The sight of a prized garden flower suddenly destroyed by a small animal is a common and frustrating experience for many gardeners. When the victim is a vibrant Gerbera daisy, the question quickly becomes: which pest is responsible for the damage? While the culprit is often assumed to be a rabbit or a deer, the damage frequently points directly to the bushy-tailed rodent seen scrambling across the yard. Understanding the feeding habits of these animals is the first step in protecting your garden.
Do Squirrels Eat Gerbera Daisies?
The direct answer to whether squirrels consume Gerbera daisies is yes, though they are not a preferred food source. Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores whose diet primarily consists of nuts, seeds, and fungi. They will readily eat the tender parts of many flowers, including daisies, especially when more appealing options are scarce.
Squirrels tend to target the most succulent parts of the plant, such as unopened flower buds and newly developed petals. Gardeners often find the heads of the daisies snapped off and only partially eaten, indicating the squirrel is sampling the bloom rather than consuming the entire plant.
Understanding Squirrel Feeding Behavior
A squirrel choosing to eat a flower is often related to immediate environmental factors rather than a nutritional preference. During periods of drought or intense heat, the high moisture content within the thick petals and stems of flowers becomes an attractive source of hydration. They seek out this moisture when surface water is limited.
Squirrels are also drawn to the tender, young growth of plants, such as newly emerging buds, which are easier to chew and digest than mature leaves. Their behavior includes an exploratory element where they may “test” the edibility of a plant by taking a single bite or clipping the head. This testing, combined with their habit of digging to bury or retrieve cached food, means damage is not always solely for consumption.
Identifying Damage From Other Garden Pests
Accurately identifying the pest is necessary because damage from other common garden animals can be easily mistaken for a squirrel’s work. Squirrel damage is characterized by ragged or torn edges on flowers and leaves, often accompanied by shallow, golf-ball-sized holes in the surrounding soil from their digging. They frequently leave behind discarded, partially eaten plant material.
Rabbit damage, in contrast, is identified by a clean, sharp, 45-degree angle cut on the stems, as if clipped with shears. Since rabbits rarely feed more than two feet above the ground, this damage is concentrated on lower foliage and stems.
Deer browsing leaves a distinct, torn or ripped appearance on stems and leaves because deer lack upper incisors, pulling the plant material rather than cutting it cleanly. Slugs and snails leave behind irregular holes in leaves and often a silvery, dried mucus trail.
Practical Methods for Protecting Daisies
Protecting Gerbera daisies from squirrel damage involves a two-pronged approach using physical barriers and taste deterrents. Installing a physical barrier, such as a temporary chicken wire cage or fine plastic bird netting secured over the plants, is a reliable solution. The mesh should be small enough to prevent the squirrel from reaching the plant but still allow for sunlight and watering.
Taste and scent deterrents work by making the plant unappealing to the squirrel’s sensitive palate. A common non-lethal method is to lightly dust the flowers and surrounding soil with cayenne pepper or a commercial capsaicin-based spray. Squirrels dislike the compound’s spiciness and will avoid the treated area after a single taste. Removing easy food sources, such as keeping the ground beneath bird feeders clean, can also reduce the overall squirrel presence in the garden.