AboutJonathan Wright Expertise I can answer questions about wild mammals, as well as other wild animals. I can also answer questions on extinct animals and zoos.
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PETS. IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A VETERINARIAN. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT UNPAID PEOPLE ON ALLEXPERTS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY AND WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE THE MOMENT YOUR ANIMAL GETS ILL. Find out how to look after a pet before you get it. It is unfair to keep an animal in inappropriate conditions and give it the wrong food. If you can't keep an animal in good conditions, please don't bring it into your home. I'm not a vet and I don't have any expertise in animal medicine and care. I don't agree with people taking animals out of the wild and then expecting other people to give free advice on how to look after them. It is cruel to take animals away from their parents, who are able to look after the babies and may look for them, while putting their other babies at risk. You may need a licence to look after some animals. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals; please check with a local wildlife organisation.
IF YOU FIND AN INJURED ANIMAL, PLEASE CONTACT A WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN OR CHARITY AND LET TRAINED STAFF LOOK AFTER THE ANIMAL. DO NOT TRY TO LOOK AFTER AN INJURED ANIMAL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Please do not remove eggs from nests. The mother birds will know the right temperature for the eggs and will not sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them (check details on websites) to see if the eggs are fertile. If the eggs are not fertile, they will not hatch.
I do not agree with fights between different animals. Please do not ask me questions about them.
Experience I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two years old. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations World Wide Fund for Nature. Zoological Society of London. London Bat Group.
Publications Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' levels in Zoology and Chemistry. 'O' Level in Biology.
Question Any advice on how to stop the squirrels from eating my tomato plants? I have four potted plants on my deck which is a split level deck/balcony. The plants are on the upper level. What should I do?????
Answer Dear Kevin
Thanks for your question. I also wish to thank the contributors of the websites I used.
The Humane Society of the United States (http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/urban_wildlife_our_wild_neighbors/solving_problems_...) has various suggestions. You could use plastic or metal umbrella-shaped baffles above the plants to keep the squirrels at bay. The site does not recommend using sticky stuff (thick, sticky, gel-like material that covers surfaces on which squirrels might walk), hot stuff (capsaicin from hot peppers) and electrical currents, which cause pain although the site says they don’t seem to cause lasting harm to squirrels.
Hints and Things (http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/kennel/general.htm) says you can wrap aluminium collars around larger plants or use a fine wire mesh wrap. Some countries protect squirrels and you may only be allowed to trap them live and relocate them. Other countries do not allow relocation. Repellents are a short-term solution and must be constantly renewed. You can apply cayenne pepper around the plants or spray squirrel repellent on them. You can also use rags soaked in ammonia or socks filled with mothballs. You can make repellent using a small bottle of hot pepper sauce, mixed with a gallon of water and a teaspoon of mild liquid detergent such as dishwashing detergent. Spray it on your tomato plants. Alternatively, you can place a handful of hot peppers in a large container and add a quart of boiling water. Let the peppers soak overnight. Strain the peppers from the water and add a few drops of mild dish detergent to make a spray to protect the plants.
AAAnimal Control (http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/squirrelrepellent.htm) says that squirrel repellents may or may not work. These include fox or coyote urine and moth balls. Ultrasonic sound emitters that make a high-pitched noise may be useless. The site recommends contacting a pest control company to remove the squirrels. Please note that if your remove animals from an area, they may be replaced by other individuals of the same species. This is why it is important not to attract animal pets.
I have seen little greenhouses for sale in England. I wonder if you kept your tomato plants in a small greenhouse, too small for a squirrel to enter, this may be a solution. Please note, I’m not a gardener and I’ve never grown tomatoes.
Please take care before using chemicals and check with your local authority if you are allowed to do so legally. Pets and children can become very ill near some chemicals, such as mothballs.
Please note that I can't guarantee that any of these ideas will work, but I hope that you have success with your tomato plants.
