multiple granule containers sitting in different areas.

The base of the front yard tree looked like it had soap suds on it when it rained so I think he put it there too.

I also noticed that other people on our block recently fertilized or used pesticides in their lawns. No wonder the squirrels were in the street. I wish I had a good way of keeping them off the road. (Since they are mainly out near dawn and dusk, I've been on the lookout then so I can get them to move off the road, one by one, if they seem to be staying in the road.)

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by jo_thorne

Do they get out of the road when a car comes? The urban squirrels I've seen are very car-savvy.

The only place I've ever seen them get hit very often was once when I lived in an area so remote that the squirrels almost never saw cars and weren't used to them.

I like squirrels, too. They can be a pain if you're trying to feed birds, but they are lots of fun to watch.

Some of them get out of the road sometimes. Others seem too slow to get out of the way and unaware of danger. I'm tempted to get some fox urine, or something, and put it ONLY in the busier intersections, and only do that a few times figuring that the point will have been made to them (squirrels are smart and have good memories, if the squirrel is normal). My hope is that that will alert them to trouble so they will at least not hang out in the worst intersections. I wish there were a way to keep them out of the roads all together...

Not one of my favorites, but a different squirrel did get hit yesterday. Very sad. Hopefully no more any time soon.

They just play in the road and sit in the middle of the road and eat... Treating the road once or twice with fox urine or Animal B Gon may be the only, or best, solution besides my monitoring my street. Let me know if you think of a better solution or flaw in the logic in this paragraph.

They've really won me over. Nothing like losing a pet... and that's what a couple have essentially become.

[Thunder Bow]

The ground squirrels here, run out onto the roads here and get run over by the traffic. The Ravens make a quick meal out of their remains (road kill). I once saw a Golden Eagle fly off with a dead squirrel in its talons, from the road side. That is life on the Navajo Reservation roads.

[fuegolaluz]

Well, I stopped eating meat because the animals are not treated well.

[CapedCrusader]

Animals have feelings, too. So I hate your landlord for doing such thing. When people get cold, animals get cold as well. Sometimes they get sick as we get sick as well. Same same.

[JoeS21]

Yep, I think that putting repellent in the road is the best thing I can do to keep them out of the street. I will try to pick something that doesn't smell too bad and only put it there a few times to get the point across to the squirrels. Probably just putting that on the busiest intersections would be best so that it will stand out to them and not just seem like it's everywhere. I can also chase them out of the road whenever I notice them in it. Squirrels are very smart creatures and I wouldn't put it past them to be train-able. Maybe if I keep chasing them out of the street, a couple of them might catch on....

Other than that, I'm trying to think up additional ways to help the squirrels without irritating the neighbors or landlord... I feel very bad for them and want to do something.