Planting lily bulbs in the autumn can quickly turn to frustration when gardeners discover their plantings have been mysteriously dug up or eaten. This common dilemma often leaves homeowners wondering which garden pest is responsible for the missing bulbs. The prime suspect is the common squirrel, whose natural foraging habits frequently lead it straight to a freshly planted bulb bed. Confirming the culprit is the first step toward saving your future lily display.
The Direct Answer
Yes, squirrels do eat lily bulbs, making them a common and preferred target for these opportunistic rodents. Lily bulbs are a dense, nutrient-rich food source, providing the high-carbohydrate and fat content squirrels seek to build up winter reserves. This makes them a more attractive snack than many other garden items, especially when natural food sources are scarce in late fall or early spring.
The bulb’s soft, starchy texture is easily gnawed and digested. Squirrels are often drawn to the disturbed soil of a newly planted area, which signals that something has been buried there. Lily bulbs are most vulnerable immediately after planting in the fall, before the ground freezes or the bulbs have developed a strong root system. Squirrels may eat the bulb immediately or cache it for later consumption, treating it like a large, easily accessible seed.
Signs of Squirrel Activity
Identifying squirrel damage is the first step in protecting your garden. Squirrels typically dig shallow holes, only a few inches deep, right above where the bulb was placed. This surface-level disturbance leaves the soil visibly scattered around the planting site.
If the bulb is eaten, you may find shredded scales or messy remnants near the hole, as squirrels tend to gnaw at the food rather than taking a clean bite. This contrasts with the smooth, clean cuts made by a vole’s incisors. In many cases, the squirrel will dig up the entire bulb and move it to another location for caching or immediate consumption.
Effective Protection Methods
The most effective strategies for protecting lily bulbs involve combining physical barriers with taste and scent deterrents. Physical exclusion is the most reliable method, preventing the squirrel from accessing the bulb altogether.
Physical Barriers
A highly effective solution involves creating an underground cage using hardware cloth, a rigid metal mesh with a small, half-inch opening. Line the bottom and sides of the planting hole with the mesh before placing the bulbs inside. This protective measure allows roots and shoots to grow through the small openings but prevents the squirrel from digging down to the bulb.
Covering the soil surface with a layer of chicken wire or hardware cloth is a simple, temporary solution after planting. The wire should be secured with stakes or weighted down to prevent squirrels from moving it. The stems will grow up through the mesh in spring, and the barrier can be removed once the bulbs are established. Also, incorporating coarse materials like crushed stone or sharp gravel into the topsoil layer can deter digging, as the texture is uncomfortable for a squirrel’s paws.
Taste/Scent Deterrents
Squirrels rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate buried food, making strong-smelling deterrents a good secondary defense. Capsaicin, the active compound in chili peppers, is a common repellent that irritates the squirrel’s nasal passages and mouth. Sprinkling cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes directly over the freshly planted area can discourage digging.
Commercial repellents that contain bittering agents or strong, unpleasant odors can also be sprayed on the soil surface. However, avoid using blood meal as a fertilizer, as its strong, meaty scent can ironically attract squirrels and other digging animals.
Planting Strategy
A simple planting strategy is to bury the lily bulbs deeper than the recommended depth, typically 8 to 10 inches, making them harder for squirrels to reach. Immediately after planting, it is crucial to camouflage the disturbed soil, as the scent of freshly turned earth attracts their attention. Covering the area with a thick layer of mulch or compost, or planting through a dense groundcover, helps hide the evidence of recent digging.
Considering Other Burrowing Pests
While squirrels are frequent culprits, it is important to differentiate their damage from other common garden pests, such as voles and gophers. Voles, small mouse-like rodents, are often mistaken for the true cause because they eat bulbs entirely underground. They create runways or shallow tunnels and consume the bulb from below, leaving no surface disturbance to indicate their presence.
Gophers are also subterranean pests, but their activity is more destructive, as they typically pull the entire plant down into their tunnel system. Unlike squirrels, which often leave behind fragments, voles and gophers consume the bulb completely. Moles do not eat bulbs; they are insectivores that create tunnels while hunting for grubs and worms, but other rodents may use their tunnels to access the bulbs.