How do I stop squirrels from burying nuts in my flowerbeds?

Squirrels burying walnuts and pecans in flower beds, gardens, and around trees can leave you constantly pulling up unwanted seedlings. While there is no reliable chemical repellent for stopping squirrels from caching nuts, several deterrents may help, including motion-activated solar lights and sound devices, changing noises such as radio playing music or talk radio, and even a dog that can chase squirrels away from planted areas. These methods may make a landscape less attractive to squirrels, although they can eventually become accustomed to repeated sounds or other disturbances. In nature, squirrel behavior also has a benefit: many of the nuts they bury are never recovered, allowing some to germinate and produce new trees. Understanding why squirrels bury nuts and using a combination of deterrents can help reduce unwanted walnut and pecan seedlings while working with, rather than completely against, natural wildlife behavior.

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Related Resources:
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