When gardeners find half-eaten vegetables, missing flower bulbs, or mysterious holes dug in the soil, they often suspect squirrels. This unexplained plant destruction, especially when it appears overnight, leads many to wonder if these common rodents are active after dark. Understanding the natural behavior of squirrels is the first step in diagnosing why your garden is being targeted. The timing of the destruction is a strong clue to identifying the true culprit.
Squirrel Activity Schedules
Most tree and ground squirrels are diurnal, meaning their activity is limited almost entirely to daylight hours. Their daily foraging typically peaks in the early morning and late afternoon. This schedule allows them to avoid the midday heat and rely on their daytime vision to safely locate food. Once the sun sets, squirrels retreat to their nests, called dreys, to sleep, as their vision is poorly adapted for the dark. Consistent damage that appears between dusk and dawn is highly unlikely to be the work of a typical gray or fox squirrel.
Identifying the True Nocturnal Pests
Since squirrels are ruled out as nighttime plant eaters, gardeners must look to other common animals that thrive under the cover of night, using the specific pattern of damage as a diagnostic tool. Rabbits typically leave clean, angled cuts on stems, while deer cause ragged tears on leaves and branches. Slugs and snails chew irregular holes in leaves and leave glistening slime trails. Raccoons and opossums are strong diggers that often uproot plants in search of grubs. Voles and mice are also active at night, causing damage primarily underground by consuming seeds and bulbs or gnawing on plant roots.
What Plant Parts Squirrels Target
The damage squirrels cause during daylight hours focuses on specific plant parts that meet their nutritional or physical needs. They are opportunistic omnivores whose diet changes seasonally based on availability. During dry periods, squirrels frequently target soft fruits like tomatoes and strawberries, or tender flower buds, primarily to access moisture. They are also known for digging up and consuming bulbs, which they mistake for stored nuts. Squirrels rely on nuts and seeds, but they will also gnaw on tree bark during winter when other foods are scarce, which helps them wear down their continuously growing incisor teeth.
Effective Daytime Deterrence Strategies
Protecting your garden from squirrel damage requires focusing on deterrence during daylight hours. Physical barriers are the most reliable method, as they completely block access to vulnerable plants.
Physical Barriers
Creating simple cages from chicken wire or hardware cloth is effective for protecting individual plants or newly planted bulbs. For larger garden beds, draping fine-mesh netting over hoops can prevent squirrels from reaching the produce.
Scent and Taste Deterrents
Chemical and scent deterrents can also be employed to make the area less appealing. Sprays containing capsaicin can be applied directly to plants, as the taste is repulsive to squirrels. Strong odors, such as predator urine, mothballs, or peppermint oil and coffee grounds, can be placed strategically to discourage their presence. Providing alternative food sources or a shallow water dish away from the garden may also distract them, encouraging them to forage elsewhere.